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BATTLE // December 22, 1914

Battle of Sarikamish

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Overview

The Battle of Sarikamish was an engagement between the Russian and Ottoman Empires during World War I. It took place from 22 December 1914, to 17 January 1915, as part of the Caucasus campaign.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Significance

The Battle of Sarikamish was a major engagement of the Caucasus campaign of World War I, fought between Russian and Ottoman forces over roughly four weeks spanning late December 1914 into January 1915. The Ottoman force of approximately 100,000 men suffered around 30,000 casualties against a Russian force of 78,000, which itself sustained 20,000 to 22,000 losses. The disparity in losses pointed to a serious Ottoman setback in the campaign to contest Russian control in the Caucasus region. The engagement was significant within the broader Caucasus campaign as a contest of two imperial powers for dominance in a strategically sensitive theater, and the scale of Ottoman losses had lasting consequences for the empire's capacity to sustain offensive operations in that theater.

Forces & casualties

Troop strength

  • Russian Empire78,000
    medium
  • Ottoman Empire100,000
    medium

Ottoman Empire fielded a 1.3 : 1 numerical advantage

Casualties

  • Russian Empire20,000–22,000
    medium27% loss rate
  • Ottoman Empire30,000
    medium30% loss rate

Commanders (14)

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Related

6 sibling battles · 4 factions

Last verified June 2026
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