Battle of Muş

This article possibly contains original research. Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding inline citations. Statements consisting only of original research should be removed. (November 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

This article may require copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone, or spelling. You can assist by editing it. (April 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Battle of Muş
Part of the Caucasus Campaign of World War I
Map of military operations on the Caucasus campaign in 1914–1916 by Andrei Zayonchkovski
Date 3 August 1916 – 24 August 1916 Location Muş, Ottoman Empire Result Russian victory[NB 1] Territorial changes Russian recapture of Muş and Bitlis
Belligerents
Ottoman Empire	Russian Empire Armenian volunteer units[1]
Commanders and leaders
Ahmed Izzet Pasha Mustafa Kemal Pasha Faik Pasha †	Nikolai Istomin Nikolai Yudenich Tovmas Nazarbekian[10]
Units involved
Second Army Kurdish Tribesmen	Russian Caucasus Army Armenian Fedayi
Strength
81,000[11]–120,000[12] men	50,000 men
Casualties and losses
56,000[12]–60,000 killed, wounded or captured[13][11]	20,000 killed, wounded and captured

The Battle of Muş, also known as the Ognot campaign, took place during World War I in the southeastern Anatolian region of the Ottoman Empire (present-day Turkey). One of the commanders involved was Mustafa Kemal, who later became known as Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey.^[14] The battle resulted in a Russian victory. After extended fighting, the Russians captured the city of Muş^[15] and inflicted heavy casualties on the Ottoman Second Army, nearly destroying it.^[3]

The Ottomans faced significant setbacks following major Russian victories in the northern theater and the capture of Bitlis in the south. This forced them to redeploy troops, including veterans from the successful defense of Gallipoli against Russia's Western allies.

On 3 August, with a significant manpower advantage (2.5:1), the Turks launched a general offensive along the entire front. After fierce fighting, the Russians abandoned Mus on 6–8 August. Despite heavy pressure, the 1st Russian Division managed to decisively defeat four Ottoman divisions. Due to the remote location, the initial phase of the operation presented logistical challenges for the Russians, who in some areas faced opponents outnumbering them 3–4 to 1.^[16]

Through a combination of heroic resistance and the effective deployment of new mobile artillery, the Russians inflicted significant casualties on the Ottomans.^[17] Seizing the opportunity, General Yudnich launched a counteroffensive across the entire front.^[18]

The Russians recaptured Muş on 23 August, with Ottoman General Faik Pasha reportedly killed during the battle.^[3] Some sources place his death on 24 or 25 August.

A Turkish defeat in the south solidified Russia's military dominance. In the aftermath, the second army suffered heavy losses at the hands of Russian artillery, reducing it to the size of a corps.^[3]

• Tucker, Spencer (2002). The Great War 1914-1918. UCL Press. ISBN 1-85728-390-2.
• Reynolds, Michel (2011). Shattering empires : the clash and collapse of the Ottoman and Russian empires, 1908-1918. Cambridge university press. ISBN 978-0-521-19553-9.
• Kernosovsky, Anton (1938). "Борьба на Кавказе" [Struggle in Caucasus]. История русской армии [History of the Russian army].
• Oleynikov, Alexei (2016). Россия-щит Антанты [Russia-Shield of Entente]. Foreword by Nikolai Starikov. St.Petersburg: Piter. ISBN 978-5-496-01795-4.
• Allen W. E. D., Muratoff P. P. Caucasian Battlefields: A History of the Wars on the Turco-Caucasian Border. 1828—1921 (англ.). — Cambridge: CUP, 1953. — 614 p. — ISBN 978-1-108-01335-2
• Zayonchkovski, Andrey (2002) [1929]. Первая Мировая Война [The First World War]. St.Petersburg: Poligon. ISBN 5-89173-174-6.
• Jaques, Tony (2006). Dictionary of Battles. Volume 1; "While Russian General Nikolai Yudenich seized Erzincan, Ahmet Izzet Pasha's Second Army advanced against the Russian left flank, where his corps cammder Mustafa Kemal seized Bitlis and Muş. Yudenich counter-attacked and, after prolonged combat west of Lake Van, he retook Bitlis and the Turks abandoned Muş before winter ended the fighting". Greenwood Press.
• Gerald, Herman (1992). The Pivotal Conflict: A Comprehensive Chronology of the First World War, 1914-1919. Westport: Greenwood Press. ISBN 0-313-22793-4.