Siege of Dushanbe
| Siege of Dushanbe (1922) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Russian Civil War, Enver Pasha's Rebellion, the Basmachi movement, Enver Pasha's campaign in Bukhara, and the Battles for Dushanbe (1922) | |||||||||
 Areas effected by the Basmachi rebellion in green | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
 Basmachi Movement |
 Russian SFSR Soviet Bukhara | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
|
Enver Pasha |
Unknown Soviet commander † Mazarof | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
|
~1,500 Basmachi rebels[2] |
7,000–8,000[3] | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
|
Light |
Heavy | ||||||||
The siege of Dushanbe took place in February 1922 during the Basmachi rebellion, an anti-Soviet uprising in Central Asia. The town of Dushanbe was captured by Basmachi forces under the command of Enver Pasha, a former Ottoman military leader who had aligned himself with the Basmachi rebels. The Soviet garrison was overwhelmed after a brief siege, and the Basmachi forces gained control of the town, marking a significant moment in the rebellion.[4]
Background
The siege of Dushanbe occurred during the Basmachi rebellion, a widespread anti-Soviet insurgency in Central Asia that lasted from 1916 to 1934. The rebellion was driven by a combination of factors including resistance to Soviet rule, nationalistic aspirations, and local grievances against Bolshevik policies.[5]
Dushanbe, then a small town in the Soviet Central Asian region, was of strategic importance due to its location in the region of Tajikistan. Control of Dushanbe was crucial for both the Basmachi rebels and the Soviet authorities, as it provided a critical base for operations and influence over the surrounding area.
Enver Pasha, a former Ottoman military leader who had fled to Central Asia after World War I, emerged as a prominent leader among the Basmachi forces. His involvement was driven by both personal ambition and the broader goal of resisting Soviet control in the region. Enver Pasha's strategic leadership played a pivotal role in the Basmachi offensive against Soviet positions.[4]
In early 1922, Enver Pasha's Basmachi forces, estimated at 1,500 strong,[2] launched a well-coordinated siege on Dushanbe. The Soviet garrison, although committed to defending the town, faced challenges due to the lack of reinforcements and resources. The siege was characterized by intense combat, with Pasha's forces employing a combination of direct assaults and psychological warfare to pressure the Soviet defenders.[6]
Encirclement of Dushanbe by the Basmachi forces
The town was besieged on 28 January or 8 February. The Russians sent wireless messages requesting reinforcements from the garrisons in Tashkent, Bukhara, and Samarkand.[7][8] Meanwhile, a Russian cavalry detachment dispatched from Denov to relieve the Bolsheviks trapped in Dushanbe was ambushed; its soldiers were neutralized, and machine guns, rifles, and ammunition were captured.[9]
On 31 January, Soviet troops attempted to raid the village of Kampçı but ultimately failed. The Basmachis captured one horse, inflicted heavy losses on the Russians, and pursued them all the way to Dushanbe.[10]
The Soviet garrison, although determined, struggled to withstand the sustained siege due to limited reinforcements and supplies. The Basmachi rebels were able to cut off supply lines and effectively isolate the town. Intense fighting and the rebels' strategic positioning gradually eroded the Soviet defenses.[4] On 7 February, the Soviets suffered over 100 casualties. The Basmachis captured a machine gun, along with numerous rifles and ammunition. Seventy-two Russian troops defected and joined the Basmachis.[11]
According to Cemal Kutay, the Russian commander in Dushanbe, Mazarof, reported that Enver Pasha had organized a strong resistance movement with growing local support, inflicting heavy losses on Russian forces and compelling them to contemplate abandoning the city.[12]
By 14 February, during a smoky and snowy noon, the town was completely captured, and Enver pursued the retreating Russian forces toward Mirtyube. His troops seized 120 rifles and two machine guns, inflicting around 100 casualties on the Russian garrison, while 88 soldiers defected to his side.[13][14] At Mirtyube, Enver's forces clashed with the Bolsheviks once again, resulting in a decisive victory for Enver's troops.[15][16] The remaining elements of the 7th Soviet Regiment retreated to Boysun.[17]
Aftermath
This victory was significant as it demonstrated the effectiveness of Pasha's leadership and the rebels' ability to challenge Soviet control in the region.
The capture of Dushanbe was a temporary success for the Basmachi rebels. The Soviet Union responded with increased military efforts to regain control over the region.[6] Between 28 January and 22 February, Enver Pasha's forces, numbering around 1,500 men, captured Sariosiyo, Qubodiyon, Yurchi, and Denov against a Soviet force estimated at 7,000–8,000 troops. During these engagements, the Russians suffered around seventy deaths, abandoning their supplies, ammunition, five machine guns, two cannons, and hundreds of rifles. Enver was wounded during the operations, and several Russian soldiers defected to join the Basmachi forces.[18] In February, Enver was warned of an impending Russian counterattack and withdrew to Kofarnihon.
See also
References
- ^ Snowden, Jack. "Enver Paşa's Last Stand, in Turkistan (1921-1922)". Enver Paşa's Last Stand, in Turkistan (1921-1922).
- ^ a b "UQ eSpace". espace.library.uq.edu.au. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
- ^ Türk Tarih Kongresi: Kongrenin çalişmaları, kongreye sunulan tebliğler (in Turkish). Kenan Matbaası. 1993. p. 1522.
His first major victory is when he attacks Dushanbe on January 28, 1922, with 1500 soldiers against some 7 or 8000. After two weeks of fighting the occupying troops evacuate the town
- ^ a b c Snowden, Jack. "Enver Paşa's Last Stand, in Turkistan (1921-1922)". Enver Paşa's Last Stand, in Turkistan (1921-1922).
