Battle of Robat Karim

The Battle of Rabat Karim (Persian: نبرد رباط کریم, December 27, 1915) was fought by the Iranian people, around Rabat Karim (near Tehran) during the First World War under the command of Heydar Latifiyan against the occupation of Iran by Russian forces.

This article is part of a series about Heydar Latifiyan
Member of Persian Constitutional Revolution 1905 - 1909 Democrat Party Supporter 1909 - 1915 Primary member of the National Committee 1915 - December 27, 1915 Commander of the Middle East theatre of WWI 1915 - December 27, 1915 The leadership of the national forces 1915 - December 27, 1915 Commander of Battle of Robat Karim December 27, 1915
Category Heydar Latifiyan not found
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Preparations

Before World War I

The Persian campaign or invasion of Iran was a series of military conflicts between the Ottoman Empire, British Empire and Russian Empire in various areas of what was then neutral Qajar Iran, beginning in December 1914 as part of the Middle Eastern Theatre of World War I.

Persia declared its neutrality during the outbreak of the First World War.^[1] Despite this, the country quickly became affected by the pre-war rivalry between the Allies and the Central Powers. Foreign interests in Persia were primarily based on the country's strategic location between British India, Imperial Russia, Afghanistan and the Ottoman Empire, as well as the country's oil reserves, which were first discovered on 26 May 1908.^[2]

In the

between the Russians and the British. The treaty was signed at a time when German imperial expansion into the region was underway and the agreement served both Russia and Britain by providing a counterweight to increasing German regional influence and potential future expansion into the region.

Beginning of Persian campaign

Russia was Iran's northern neighbor at that time and had many wars with Iran during the Qajar period. The British forces in the south and southeast of Iran had caused dissatisfaction among the Iranians by occupying parts of the Iranian soil under the pretext of protecting the interests of the Iranians.^[3][4][5]

During the First World War, despite the official announcement of Iran's neutrality, two countries, England and Russia, violated territorial sovereignty due to lack of trust.^[6][7]

When the Russian forces were advancing towards Tehran after signing the secret agreement of 1915 with England under the pretext of protecting the security of the embassy during Muharram, Mustofi al-Mamalek was under the influence of some of the million and following the democratic lawyers and distinguished men such as the late Modares believed that in order to eradicate Russian and British influence and get rid of their influence, Ottomans and Germany should be resorted to in the middle of the war because they have less history of colonialism in Iran. At the same time, they were considered the final victors of the war.^[7]

Forces

Persian forces

The Persian forces were established around certain districts, and not one single force. Each district furnished its own battalion and

. The Persian forces were dispersed at Tehran, Kazvin (Ghazvin), and Hamadan with the objective of keeping the country's main roads, which covered an estimated distance of 930 miles, under Persian control.

Russia Forces

Russia had long since established forces in the region. The

Andranik Ozanian

to this region.

• Forces engaged at the Campaign
• 
  Russian Caucasus Army
• 
  1914, Staff of Armenian volunteer units

Rulers of battle

Senior commanders

Battle zone

Robat Karim (Persian: رباطكريم) is a city in the Central District of Robat Karim County, Tehran province, Iran, serving as capital of both the county and the district.^[8]

One of the main reasons for the formation of the battle of Rabat Karim, the location of this city on the Silk Road and Khorasan pilgrimage route to Baghdad can be mentioned, and on the other hand, after Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar chose Tehran as the capital and he encouraged its construction and settlement. Tehran became the center of governmental and governmental affairs, the commuting of people to Tehran to meet their needs and perform administrative work from different parts of the country increased, and people from the southern regions of Iran, caravans, merchants and military units had to go from Rabat Karim, which is on the Saveh road to Tehran. It was true that they were passing through, which gradually attracted immigrants from various cities to Rabat Karim.^[9]

Last fight

The Russian army from one side reaches the village of Kolmeh, which is located between the Robat Karim road and Tehran,^[10] and the local fighters are surrounded from three sides. The Russians start bombarding the area from almost a mile, until in the evening, the strongholds of the local Batop fighters are bombarded, everyone survives. But in the evening, the infantry riders of the Russian army came closer and the war with swords started and after a bloody clash, seventy people were killed.^[11]

Heyder Latifiyan, the senior commander, was killed in this battle.^[12][11]

Aftermath

Ahmad Matin-Daftari (later Prime Minister of Iran) mentions the tragic fate and death of these resistance forces in his memoirs.^[13]

After the defeat of Robat Karim's popular resistance and his death, Abdul Hossein Farmanfarma expressed his regret through a telegram sent to Isfahan and told the National Defense Committee that: In addition to the 7-8-year exams and the Saveh and Rabat Karim exams, I will sit for one more exam in Isfahan and forcefully invite the foreign army to the middle of Iran, which is Isfahan..."

References

External Link

• Documentary on the First World War in Iran, produced by Saber Sadeghi, YouTube