Russo-Turkish War of Liberation 1877-1878

Chapter Two - Russo-Turkish War of Liberation 1877-1878

Plans of the Ottoman command

The Turkish headquarters viewed the war with Russia as defensive, though according to some opinions it was necessary to cross the Danube river and to conquer some important places along the left bank of the river.

The main considerations underlying the Turkish plan were elaborated in the draft plan of March 8, 1877, which was sent to the Grand Vizier by the Sultan's chancellery. Under this plan, the river Danube is designated as the first defensive line. It was considered difficult to safeguard the long defensive line running from Vidin to Machin and the plan envisaged to draw the enemy for fight deep into the territory of the country.1 In case of success, it was planned to pull back the Russians via the river Danube and to run after them up to the river Prut. Provided that it was necessary for the Turkish troops to make their retreat towards the Stara Planina Mountain, they had to stay along in Varna and Bourgas and to restrict any further actions of the enemy along the ridge of the mountain.

Though not described in definite terms, the plan of Turkish commandment had envisaged the re-grouping of the Turkish forces. One grouping was planned for deployment in the fortified rectangular Varna-Silistra-Rousse-Shoumen, covered up from south-east by deployments along the line Cherna Voda-Kyustendja. A second grouping was to be stationed along the line Oryahovo-Kyustendja. The establishment of a special unit in Vidin was also envisaged with the view of preventing any common Russian-Romanian actions and monitoring the activities of the Serbian army.

The decision taken by the Turkish command to carry out a defensive war corresponded completely to the state-of-affairs of the Ottoman Empire at that time.

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