- ^ "Basmachi movement in the south of Kazakhstan and Central Asia". Portal "History of Kazakhstan" - everything about Kazakhstan. 2016-10-28. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
- ^ a b Sonyel, S. R. (1990). "Enver Pasha and the Basmaji Movement in Central Asia". Middle Eastern Studies. 26 (1): 52–64. doi:10.1080/00263209008700804. ISSN 0026-3206. JSTOR 4283348.
- ^ Cebesoy, Ali Fuat (2017-01-02). Kocahanoğlu, Osman Selim (ed.). Moskova Hatıraları Milli Mücadele ve Bolşevik Rusya (in Turkish). Temel Yayınları. p. 331. ISBN 978-975-410-067-9.
- ^ Baysun, Abdullah Recep (2001-10-15). Cihangir, Erol (ed.). Türkistan'da İstiklal Hareketleri ve Enver Paşa (in Turkish). Turan Yayıncılık. p. 109. ISBN 978-975-7893-32-5.
- ^ "Ali Bademci - Sarıklı Basmacı | PDF". Scribd. p. 131. Retrieved 2025-11-28.
Düşenbe'de sıkışan Bolşevikler'e imdat için Dihnev'den gönderilen bir bölük Rus süvârisi pusuya düşürüldü. Askerleri tesirsiz hale getirilerek, mitralyöz, tüfek ve cephane ganimetleri elde edildi. Gün geçtikçe işler ciddileşiyordu..
- ^ Murat Bardakçı Naciyem, Ruhum, Efendim... ( 2016, Türkiye İş Bankası Kültür Yayınları) Libgen.li. p. 452.
- ^ "Enver Paşa'nın Sürgünü: İhtilalci İslam Birliği ve Liva el-İslam Dergisi [1 ed.] 9789756277676". dokumen.pub. p. 362. Retrieved 2025-11-28.
- ^ içerik yaratıcısı. Cemal Kutay Enver Paşa Lenin'e Karşı. p. 55.
- ^ Enver - Murat Bardakçı. p. 340.
- ^ Kara, İlyas (2011-01-02). Enver Paşa Basmacılar İsyanı (in Turkish). Yediveren Yayınları. p. 128. ISBN 978-605-88203-6-4.
- ^ Базарбаев, Канат (2023-10-05). "Түркістан Ұлт-Азаттық Қозғалысындағы Энвер Пашаның Саяси Қызметі". Вестник КазНПУ Имени Абая. Серия: Исторические И Социально-политические Науки. 77 (1): 4. doi:10.51889/2959-6017.2023.78.3.029. ISSN 2959-6017.
- ^ Baysun, Abdullah Recep (2001-10-15). Cihangir, Erol (ed.). Türkistan'da İstiklal Hareketleri ve Enver Paşa (in Turkish). Turan Yayıncılık. p. 95. ISBN 978-975-7893-32-5.
- ^ Hayit, Baymirza (2006-10-31). Basmacılar / Ruslara Karşı Basmacılar Hareketi (in Turkish). Babıali Kültür Yayıncılığı. p. 275. ISBN 978-975-00981-9-2.
- ^
- Çelebi, Ercan (2018-01-01). Türkistan millî mücadelesi: Yaş Türkistan dergisine göre (in Turkish). Hiperlink eğit.ilet.yay.san.tic.ve ltd.sti. p. 196. ISBN 978-605-2137-64-2.
Enver Paşa'nın 1.500 kişilik bir kuvvetle Rusların 7.000–8.000 kişilik kuvvetlerine galebe çalması.
- "TRDizin". search.trdizin.gov.tr. p. 673. Retrieved 2025-11-28.
1.500 kişilik bir kuvvetiyle 7–8.000 kişilik bir Rus askerî kuvvetini yendi.
- İdil, Aydın (2013). Enver Paşa'nın son savaşı: Basmacı hareketinin önderi Seyyid Enver Emir-i Leşker-i İslam (in Turkish). Kitabevi. p. 169. ISBN 978-605-5397-67-8.
- İnan, Arı, ed. (1997-01-02). Enver Paşa'nın Özel Mektupları (in Turkish). İmge Kitabevi Yayınları. p. 118. ISBN 978-975-533-187-4.
- texte, France Ministère de la guerre (1791-1936) Auteur du; texte, France Ministère des affaires étrangères (1588-2007) Auteur du (1922-06-01). "Bulletin périodique de la presse russe". Gallica. Retrieved 2025-11-28.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - Me (2025). Masayuki Yamauchi Hosnut Olamams Adam Enver Pasa 0 Baglam Libgen.li ( 1). p. 262.
Düşenbe'den çıkan Rusları takip ederek Mortebe, Şorab, Nevabad-Noda, Seşme, Sarıasıya, Anbarsay-yarı, Mirşadi'de Rusları vurduk... 50'den fazla ölü, aynı kadar yaralı.
- Bademci, Ali (2019-02-12). Basmacı Arşiv Belgelerine Göre Türkistan'da Enver Paşa (in Turkish). Kamer Yayınları. p. 116. ISBN 978-605-69700-5-4.
70 kadar ölü, 2 mitralyöz, 16 tüfek bırakmışlardı.
- Kandemir, Feridun (1955). Enver Paşanın son günleri (in Turkish). Güven Basım ve Yayınevi. p. 32.
19 Şubatta Seriasya civarında Ruslarla çarpışırken Enver Paşa yaralandı, fakat savaşmaya devam etti.
- Çelebi, Ercan (2018-01-01). Türkistan millî mücadelesi: Yaş Türkistan dergisine göre (in Turkish). Hiperlink eğit.ilet.yay.san.tic.ve ltd.sti. p. 196. ISBN 978-605-2137-64-2.