User:Central Data Bank/Battles of Moush-Bitlis

The Battles of Moush-Bitlis, known in Turkey simply as the Battle of Bitlis (Bitlis Muharebesi) were fought between 2-8 August 1916, during the Caucasus campaign of World War I. The battles were part of the Ottoman Summer Offensive of 1916, in which the 2nd Army assaulted Russian positions in eastern Anatolia. Two Ottoman divisions, under the command of Mustafa Kemal Pasha assaulted positions of two Russian brigades at Bitlis and one regiment at Moush, all under the command of Tovmas Nazarbekian. Following severe defeats in the Caucasus, the capture of Moush and Bitlis greatly boosted Ottoman morale, while causing concern for General Nikolai Yudenich, the commander of the Russian Caucasus Army. Following the Turkish victories, the 2nd Army's advance stalled in late-August and the Russian Army was able to recapture Bitlis on 25 August leading to the Ottomans abandoning Moush in late September.