Persian Empire 1845

Chapter 137 The Russian Army's Shocking Strike

As one of the most important cities in the South Caucasus, Yerevan's importance is self-evident. Before Russia's arrival, Iran and the Ottomans fought for control of the city fourteen times, with Iran initially emerging victorious, only to be overtaken by Russia.

After the capture of Yerevan, a large number of Armenians returned, bringing back the local culture. Currently, the area has 60000 residents and 12000 Russian troops stationed there.

The Iranian army advanced with unstoppable momentum, capturing several towns and finally arriving at the gates of Yerevan thirteen days into the war. General Osterman, stationed in Yerevan, was prepared, having already ordered his soldiers to strengthen defenses. The city's inhabitants and soldiers began working, using planks to make shovels. The entire population of Yerevan—soldiers, laborers, and women—was engaged in digging trenches, hauling earth for fortifications, repairing city walls and barracks, and constructing artillery emplacements. He ordered the Russian flag to be raised to demonstrate their unwavering resolve to never surrender.

Since that was the case, they had nothing more to say. Salami immediately ordered an attack, and at the same time ordered his troops to occupy the high ground on both sides of Yerevan, preparing to strike the city from above.

Western Yerevan lies Mount Ararat, a sacred site for Armenians, and the Iranian army's attack there has stirred considerable anxiety. Seventy artillery pieces unleashed a fierce barrage on the Russian soldiers stationed at Mount Ararat. The numerous positions built on Mount Ararat were struck by the artillery fire, and Russian soldiers hiding in their camps were repeatedly hit by shells, dying instantly in pools of blood before they even had a chance to scream.

Especially the shells from Iranian cannons, even if you are not hit, you will be killed within ten meters. As a result, on the Russian army's positions, you can often see rows of soldiers lying silently and motionless in the camp. They have no wounds on their bodies and look like they are asleep.

Faced with such a scene, all they could do was pray to God that the shells wouldn't fall on their section of the camp. As for leaving the camp and retreating, several new recruits who couldn't take it had already set a good example; they were all turned to dust and left on Mount Ararat under the heavy artillery fire.

During the three-hour heavy artillery bombardment, the Russian forces, including those on the eastern highlands of Yerevan, suffered at least 1500 casualties. However, the greater loss was that most of the fortifications on the positions were destroyed, especially the defensive points they had set up, which were almost completely destroyed.

In the following days, the Iranian army's offensive caused the Russians great distress. Every time they probingly attacked, if the positions did not use artillery, it would turn into a real assault. The positions on both sides were forced to use suppressive fire, which would then be destroyed by the Iranian artillery.

To turn the tide, Osterman came up with a brilliant idea: a night raid. He amassed 3000 soldiers who secretly left the city, preparing to take down the Iranian army on Mount Ararat that night.

The absence of moonlight that night greatly encouraged the general who was preparing for a night raid. At midnight, the soldiers were woken up to eat, and then they began to advance towards the Iranian positions, intending to give them a good beating and relieve their resentment from the shelling they had endured for the past few days.

As it turned out, a Russian soldier must have brought a lot of vodka. He took a few sips, then went on a drunken rampage, making so loud that the Iranian positions could hear him.

"Enemy in sight! Prepare!"

Eight Nadir-type machine guns were aimed at the attacking Russian troops. The Russian troops no longer concealed their intentions, straightened up and rushed towards the position, intending to rush into the trenches before the Iranian troops could react.

Da da da da da…

Machine guns opened fire on the Russian troops. No one expected that the enemy possessed weapons of mass destruction, which proved even more effective than artillery. Of the 3000 men, only a dozen or so escaped, and this all happened in a very short time.

The failed night raid not only resulted in the loss of many defenders but also signaled the imminent fall of the highlands adjacent to Yerevan. Four days later, both highlands on either side had been captured.

"General, we've taken out all the Russian defensive camps outside the city. We can now begin the siege," Isfahani reported to Salami, who praised him. "Well done. Now we must be wary of Russian reinforcements; we must take Yerevan before they arrive."

The Iranian army began preparing for the attack, with artillery firing first, as usual. However, the Russian army also had its own defensive artillery, and for a time, the two sides exchanged fire fiercely. Within minutes, the shelling reached its climax; the deep rumble of the cannons, the screeching of shells tumbling through the air, and the deafening explosions upon landing completely drowned out the sounds of bugles and drums.

Yerevan was engulfed in a huge cloud of black smoke that hung over the battlefield, darkening the sky and making it impossible for Iranian artillery to aim at their targets.

"I have never seen anything like this before." The homes of thousands of civilians were bombed into ruins, and for many of the residents who were hiding there, it was the most terrifying moment of their lives.

Seeing this, one resident wrote in his suicide note: "For twelve hours, the sound of shells flying wildly never stopped. It was impossible to tell which shell was making the sound. The ground under my feet kept trembling... The sky was filled with thick smoke, which blocked out the sun, making it like night. Even the room was filled with smoke."

At this point, the Iranian army launched its attack, catching the Russian army completely off guard. The Iranian soldiers showed no sign of stopping, launching a fierce assault on Yerevan. The Russian army was in dire straits.

Iranian troops opened fire directly on Yerevan from Mount Ararat, their artillery over the city walls and striking the Yerevan Cathedral. Shrapnel from the cathedral explosion killed and wounded many, including the archbishop. Panic gripped the entire city.

Osterman knew that as commander-in-chief, he had to come up with a solution, so he ordered his staff, "Get the militia in."

Although they are called militia, they are actually just civilians who have been organized and trained for a few days. Their combat effectiveness is probably less than that of air. These militiamen lack training and are easily panicked, which will only undermine the morale of the Russian army.

As expected, with the reinforcements of these militiamen, Yerevan was breached in several places. Seeing this, Osterman knew that the situation was hopeless and that he could only retreat for the time being.

"Give orders to the front lines to retreat in batches and resist step by step; we are also preparing to retreat."

Upon hearing their commander's words, the staff officers quickly packed up the important documents and prepared to retreat by carriage. Osterman glanced at his command post and, under the protection of his guards, left first.

The commander fled, and the remaining defenders continued to resist, fearing a large-scale retaliation from the Iranian army once they entered the city. This delayed Iran's occupation of Yerevan by two days.

On April 1, Yerevan finally fell, and Iranian troops entered the city that had been lost for 24 years. The Rising Sun Lion flag flew over the city walls.

　This is my first time writing about modern offensive tactics, so please forgive any shortcomings. Thank you.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)