Ottomans' World War I victory at Kut al-Amara, Iraq

By Faruk Zorlu

ANKARA (AA) - The historic siege of Kut al-Amara, a key World War I battle, ended on April 29, 1916, with the victory of the Ottoman forces against British-Indian forces in the town of Kut, which is now in modern Iraq.

Over one hundred years ago, on April 29, 1916, a British-Indian garrison laid down its arms to the Ottoman forces they were fighting in the town of Kut al-Amara.

The city was a key step for a force of 13,000 British and Indian troops marching under Major-General Charles Townshend towards Baghdad, a target about 160 kilometers (99.4 miles) northwest along the Tigris River.
Ottoman forces surrounded them at Kut and after a siege lasting around five months, Townshend capitulated.

It was the Ottoman Empire's second-biggest victory in World War I after Gallipoli (Canakkale).

- Chronicle of victory

The Ottoman forces were united under the 6th Army. Marshall Colmar Freiherr von der Goltz was appointed head of the Iraqi Army on Oct. 5, 1915, and then, serving on the Russian front, Col. Halil Bey, right-wing group commander of the 3rd Army, was sent to the Iraqi front with two divisions under his command on Oct. 9, 1915.

Later on, Kut al-Amara was captured by British forces on Dec. 3, 1915, and then British forces' attempt to save Kut failed. They lost 4,000 soldiers in the Battle of Sheikh Sa'ad on Jan. 6-8, 1916. Nurettin Pasha hands over command to Halil Pasha.

Soon after British Army repulsed with the loss of 1,600 men at the Jan. 13 Battle of Wadi and 2,700 at the Jan. 21 Battle of Hannah.

British attacked Halil Pasha's 13th Corps at Sabis but withdrew with 3,500 casualties on March 8, 1916. Next, Halil Pasha was appointed head of the Iraqi Army after Goltz Pasha died of typhus on April 19, 1916.

The Ottoman troops seized the British resupply paddle steamer the Julnar on April 24, 1916. Later, the British surrendered on April 29, 1916.