Battle of Artvin

The Battle of Artvin was a military confrontation between the Democratic Republic of Georgia and the Ottoman Empire in Artvin, present-day Turkey, on 20 April 1919, during the Turkish War of Independence. The battle resulted in a Georgian victory and the transfer of Artvin and Ardahan to Georgia.

Background
The first Battle of Artvin took place in 1918, when Turkish troops occupied Artvin, a town that had been under Georgian control since the end of World War I. The Turks also claimed the nearby town of Ardahan, which had been part of the Russian Empire before the war. The Georgians protested the Turkish invasion and appealed to the League of Nations for assistance. The League urged both sides to respect the status quo and negotiate a peaceful settlement.

Meanwhile, the Georgian army, led by General Giorgi Kvinitadze, launched a counter-offensive to reclaim Artvin and Ardahan. Kvinitadze had previously occupied Akhaltsikhe and Akhalkalaki, two towns in the former Russian province of Kars, on 20 April 1919.

Battle
On 20 April 1920, Kvinitadze's division reached Artvin and engaged the Turkish forces in the town. The Georgians had the advantage of surprise and superior numbers, and quickly overran the Turkish positions. The Turks retreated from Artvin and headed towards Ardahan, where they hoped to regroup and resist the Georgian advance. However, the Georgians pursued them and captured Ardahan as well.

Aftermath
The Second Battle of Artvin was a decisive victory for the Georgians, who secured their control over Artvin and Ardahan. The Turks agreed to withdraw from the region and recognize the Georgian sovereignty over the former Russian territories. The Georgians also gained access to the Port of Batumi, which the Turks had previously declared neutral, on the condition that they ensured the economic interests of both countries.

The battle was one of the few successes for the Georgian army, which soon faced the threat of the Red Army invasion from the north. The Soviet–Georgian War broke out in February 1921, and ended with the Soviet occupation of Georgia and the establishment of the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic. Artvin and Ardahan were annexed by Turkey in the Treaty of Kars in October 1921, ending the Georgian presence in the region.