How the Russians saved the Bulgarians from the Turks near Plevna, and why it didn’t work right away

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

At the end of 1877, after a long siege, the Russian army took the Plevna fortress. During the entire period of fierce battles, repeated assaults and siege campaigns, both sides suffered losses. But it all ended with the fact that, under pressure from the Russians, Osman Pasha went on an unsuccessful breakthrough and soon capitulated. Plevna, located at a crossroads, served as a transfer point for the army to the region of Constantinople (Istanbul). Therefore, the victory of the Russian troops became the strategically defining event of the entire Russian-Turkish war. Success in the Balkan Peninsula led to the complete defeat of the Turkish Empire.

Turkish liberties

Dissatisfaction with the aggressive Ottoman authority caused a wave of protests in Bulgaria and a number of Balkan countries. In the summer of 1875, an uprising engulfed Bosnia, and in the spring of the following year, a popular riot broke out in Bulgaria. The Turks responded mercilessly, massacring tens of thousands of people. The Russian Empire had to get involved in a war with Turkey because of the failed negotiations on a peaceful settlement of the situation with the insecurity of the Christian population of the Balkan Peninsula. Demonstrating overwhelming power against Christians, the Porta actually ignored the ultimatum of Alexander II for an armistice.

The plans of the Russian headquarters included an offensive against the Janissaries from two directions - through the Romanians to the Balkans and from the Caucasus. In July 1877, the first part of the troops of the Russian Empire crossed the Danube separating Romania and Bulgaria and consolidated its position near Plevna. Osman Pasha, realizing the strategic advantage of the object, decides to occupy Plevna without waiting for the main forces. Moreover, the Russians had every opportunity to do it first, but delay and negligence played into the hands of the Turks. Having no military intelligence at their disposal, the Russians missed the Turkish march on the city. So the Plevna fortress was occupied without a fight. The Ottomans quickly erected a fortification defense, turning Plevna into a thoroughly fortified area.

Skobelev's attacks and the failures of the Russians

The first serious battle for Plevna took place on July 18, but the attack of the Russian troops was drowned out. By August, the Russian army had lost thousands of soldiers. While General Skobelev was recovering and planning a new operation, the Ottomans built up a garrison and erected an additional line of engineering structures. All that remained was to take the city by storm. The 80,000-strong Russian army was accompanied by 32,000 Romanians and Bulgarian militias. A new assault was not long in coming. Skobelev's detachment managed to break through the Turkish defenses and approach Plevna. But the high command did not give the go-ahead to regroup the forces in order to support Skobelev with reserves. And the latter, under tangible counterattacks by superior enemy forces, retreated to their original positions. Either the lack of intelligence information prevented, or there were command errors, but the Skobelevsky breakthrough could not be used.

The headquarters understood: it was necessary to change the strategy. The military council on September 13 was headed by Alexander II himself, who arrived at the scene due to a difficult situation. Minister of War Milyutin proposed to abandon a head-on assault in favor of a siege. In the absence of large-caliber mounted artillery, it was a delusion to expect a thorough destruction of the fortifications of the Ottoman army. And open attacks only thinned out the Russian ranks. All that remained was to stake on the blockade, with which Alexander II completely agreed. Having secured their positions, they began to wait for reinforcements from Russia and plan a competent siege. The engineer-general Totleben, who arrived at the site, who had become famous during the defense of Sevastopol, concluded that the Turkish garrison would not withstand a prolonged blockade.

Russian army victory

After the arrival of solid reinforcements and the reinforcement of the Romanian wing, the capture of Plevna became inevitable. For an absolute siege of the fortress, it was required to capture neighboring Lovcha. Through this channel, the Turks received reinforcements with provisions. The city was for the most part controlled by auxiliary detachments of bashi-bazouks. These representatives of the irregular army easily managed with punitive duties in relation to the civilian population, but the prospect of meeting with the Russian military did not inspire them. With the first attack, the Bashibuzuki left Lovcha.

Now the Turks in Plevna found themselves in the final encirclement. Osman Pasha was in no hurry to surrender, continuing to strengthen the fortress. In the fortified areas of the city, up to 50 thousand Ottoman soldiers were hiding, which was opposed by a 120-thousand-strong enemy army. Plevna was watered by Russian artillery, Turkish provisions ordered to live long, the janissaries were mowed down by diseases.

Osman Pasha decided to break through. After a simple diversionary maneuver, the main Turkish forces went out of the city, striking at the Russian outposts. The Little Russian and Siberian regiments stood in the way of the Turks. The Ottomans tried to get out with the loot, which limited their maneuverability. A battle ensued, during which the Turks even at first managed to push back the forward detachments. But the reinforcements arrived in time, inflicted a powerful flank blow, forcing the pasha to back away. Further, as expected, artillery was connected, and the Turks, after chaotic throwing, surrendered.

Glee of Russia

The Russian emperor Alexander II, who was in Tuchenitsa, barely learning about the fall of the Turks in Plevna, immediately arrived to the troops with congratulations. The amazed Osman Pasha was condescendingly received by the Russian sovereign in the presence of the highest commanders. A short, delicate speech was made to the Turkish marshal, after which the saber was returned. This was followed by the solemn entry of the Russians into the conquered city, the general position of which turned out to be appalling. In hospitals, mosques and all kinds of buildings, there were sick, wounded and corpses. These unfortunates were left to fend for themselves, and a lot of efforts had to be made to restore order and help the victims.

On December 15, Alexander II allowed himself to return to St. Petersburg, where he was greeted with unprecedented enthusiasm and popular jubilation. After negotiations with the capitulating Port, Montenegro, Serbia and Romania gained independence, and Bulgaria began to be called an autonomous principality.

Well, after the relations between Russia and independent Bulgaria, at times it was not easy. However, there was a time when Bulgaria asked to join the USSR as an autonomous Soviet republic.