Turkish-Georgian War (1921)

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Ankara Government during the Red Army invasion of Georgia
Part of the Red Army invasion of Georgia
1921 Turkish-Georgian War.png
Map of Turkish intervention of Georgian-held territories February–March 1921
Date23 February-17 March 1921
Location
Result Turkish victory
Territorial
changes
Artvin and Ardahan ceded back to Turkey
Belligerents
Flag of Turkey.svg Turkish Prosovisional Government Flag of Georgia (1918-1921, 4-5).svg Georgian Democratical Republic
Commanders and leaders

Flag of Turkey.svg Kazım Pasha

Flag of Turkey.svg Hüseyin Yalabık

Flag of Georgia (1918-1921, 4-5).svg Noe Jordania Flag of Georgia (1918-1921, 4-5).svg Giorgi Kvinitadze

Flag of Georgia (1918-1921, 4-5).svg Giorgi Mazniashvili
Units involved
15th army corps National Guards of Georgia
Strength
20,000
  • 11,000 infantry
  • 400 mounted infantry
  • hundreds from the People's Guard of Georgia
  • 46 artillery pieces
  • several hundred machine guns
  • 56 fighter aircraft

(including 25 Ansaldo SVA-10s and one Sopwith Camel.)

Contents

  • 4 armoured trains
several armoured cars [1]
Casualties and losses
30 killed, 26 wounded and 46 missing[ citation needed ]

3,200 killed or captured, Unknown number wounded
In total:

20,000 dead [ citation needed ]

During the Red Army invasion of Georgia, Russian SFRS wanted Turkey to join the invasion.[ citation needed ] Turkey intervened the invasion on 23 February 1921 and gave an Ultimatum to the Georgian government.[ citation needed ] The war ended on 17 March 1921.

Background

During the invasion, Turkey was giving a war of independence. Turkish-Soviet Russia relationships was getting better after the invasion of Armenia, USSR asked Turks to bring an ambassador and Turks accepted this. The Bolsheviks was going to help Turks with giving ammunation and Rubles after the Treaty of Moscow.[ citation needed ]

In addition, Ankara Government estavlished diplomatic relationships with Georgia on November 13, 1920, and recognized Georgia with its -current- borders.

Kâzım Dirik was appointed as the Tbilisi embassy by the Ankara Government during these times. Georgian ambassador Svimon Mdivani and his accompanying delegation were received by Mustafa Kemal Pasha in Ankara on February 8, 1921.

However, Russian SFSR wanted Turkey's contribution to the invasion of Georgia. The Russians showed this offer to Ali Fuat Pasha, who conveyed this offer to Ankara and Mustafa Kemal Pasha approved it.

However, the Ankara Government had even started to hold border negotiations with Georgia.[ citation needed ] Still, the occupation started.

War

On 23 February 1921, Grand National Assembly issued an ultimatum that says Ardahan an Artvin should be evacuated and given to Turkey. [2] Even though the ultimatum never accepted in legality, The Mensheviks, under fire from both sides, had to accede, and the Turkish force advanced into Georgia, occupying the frontier areas. Although there was no serious conflict with Turkish and Georgian forces, minor clashes occurred in areas where evacuation was requested.[ citation needed ]

Artvin

Turkish forces entered Artvin on 23 February 1921.[ citation needed ]

Ardahan

Turkish forces entered Ardahan on 24 February, 1921.[ citation needed ]

Batumi

Turkish forces enter Batumi

Karabekir Pasha and his forces occupied Batumi on 11 March 1921.[ citation needed ]

Battle of Batumi

The battle was between 3,500 Georgian and 4,000 Turkish soldiers.[ citation needed ] Main goal of the Georgians during this battle was removing Turkish army from Batumi.

On March 18–19, the Georgian units under the command of General Giorgi Mazniashvili fought against the Turkish soldiers commanded by Kazim Karabekir and managed to defeat them. On March 20, the Turks left Batumi.[ citation needed ] After defeating Turks, Mazniashvili surrendered it to Bolsheviks.[ citation needed ]

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References

  1. Iveria, 07/20/2024
  2. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, Nutuk, İstanbul, 1934, 2nd volume, p. 41