Topic summary
Armeno-Georgian War
First Republic of Armenia
Democratic Republic of GeorgiaVarden Tsulukidze
3 infantry regiments (28 companies)
4 cavalry squadrons
26 machine guns
7 mountain cannons
Support from local inhabitants and partisans
In Georgia proper:
12 infantry companies at Sadakhlo
Fewer infantry
2 armored trains
In Georgia proper:
2 infantry regiments
1,000 troops and 1 armored train at Sadakhlo
3,500 troops at Shulaveri
Total: Fewer than Georgia
- ~200 at Shulaveri (Dec 28)
- "Heavy losses" at Sadakhlo (Dec 22)
- Less than 100 taken prisoner
Total: Heavy
- ~1,000 taken prisoner total
- 500 killed, wounded, or captured at Hairum
- 60 casualties in pincer movement
- 2 armored trains, 28 cannons, ~75 machine guns, 200 loaded freight cars, and 3 locomotives
The Armeno-Georgian War was a short border dispute that was fought in December 1918 between the newly independent Democratic Republic of Georgia and the First Republic of Armenia, largely over the control of former districts of the Tiflis Governorate, in Borchaly (Lori) and Akhalkalaki.
In May 1918, towards the end of World War I, Armenia and Georgia both declared their independence, dissolving the short-lived union between them. Both Georgia and Armenia claimed Lori and Akhalkalaki, both of which were populated primarily by Armenians. The border dispute turned into an open military conflict on 7 December 1918. Armenian forces initiated coup de mains that brought them within 10 kilometers of the Georgian capital, Tiflis, before Georgian troops were able to organize counterattacks. Allied intervention forced a ceasefire. Battles continued until the ceasefire came into effect at midnight on December 31.
A neutral zone, under Allied supervision, was declared in the Borchaly district, which would later be split in between the two states. The large Armenian population of Tiflis and other Georgian-controlled regions was subject to mass arrests and other forms of persecution both during and after the war. Armenia did not succeed in the nearly-obtained original goal of gaining land up to the Khrami River, and the entire war took place on land that had been controlled prior by Georgia. The result of the war is considered inconclusive, with the Armenian side declaring a successful liberation of Armenian territories and the Georgian side declaring a successful defense against an invasion.