Battle of Bitlis
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Bitlis refers to a series of engagements in the summer of 1916 for the city of Bitlis
and to a lesser extent nearby Muş, between the Russian Imperial forces
and their Ottoman counterparts.
Bitlis first fell to the 2nd Caucasian Corps on March 2 just as Mustafa Kemal's advance guard was arriving in Bitlis. However, Mustafa Kemal Pasha recaptured not only Muş but also Bitlis on August 15 after repulsed Nikolai Yudenich's army, who was walking to Diyarbakır
. The Ottoman counterattack was stopped in Gevash on August 24. This was the first battle that Ottoman Army not only succeed in stopping Russian Army, but also gained some territories back.
Mustafa Kamal entered Bitlis on August 7 and pushed on towards Van. "It was an important success which earned Mustafa Kamal the golden sword of the Order of Imtiyaz."
During this campaign, Ottoman Army's chief staff Enver Pasha sent one of his trustees Ismet Bey
most probably to control his rival for the Ottoman Army leadership Mustafa Kemal Pasha. However, Ismet Bey was convinced by the military talent of Mustafa Kemal Pasha and became more and more loyal to him.
Bitlis
Bitlis is a town in eastern Turkey and the capital of Bitlis Province. The town is located at an elevation of 1,400 metres, 15 km from Lake Van, in the steep-sided valley of the Bitlis River, a tributary of the Tigris. The local economy is mainly based on agricultural products which include...
and to a lesser extent nearby Muş, between the Russian Imperial forces
Imperial Russian Army
The Imperial Russian Army was the land armed force of the Russian Empire, active from around 1721 to the Russian Revolution of 1917. In the early 1850s, the Russian army consisted of around 938,731 regular soldiers and 245,850 irregulars . Until the time of military reform of Dmitry Milyutin in...
and their Ottoman counterparts.
Bitlis first fell to the 2nd Caucasian Corps on March 2 just as Mustafa Kemal's advance guard was arriving in Bitlis. However, Mustafa Kemal Pasha recaptured not only Muş but also Bitlis on August 15 after repulsed Nikolai Yudenich's army, who was walking to Diyarbakır
Diyarbakır
Diyarbakır is one of the largest cities in southeastern Turkey...
. The Ottoman counterattack was stopped in Gevash on August 24. This was the first battle that Ottoman Army not only succeed in stopping Russian Army, but also gained some territories back.
Mustafa Kamal entered Bitlis on August 7 and pushed on towards Van. "It was an important success which earned Mustafa Kamal the golden sword of the Order of Imtiyaz."
During this campaign, Ottoman Army's chief staff Enver Pasha sent one of his trustees Ismet Bey
Ismet Inönü
Mustafa İsmet İnönü was a Turkish Army General, Prime Minister and the second President of Turkey. In 1938, the Republican People's Party gave him the title of "Milli Şef" .-Family and early life:...
most probably to control his rival for the Ottoman Army leadership Mustafa Kemal Pasha. However, Ismet Bey was convinced by the military talent of Mustafa Kemal Pasha and became more and more loyal to him.