The capture of Plevna by the troops of Alexander II turned the tide of the war against the Ottoman Empire.
The long siege claimed the lives of many soldiers on both sides. This victory allowed the Russian troops to open the road to Constantinople and liberate the Balkan countries from Turkish oppression. The operation to capture the fortress went down in military history as one of the most successful. The results of the campaign forever changed the geopolitical situation in Europe and the Middle East.
Background
Up until the middle of the nineteenth century, the Ottoman Empire controlled most of the Balkans and Bulgaria. Turkish oppression extended to almost all South Slavic peoples. The Russian Empire has always acted as the protector of all Slavs, and foreign policy was largely aimed at their liberation. However, following the results of the previous war, Russia lost a fleet in the Black Sea and a number of territories in the south. Allied treaties were also concluded between the Ottoman Empire and Great Britain. In the event of a declaration of war by the Russians, the British pledged to provide military assistance to the Turks. This situation ruled out the possibility of expelling the Ottomans from Europe. In return, the Turks promised to respect the rights of Christians and not persecute them on religious grounds.
OppressionSlavs
However, the 60s of the 19th century were marked by new persecutions of Christians. Muslims had great privileges before the law. In court, the voice of a Christian against a Muslim had no weight. Also, most of the local government posts were occupied by the Turks. Dissatisfaction with this state of affairs caused mass protests in Bulgaria and the Balkan countries. In the summer of 1975, an uprising begins in Bosnia. And a year later, in April, popular riots engulf Bulgaria. As a result, the Turks savagely suppress the uprising, killing tens of thousands of people. Such atrocities against Christians are causing discontent in Europe.
Under pressure from public opinion, the UK is abandoning its pro-Turkish policy. This unties the hands of the Russian Empire, which is preparing a campaign against the Ottomans.
Start of war
On the twelfth of April, the Russian-Turkish war began. The capture of Plevna will actually complete it in six months. However, there was a long way to go before that. According to the plan of the Russian headquarters, the troops were to attack from two directions. The first group to go through the Romanian territory to the Balkans, and the other to strike from the Caucasus. In both directions there were insurmountable obstacles. The Balkan ridge prevented a quick strike from the Caucasus, and the "quadrangle" of fortresses from Romania. The situation was also complicated by the possible intervention of the UK. Despite public pressure, the British still continued to support the Turks. Therefore, the war had to be won as soon as possible so that the Ottoman Empire capitulated before reinforcements arrived.
Fast offensive
The capture of Plevna was carried out by troops under the command of General Skobelev. In early July, the Russians crossed the Danube and reached the road to Sofia. In this campaign they were joined by the Romanian army. Initially, the Turks were going to meet the allies on the banks of the Danube. However, the rapid advance forced Osman Pasha to retreat to the fortresses. In fact, the first capture of Plevna took place on June 26th. An elite detachment under the command of Ivan Gurko entered the city. However, there were only fifty scouts in the unit. Almost simultaneously with the Russian Cossacks, three battalions of Turks entered the city, which drove them out.
Realizing that the capture of Plevna will give the Russians a complete strategic advantage, Osman Pasha decides to occupy the city before the arrival of the main forces. At this time, his army was in the city of Vidin. From there, the Turks were to advance along the Danube in order to prevent the Russians from crossing. However, the danger of encirclement forced the Muslims to abandon the original plan. On July 1, 19 battalions set out from Vidin. In six days they covered more than two hundred kilometers with artillery, baggage, provisions, and so on. At dawn on July 7, the Turks entered the fortress.
The Russians had the opportunity to take the city before Osman Pasha. However, the negligence of some commanders played. Due to the lack of military intelligence, the Russians did not learn in time about the Turkish march on the city. As a result, the capture of the fortress of Plevna by the Turks passed without battles. Russian General Yuri Schilder-Schuldner was only a day late.
But during this time, the Turks have alreadydig in and take up defense. After some deliberation, the headquarters decides to storm the fortress.
First seizure attempt
Russian troops attacked the city from two sides. General Schilder-Schuldern had no idea about the number of Turks in the city. He led the right column of troops, while the left marched at a distance of four kilometers. According to the original plan, both columns were supposed to enter the city at the same time. However, due to an incorrectly drawn map, they only moved away from each other. At about one in the afternoon, the main column approached the city. Suddenly, they were attacked by the advance detachments of the Turks, who had occupied Plevna only a few hours before. A battle ensued, which turned into an artillery duel.
Schilder-Schuldner had no idea about the actions of the left column, so he ordered to move away from the shelled positions and set up a camp. The left column under the command of Kleinghaus approached the city from the side of Grivitsa. Cossack intelligence was sent. Two hundred soldiers advanced along the river in order to reconnoiter the nearest villages and the fortress itself. However, when they heard the sounds of battle, they retreated to their own.
