Battle of Sofia
This article includes a improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (January 2018) ) |
Battle of Sofia | |
---|---|
Part of Danube Vilayet, Ottoman Empire (now Bulgaria ) | |
Result | Russian victory |
Territorial changes | Liberation of Sofia from Turkish rule |
Lt Gen Nikolay Velyaminov
Major General Otton Rauch
579 wounded
430 wounded
The Battle of Sofia (Bulgarian: Битката при София) was the culmination of Russian General Iosif Gurko's Western Squad for the defeat of the Orhaniye army in the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878). It led to the Liberation of Sofia from Turkish rule.
Battle of Sofia
Location of power
In early January 1877, the West army group Gurko successfully crossed the Balkan Mountains. Parts of the group was to focus on Yana village. The Orhaniye Ottoman army after the Battle of Tashkessen retired to the Sofia area. Western group Gurko passed to operation Orhaniye to defeat the Ottoman army, according to the plan for final action in the war. General Iosif Gurko said: "Probably we would not have crossed the mountain, were it not for these silent and strong Bulgarians who brought us bread and hot food. They prompted us to remove the horses to harness their oxen to the guns and so went the first party to pass through snowdrifts and freezing cold."
Part of the forces of the West group Gurko with 20,000 soldiers and 46 cannons commanded by Major General Otto Rauch were directed into Sofia field. They were grouped into two columns: the right column of Lieutenant General Nikolai Velyaminov attacked from the north, and the left column of Major General Otto Rauch from the east. The opponent was Sofia's Ottoman holding force, 15,000 soldiers under Commander Osman Nuri Pasha, who occupied the approaches to the city and fortifications around the city.
Battle of Gorni Bogrov
On 19/31 December[note 1] Ottoman forces (5000 soldiers) were directed against the column of Lieutenant Velyaminov (4200 soldiers). The Ottomans burned Dolni Bogrov and Botunets villages. This led to a gun battle. The next day, December 20 / January 1, attacking frontally, they made two attacks and attempt to attack the Russian flanks. After Russian counterattack the Ottomans abandoned Dolni Bogrov and by nightfall fled and were pursued.
Fight at Vrazhdebna
On December 21 / January 2 the column of Major General Rauch came from
Liberation of Sofia
The forces of the West group Gurko attacked in total offensive on 22 December / January 3. Column Lieutenant Velyaminov captured
Results
After the Battle of Sofia the Orhaniye Ottoman army ceased to exist as an organized military force. The Ottomans suffered irreparable human and material losses. This opened for offensive the direction of Sofia - Plovdiv - Edirne. Plovdiv was liberated on January 16 and Edirne was conquered on 20 January.
Notes
- ^ For the duplicated dates in this article, see Old Style and New Style dates
References
- Освободителната война 1877–1878, С., 1986, с. 59,64,122
- Освободителната война 1877–1878, С., 1978, с. 94
External links
- Освобождението на София Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine –
- 137 години от освобождението на София от османска власт: На 4 януари 1878 г. Западният руски отряд под командата на генерал-лейтенант Гурко освобождава София Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine Article from December 1927 of the newspaper "Fatherland", organ of the Union of Reserve Officers. The occasion is the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the city.
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