Battle of Karakilisa

Battle of Karakilisa
Part of Caucasus Campaign

Armenian Defense of 1918
DateMay 25–28, 1918
Location
Result Ottoman victory[1][2]
Belligerents
Armenia Ottoman Empire
Commanders and leaders
Tovmas Nazarbekian
Garegin Nzhdeh
Andranik Ozanian
Wehib Pasha
Kazim Pasha
Units involved
1st infantry division
8th infantry regiment
5th division
36th division
Strength
6,000
70 cannons and 20 Machine guns
10,000
70 Cannons and 40 Machine Guns
Casualties and losses
1,000 dead and captured Heavy
4,000 civilian massacred

The Battle of Karakilisa (Armenian: Ղարաքիլիսայի ճակատամարտ Gharakilisayi chakatamart, Turkish: Karakilise Muharebesi or Karakilise Muharebeleri) took place during the Caucasus Campaign of World War I in the vicinity of Karakilisa (now Vanadzor), on May 25–28, 1918.

  1. ^ Gilbert 2023, p. 568, “On May 26, the Turks won the Battle of Karakilis. 5,000 Armenians escaped through mountain passes.”.
  2. ^ Allen 1953, p. 476, ”Thus both Silikov and Dro, operating on terms of numerical equality with the enemy, had each secured an important success. But the failure of Nazarbekov against the 36th and 5th Caucasian Divisions made the situation of the Erevan group still rather precarious.”.