RE: LeoThread 2025-07-06 17:04

Part 9/13:

Despite the initial assault on December 29, the Ottoman forces suffered severe setbacks. They made no significant progress into the Russian-held city of Sarykamysh, lost nearly half their troops, and became overwhelmed by Russian reinforcements. The Ottoman army's moral and physical condition deteriorated rapidly, culminating in a disastrous retreat beginning January 4, 1915.

The Catastrophic Losses and the Failure of the Ottoman Offensive

The scale of Ottoman casualties was staggering. Records indicate that out of approximately 95,000 soldiers involved, only around 18,000 survived from the original force—a casualty rate of over 80%. Many soldiers succumbed not in combat but from the harsh winter, exhaustion, and exposure before even reaching the battlefield.