How a desperate stand at Sardarabad saved the Armenian nation from total destruction
In May 1918, the Ottoman army pushed deep into Armenia, threatening to erase the nation from the map. With Yerevan facing imminent surrender, a ragtag force of soldiers, volunteers, and clergy launched a counter-offensive. This decisive battle halted the invasion and paved the way for the First Republic of Armenia.
By May 1918, the Ottoman Empire’s Third Army had occupied Western Armenia and was rapidly advancing into Eastern Armenia. Following the capture of the Castle of Kars on 25 April and Alexandropol on 15 May, the Ottoman command aimed to crush the remaining Armenian resistance and seize the oil-rich region of Baku. As hundreds of thousands of refugees fled toward Yerevan, the city council initially voted to surrender without a fight. However, the Special Committee, led by Aram Manukian, intervened, fortifying defenses and mobilizing the population to resist the encroaching forces.
The Battle of Sardarabad, fought from 21 to 29 May 1918, became the focal point of this survival effort. Under the command of Major-General Movses Silikyan and Colonel Daniel Bek-Pirumyan, the Armenian Yerevan detachment—comprising regular troops, militia, and volunteer units—faced an Ottoman force of 7,500 to 10,000 soldiers. Despite being outnumbered and initially forced to retreat, the Armenians regrouped. On 22 May, a coordinated counter-offensive, supported by effective artillery fire, broke the Ottoman vanguard. The victory allowed Armenian forces to push the invaders back 15 to 20 kilometres, securing the capital and preventing the total collapse of the region.
The significance of the battle extended far beyond the immediate military success. It halted the Ottoman advance, effectively preventing the destruction of the Armenian state. This victory directly facilitated the Treaty of Batum, which saw the Ottoman Empire recognize the newly established First Republic of Armenia. Historian Christopher J. Walker later noted that had the Armenians lost this engagement, the very name 'Armenia' might have been relegated to an antique geographical term. The battle remains a defining moment in Armenian history, symbolizing the resilience of a nation that refused to be erased.
Source: Battle of Sardarabad
