The Battle of Karakilisa ( hy, Ղարաքիլիսայի ճակատամարտ ''Gharakilisayi chakatamart'', tr, Karakilise Muharebesi or ) was a battle of

Caucasus Campaign The Caucasus campaign comprised armed conflicts between the Russian Empire and the Ottoman Empire, later including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, the Mountainous Republic of the Northern Caucasus, the German Empire, the Central Caspian Dicta ...

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

that took place in the vicinity of Karakilisa (now

Vanadzor Vanadzor ( hy, Վանաձոր) is an urban municipal community and the third-largest city in Armenia, serving as the capital of Lori Province in the northern part of the country. It is located about north of the capital Yerevan. As of the 2011 cen ...

), on May 25–28, 1918.

History

Although they were outnumbered, Armenian fighters managed to turn back the advancing Ottoman forces, breaking the armistice that had been signed with Transcaucasian commissariat in December 1917. The victory here as well as at Sardarabad and Abaran were instrumental in allowing the

First Republic of Armenia The First Republic of Armenia, officially known at the time of its existence as the Republic of Armenia ( hy, Հայաստանի Հանրապետութիւն), was the first modern Armenian state since the loss of Armenian statehood in the Middle ...

to come into existence. In several months, the cities of Erznka, Erzerum, Sarikamish, Kars and Alexandropol were invaded. On May 20, they invaded the Akhbulag, Djrajur and Kaltakhchi villages. On May 21, they invaded Vorontsovka. Pressed by the Turkish regular army, Armenian forces were retreating. Part of Ottoman-Turkish forces moved to Yerevan, another one to Karakilisa. The latter forces included about 10 thousand soldiers, 80 pieces of artillery and 50 machine-guns. The

Armenians Armenians ( hy, հայեր, ''hayer'' ) are an ethnic group native to the Armenian highlands of Western Asia. Armenians constitute the main population of Armenia and the ''de facto'' independent Artsakh. There is a wide-ranging diaspora ...

were leaving their homes moving to the south to

Yerevan Yerevan ( , , hy, Երևան , sometimes spelled Erevan) is the capital and largest city of Armenia and one of the world's List of oldest continuously inhabited cities, oldest continuously inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Y ...

and Syunik.

Garegin Nzhdeh Garegin Ter-Harutyunyan, better known by his '' nom de guerre'' Garegin Nzhdeh ( hy, Գարեգին Նժդեհ, ; 1 January 1886 – 21 December 1955), was an Armenian statesman, military commander and political thinker. As a member of the A ...

(with his troops) reached Karakilisa and managed to unite the population for the fight. The Armenian forces reached the number of 6 thousand, with 80 pieces of artillery and 50 machine-guns. After a violent battle of 4 days, on May 25–28, both sides had serious losses. Although the Ottoman army managed to occupy Karakilisa and massacre all its population of 4,000 souls, it had no more forces to intrude farther into Armenian territories.

Wehib Pasha Wehib Pasha also known as Vehip Pasha, Mehmed Wehib Pasha, Mehmet Vehip Pasha (modern Turkish: ''Kaçı Vehip Paşa'' or ''Mehmet Vehip (Kaçı)'', 1877–1940), was a general in the Ottoman Army. He fought in the Balkan Wars and in several thea ...

speaking to his headquarters,

References

Karakilisa Karakilisa Karakilisa Karakilisa 1918 in the Ottoman Empire 1918 in Armenia May 1918 events {{Ottoman-battle-stub