Offensive
On the night of July 8, it was decided to storm. The left column was advancing from the side of Grivitsa. The general with most of the soldiers came from the north. The main positions of Osman Pasha were near the village of Opanets. About eight thousand Russians marched against them at a front of up to three kilometers.
Due to the lowland, Schilder-Schuldner lost the ability to maneuver. His troops had to go tofrontal attack. Artillery preparation began at five o'clock in the morning. The Russian vanguard launched an attack on Bukovlek and drove the Turks out of there in two hours. The road to Plevna was open. The Arkhangelsk regiment went to the enemy's main battery. The fighters were at a distance of a shot from the artillery positions of the Ottomans. Osman Pasha understood that the numerical superiority was on his side, and gave the order to counterattack. Under pressure from the Turks, two regiments withdrew into the ravine. The general requested the support of the left column, but the enemy advanced too quickly. Therefore, Schilder-Schuldner ordered a retreat.
Strike from the other flank
At the same time, Kridener was advancing from the side of Grivitsa. At six o'clock in the morning (when the main troops had already begun artillery preparation), the Caucasian Corps hit the right flank of the Turkish defense. After the unstoppable onslaught of the Cossacks, the Ottomans in a panic began to flee to the fortress. However, by the time they took positions at Grivitsa, Schilder-Schuldner had already retreated. Therefore, the left column also began to retreat to their original positions. The capture of Plevna by Russian troops was stopped with heavy losses for the latter. The lack of intelligence and the inept decisions of the general had a lot to do with it.
Preparing a new offensive
After an unsuccessful assault, preparations began for a new attack. Russian troops received significant reinforcements. Cavalry and artillery units arrived. The city was surrounded. Spying began on all roads, especially those leading to Lovcha.
For several days was carried outreconnaissance in combat. Constant shootings were heard both day and night. However, it was not possible to find out the number of the Ottoman garrison in the city.
New assault
While the Russians were preparing for the assault, the Turks were rapidly building defenses. Construction took place in conditions of lack of tools and constant shelling. On the eighteenth of July, another assault began. The capture of Plevna by the Russians would mean defeat in the war. Therefore, Osman Pasha ordered his fighters to fight to the death. The attack was preceded by a long artillery preparation. After that, the soldiers rushed into battle from two flanks. Troops under the command of Kridener managed to capture the first lines of defense. Near the redoubt, however, they were met by overwhelming musket fire. After bloody skirmishes, the Russians had to retreat. The left flank was attacked by Skobelev. His fighters also failed to break through the Turkish defense lines. The fight went on all day. By evening, the Turks launched a counteroffensive and drove the Krinder soldiers out of their trenches. The Russians had to retreat again. After this defeat, the government turned to the Romanians for help.
Blockade
After the arrival of the Romanian troops, the blockade and the capture of Plevna became inevitable. Therefore, Osman Pasha decided to break out of the besieged fortress. On the thirty-first of August, his troops made a diversionary maneuver. After that, the main forces left the city and hit the nearest outposts.
After a short fight, they managed to push back the Russians and even capture one battery. However, soonreinforcements arrived. A close fight ensued. The Turks f altered and fled back to the city, leaving almost one and a half thousand of their soldiers on the battlefield.
For a complete siege of the fortress, it was necessary to capture Lovcha. It was through her that the Turks received reinforcements and provisions. The city was occupied by Turkish troops and auxiliary detachments of bashi-bazouks. They did an excellent job with punitive operations against the civilian population, but quickly left their positions at the prospect of meeting with the regular army. Therefore, when the Russians attacked the city on August 22, the Turks fled from there without much resistance.
After the capture of the city, the siege began, and the capture of Plevna was only a matter of time. Reinforcements arrived for the Russians. Osman Pasha also received reserves.
The capture of the Plevna fortress: December 10, 1877
After the complete encirclement of the city, the Turks remained completely cut off from the outside world. Osman Pasha refused to capitulate and continued to strengthen the fortress. By this time, 50 thousand Turks were hiding in the city against 120 thousand Russian and Romanian soldiers. Siege fortifications were built around the city. From time to time Plevna was shelled by artillery. The Turks were running out of provisions and ammunition. The army suffered from disease and hunger.
Osman Pasha decided to break out of the blockade, realizing that the imminent capture of Plevna was inevitable. The breakthrough date was set for December 10th. In the morning, Turkish troops set up scarecrows in the fortifications and began to break out of the city. But the Little Russian and Siberian regiments stood in their way. And the Ottomans went withlooted property and a large convoy.
Of course, this made it difficult to maneuver. After the start of the battle, reinforcements were sent to the breakthrough site. At first, the Turks managed to push back the forward detachments, but after a blow to the flank, they began to retreat into the lowland. After the inclusion of artillery in the battle, the Turks randomly ran and eventually capitulated.
After this victory, General Skobelev ordered that December 10 be celebrated as the Day of Military History. The capture of Plevna is celebrated in Bulgaria in our time. Because as a result of this victory, Christians got rid of Muslim oppression.
