Latest / The Story of Armenia: Survival Through Empires and Genocide — Fexingo History / The Battle of Sardarabad: Armenia's Last Stand for Independence
Transcript
- Lucas: Welcome back to The Story of Armenia. I'm Lucas, and today we're going to talk about one of the most pivotal moments in modern Armenian history: the Battle of Sardarabad in May 1918. If you've listened to our previous episodes on the Genocide and the First Republic, you know the general shape of this story. But today we're digging into the battle itself — the desperate three days that essentially saved the Armenian nation from extinction. Luna: I know the basic outline — that the battle allowed the First Republic to declare independence — but I've never really understood the details. Like, how did a ragtag force manage to stop the Ottoman army? Lucas: That's exactly what we'll explore. So, to set the scene: it's early 1918. The Russian Empire has collapsed in revolution, and the Bolsheviks have signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with the Central Powers, effectively ceding huge territories in the Caucasus to the Ottomans. By April, Ottoman forces under the Third Army are advancing eastward, recapturing Erzurum and pushing into what is now Armenia. The Ottoman goal isn't just territorial — it's to finally extinguish the Armenian presence there. The Armenian population in the Caucasus has been swelled by hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing the Genocide in the Ottoman Empire, and the Ottoman commanders see a chance to finish the job. Luna: So the Armenians were outnumbered and outgunned, with little outside help. Lucas: Exactly. The Armenian National Council, a provisional government in Tiflis, had only a few thousand organized troops — largely former soldiers of the Russian Imperial Army, along with volunteer units and fedayi fighters. Their commander was Movses Silikyan, a former Russian general of Armenian origin. He had to cobble together a defense with whatever he could find. The main Ottoman thrust came toward the town of Sardarabad, about forty kilometers west of Yerevan. If the Ottomans broke through there, Yerevan would fall, and the entire region would be overrun. Luna: What did the Armenian force look like at Sardarabad? Lucas: It was a mix. About three thousand regular troops, plus several thousand irregulars — fedayi, local villagers, even women and children helping with logistics. They had a few artillery pieces, but they were desperately short of ammunition. Silikyan organized them into three groups: one to hold the line at Sardarabad itself, another to block a flanking move at Karakilisa, and a third to guard the approaches at Bash-Abaran. The battle began on May 21, 1918. The Ottomans attacked in force, with perhaps ten thousand men and heavy artillery. For two days, the Armenian defenders held on by sheer will. Then on the third day, Silikyan ordered a counterattack. It was a gamble, but it worked. The Ottoman lines broke, and they retreated in disarray. Luna: A counterattack with exhausted troops — that's gutsy. What made it succeed? Lucas: Several factors. One, the Armenian fighters knew they were fighting for their homes and families — there was no fallback. Two, the Ottoman supply lines were overstretched, and their troops were tired from months of campaigning. Three, Silikyan used the terrain well, positioning his forces on high ground. And four, the Armenian cavalry — mostly fedayi horsemen — hit the Ottoman flanks just as their infantry wavered. It was a near thing, though. If the Ottomans had pressed just one more day, they might have broken through. Luna: And at the same time, there were battles at Karakilisa and Bash-Abaran, right? Lucas: Right. At Karakilisa, a force led by Garegin Nzhdeh held off a larger Ottoman column. At Bash-Abaran, Drastamat Kanayan — known as Dro — led a successful defense. These three battles are often grouped together as the May Uprising. They were coordinated and independent, but together they stopped the Ottoman advance. By May 28, it was clear the Ottomans couldn't push further. That same day, the Armenian National Council declared the independence of the First Republic of Armenia in Tiflis. Sardarabad made that declaration possible. Luna: So independence was declared in Tiflis, not in Yerevan? Lucas: Yes. Tiflis was the political center for Caucasian Armenians at the time. The declaration was read by Aram Manukian, a key leader of the council. But the new republic's territory was tiny — just a sliver around Yerevan, with a population of about a million, including hundreds of thousands of refugees from the Genocide. It faced immediate threats: the Ottomans, the newly independent Georgian state, the Azerbaijani republic, and the White and Red Russian forces. It was a fragile birth, but Sardarabad gave it life. Luna: I've heard some controversy about the battle — that it's been mythologized. Is that true? Lucas: There's a lot of national pride wrapped up in Sardarabad, and it's become a symbol of Armenian resistance. Some historians have pointed out that the Ottoman force wasn't their best — they were exhausted and supply issues. And the Armenian force, while desperate, included experienced officers from the Russian army. But the core facts are clear: the Armenian defenders won a crucial victory against a larger, better-equipped army. The alternative would have been catastrophic. It's also worth noting that the battle has sometimes been overshadowed by the Genocide narrative itself, but in Armenia, Sardarabad is remembered as a moment of redemption. Luna: What about the foreign missionaries who were there? I've heard of Clarence Ussher. Lucas: Clarence Ussher was an American missionary and doctor who was in Van during the genocide and later in Yerevan. He wrote a memoir called 'An American Physician in Turkey' that describes the events. He's a controversial figure — some see him as a hero for his humanitarian work, others criticize him for his role in the Van resistance. At Sardarabad, he wasn't a combatant, but he provided medical aid to Armenian fighters. His accounts are valuable primary sources, though they come with his own perspectives and biases. Luna: So Sardarabad didn't end the war for Armenia. What happened next? Lucas: The Ottomans regrouped, and by June, they renewed their offensive, this time aiming for Yerevan. The Armenian forces fought on, but they were outmatched. In July, the Treaty of Batum was signed between the Ottoman Empire and the new Armenian republic, recognizing roughly the territory Armenia then held — about 12,000 square kilometers. It gave Armenia a breathing space, but the Ottomans still held claims. Then in October, the Ottoman Empire surrendered to the Allies, and the situation shifted again. The First Republic of Armenia survived for two more years, until it was invaded by the Red Army in 1920. But Sardarabad remains the moment when Armenians took their fate into their own hands. Luna: It's a remarkable story of resilience. I'm surprised it's not more widely known outside the Armenian community. Lucas: It's one of those battles that history buffs should know. It's a classic underdog victory that had enormous consequences — if the Ottomans had won, there might not be an Armenia today. The battle is commemorated each year on May 28 in Armenia, and a memorial complex stands on the site. It's a quiet place, with a beautiful altar and a museum. I hope listeners will look into it more. For now, I think that gives us a good picture of Sardarabad. Luna: Thanks, Lucas. That was a powerful story. Lucas: Glad to share it. Next time on The Story of Armenia, we'll look at the cultural flourishing of the First Republic in its brief two-year existence. Until then, thanks for listening.