Battle of Ghazni

Battle of Ghazni

Part of: First Anglo-Afghan War

Siege of the fortress by British troops, the city is captured by a frontal attack

date	July 21, 1839 to July 23, 1839
place	Ghazni
output	British victory, capture of the city of Ghazni
consequences	The British took Kabul on August 7, 1839

Parties to the conflict
United Kingdom	Afghanistan
Commander
Sir John Keane	Hyder Khan
Troop strength
22,500	3,500
losses
200 dead and wounded	500 dead, 1,600 prisoners

The Battle of Ghazni was a battle as part of the First Anglo-Afghan War . The battle ended with a victory for the British Army on July 23, 1839 and the capture of the city.

Starting position

The Battle of Ghazni was part of the First Anglo-Afghan War. The British colonial rulers in India were increasingly faced with the threat of a Russian invasion. In order to avoid this, the British wanted to take Afghanistan and thus fend off the Russian desire for expansion. After the merger of the Bengal Army and the Bombay Army, the commander Sir John Keane had 22,500 men, made up of British, Indians and Afghans. After reaching Afghanistan, the British troops took Kandahar on May 4, 1839 without a fight. On the way to the capital, Kabul, Ghazni was the largest fortress that stood in the way of the British army.

course

On July 21, 1839, the British army reached the city of Ghazni. There, the information that British scouts had already reported was confirmed: the city was well fortified by a moat and a high wall. The British Army camped outside the city. Part of the army under Shuja Shah Durrani camped away to fend off attempts by other Afghan tribes to break the siege. These troops were attacked by thousands of Ghilzai warriors, but they were repulsed.

Through information from captured defenders, the British knew that the city's Kabul Gate was the weak point of the fortification. As a result, the British positioned their artillery at this gate and prepared a frontal attack. This began on July 23, 1839 at 3 a.m. Under fire protection from the artillery, British engineers managed to blow up the Kabul gate. Thereupon 4 regiments under Lieutenant Colonel Deenie attacked the city through the Kabul gate. The Afghans tried to stop the British, but British troops reached the city center before dawn. The city was taken with it. The British lost 200 soldiers in this battle, the Afghans lost 500 deaths and 1,600 Afghans were taken prisoner.

consequences

The British marched in a row on the capital Kabul and forced the surrender of the Afghan ruler Dost Mohammed . Sir John Keane has received several military awards.

Individual evidence

1. ^ Battle of Ghuznee. Retrieved April 28, 2017 (American English). 
2. ^ Battle of Ghazni; Prelude; Invasion of Afghanistan; Battle for the city; Aftermath; Battle Honor 'Ghasni 1839'. Retrieved April 28, 2017 .