Battle of Gorni-Dubnik

Battle of Gorni Dubnik

Part of: Russo-Ottoman War (1877–1878)

contemporary representation

date	October 24, 1877
place	Gorni Dubnik , Ottoman Empire today Bulgaria
output	Russian victory
consequences	Blocking of the Ottoman supplies to Pleven

Parties to the conflict
Russia	Ottoman Empire
Commander
General Josef Gurko	Ahmed Hifzi Pasha
Troop strength
18,000, 50 cannons	4,000
losses
829 dead, 2,482 wounded	1,500 dead, 2,289 prisoners, 4 cannons

The Battle of Gorni-Dubnik ( Bulgarian Битка при Горни Дъбник ) in what is now Bulgaria on October 24, 1877 was part of the Russo-Ottoman War 1877–1878. This battle was the first and decisive military operation of the Russian western troops with the aim of interrupting the supply and communication lines of the Ottoman garrison in Pleven and closing the siege ring around Pleven. The Russian troops initially encountered heavy resistance, which, however, quickly collapsed under the attack from both flanks. The Ottoman defense lines were pushed back and the Finnish-Russian Guards sniper regiment stormed the fortress walls. October 24 is still a day of honor for the troops.

prehistory

The Russian general Josef Gurko was recalled from the Shipka Pass to attack other cities in the vicinity of Pleven. With the aim of ending the siege of Pleven more quickly, the Russian troops attacked the post 30 km to the west on the route to Vidin and Sofia. Prior to the beginning of September was in the Battle of Lovech already located 40 km south of Lovech beaten an important Ottoman garrison.

Operational list of forces

The plan of attack was to prevent attempts by the garrison in Plewen to reinforce the Ottoman troops in the Reduten (village Dolni Dabnik and village Telisch). The plan was already known to the senior officers. The orders were issued to the troops the following day. The attack was scheduled for October 24th.

The Ottoman fortifications were built from September 20 to 30, 1877 on the hill near the village of Gorni Dubnik (Bulgarian Горни Дъбник). The Sofia – Pleven road runs through this fortification line, it crossed the fortification line between two heights of the fortification line. The “Great Redoute ” was located on the northern hill , which also commanded the “Small Redoute” on the southern hill. The northern hill had almost vertical slopes, the southern hill only relatively flat. The redoubts were manned with 3800 men (consisting of 6 Tabur - Ottoman army unit (battalion) of 800 men, 6 squadrons and 4 guns), who were under the command of Ahmed Hifzi Pasha .

15,613 Russian fighters and 48 artillery pieces were available for direct use against these Ottoman troops. These troops, commanded by Lieutenant General Gurko, consisted of Guard units newly arrived from Russia. Three Russian groups were formed: the right (under Major-General Ellis ) attacked from the northeast, the middle (under Major-General Sedeler ) from the southeast, and the left (under Major-General Rosenbach ) attacked from the southwest.

The attack on October 24th

The Russian attack took place in three stages. The first attack (until noon) consisted of uncoordinated actions by the three Russian groups. The middle group achieved the most significant successes. At around 9.30 am, the Life Guard Grenadier Infantry Regiment attacked , captured the “Small Redoute” and pursued the enemy, but the “Great Redoute” was then attacked without success. The Moscow Infantry Regiment's Life Guard came within 80 to 100 paces of the "Great Redoute". The right-wing Russian group, which was under attack near the village of Dolni Dabnik, came within 800 paces. The Finland Bodyguard Regiment , which belonged to the left group, managed to take individual trenches. The second stage of the attack began around 3:00 p.m. or 5:00 p.m. The group on the right came up to 40 paces from the “Great Redoute” in individual places. Gurko decided to hold on to the positions he had won and to prepare a night attack. The third phase of the attack began spontaneously, without the knowledge of the commanders, who were surprised by the initiative of the soldiers of the Finnish-Russian Guards Sniper Regiment . The soldiers rose to attack, violated the rules of the Combat Statute and used their own tactics: digging, moving in small groups, mutual fire protection with cannon fire. They penetrated the "Great Redoubt", where there was heavy hand-to-hand fighting .

With their superior troop strength, the Russians quickly succeeded in pushing back the Ottoman defenders. General Gurko repeated his attacks until finally the defenders under Hifzi Pasha had to give up. In the following month, other Ottoman fortresses fell, including Orchanie (now Botevgrad ). The fighting was so intense that only the third Ottoman offer of surrender was accepted by the Russians.

Results

The Ottoman garrison in Gorni Dubnik was smashed and survivors were taken prisoner. The Russian forces took an important step towards closing the blockade ring around Pleven. The Pleven garrison capitulated a month and a half later, on December 10th.

There were 3,302 dead and injured on the Russian side. Among them was Major General Vasily Lavrov, the commander of the Finland Bodyguard Regiment . The Ottoman losses were 1,500 dead and 2,298 prisoners.

To commemorate the battle, the “General VN Lavrov” memorial complex was created near the village of Gorni Dabnik.

See also

• Battles of the Russo-Ottoman War (1877–1878)

literature

• FV Greene: The Russian Army and Its Campaigns in Turkey in 1877–1878 . Swedenborg Press, 2008, ISBN 978-1-4437-8531-0 .
• Zonko Genow: Oswoboditelnata wojna 1877–1878. Verlag Nauka i Iskustwo, Sofia, 1978, bulg. (Цонко Генов: Освободителната война 1877–1878. Изд. "Наука и Изкуство", София, 1978, с.170-171)
• Georgi Georgiev: Oswoboditelnata wojna 1877–1878. Encyclopedic Dictionary, Verlag P. Beron, Sofia, 1986, pp. 102, 141-142, bulg. (Освободителната война 1877-1878, Енциклопедичен справочник, 1986, Сигиев Геор, 1986, Георгиев,. 141-142)
• I. Rengarten: Detelnost Lejb-gwardiii Sapernowo bataliona be pochod 1877–1878 gg. Be ewropejskoj Turzii. Saint-Petersburg, 1879, Russ. (И.Ренгартенъ. Дътельность Лейбъ-гвардiии Сапернаго баталiона въ походъ 1877-1878 гг. Въ европейской Турции. Типографиiя Департамента Удълов. Санкт-Петербургъ. 1879)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ "General VNLavrov" memorial park - village of Gorny Dabnik

Coordinates: 43 ° 13 '27.5 "  N , 24 ° 13' 4.8"  E