The Capture of Trabzon refers to the military operation carried out by the reorganized Ottoman Third Army, under the command of Wehip Pasha, which resulted in the seizure of Trabzon from Russian control on February 24, 1918. This event took place during World War I.[7]
Seizure
In the context of the Ottoman front during World War I, the German government had initially opposed Turkish advances into the Caucasus region. However, due to their growing frustration with the actions of Trotsky, the Germans abandoned their previous objections and agreed in the final version of the Brest-Litovsk Treaty to the clearance of Russian troops from the districts of Ardahan, Kars, and Batum.[7]
Taking advantage of this shift in German policy, the reorganized Ottoman Third Army, which incorporated divisions from the disbanded Second Army, undertook an offensive to capture Trabzon. Vehip Pasha, the commander of the Ottoman Third Army, led this operation.[7]
On February 24, 1918, Trabzon was successfully seized by Ottoman forces.[8] However, the capture of the city was not without bloodshed. Approximately 600 individuals lost their lives, and 700 others were wounded, primarily due to an explosion in an ammunitions depot. The circumstances surrounding the explosion remain uncertain, as it is unclear whether it was an accident or an intentional act. The casualties included 1,050 Russians and 250 Greeks,[9] highlighting the diverse ethnic composition of the region.[7]
