En
Ru
Russian armies liberated Sophia
During the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878 the Russian army after its victory near Plevna at the end of November 1877 started to free Bulgaria being under the oppression of Ottoman Empire. In the winter of 1878 the Russian troops led by the General I.V. Gurko made a difficult passage over the Balkan mountains covered with snow. Not all the generals shared the opinion on the necessity of the winter forcing of the Balkans. However a range of the fortified positions including Shipka was already occupied by the Russian troops. In case of withdrawal would be necessary to take them again in the spring. On the other hand leaving the troops in Balkans for the whole winter would condemn them to great losses from cold and illnesses.
It was decided to make the passage with 3 detachments. The western detachment of the General Gurko had to surmount Balkans near Etropol and enter the valley of Sophia. On December 13 (25) during the severe snowstorm the regiments took the field. The locals watched terrified the Russian troops taking field: they were sure the Russians were doomed for death. The passage lasted 8 days instead of the planned two. Later historians compared it with the passages of Hannibal and A.V. Suvorov and some of them added that Hannibal was in better conditions because he did not have artillery with him.
Along the way the Russians awaited Turkish covering forces. On December 19 (31) the guard defeated Turks near Tashkisen, and on December 20 (January 1) near Gorny Bugarov the counterattack of the superior enemy forces was repulsed. The Balkans were surmounted.
On December 21 (January 2) the detachment of the General Gurko moved to the extremely fortified Sophia and on December 22 (January 3) he reconnoitered it. On December 23 1877 (January 4, 1878) he took it with no struggle because the Turkish army left the city the night before.
The citizens of the Bulgarian capital met Russians with enthusiasm. The prince A. Dondukov-Korsukov reported to the Emperor Alexander II: “The feelings of Bulgarians toward Russia and the Russian troops are touching”. The order of Gurko addressed to the troops said: “Occupation of Sophia ended the brilliant period of the present campaign – the passage over Balkans during which I did not know what I was more impressed with: either with your courage during the battles with the enemy or your fortitude and patience while struggling with mountains, cold and deep snow. Years will pass and your descendants visiting these wild mountains will say with pride and triumph: “Here had passed the Russian troops that revived the glory of Suvorov and Rumyantsev magic heroes”.
The capture of Sophia opened for the Russian army the way to Macedonia and Constantinople and brought closer the conclusion of the St. Stephan treaty.
Lit.: Генов Ц. Русско-турецкая война 1877-1878 гг. и подвиг освободителей. София, 1979; То же [Электронный ресурс]. URL: http://militera.lib.ru/h/genov/09.html; «Турецкий Гамбит» // Православная Осетия. 2007. № 72.
Based on the Presidential Library’s materials: