Battle of Sardarabad

In violation of the Brest-Litovsk Peace Treaty with soviet Russia, Turkish Nationalist troops under the command of Kemal Ataturk crossed the border in 1918 and attacked Alexandropol (Leninakan). The Turks intended to crush Eastern Armenia and seize Transccaucasia. Only a small area of Armenian territory now remained unconquered by the Turks, and into that area hundreds of thousands of Armenian refugees had fled after the Armenian Genocide.

The Turkish forces began a three-pronged attack in an attempt to seize all that remained of Armenia. When Alexandropol fell, the Turkish Army poured into the Ararat Valley – the heart of Armenia. There was a major engagement at Sardarabad on May 22-26, where the Turkish Army was defeated and retreated. Two prongs of the Turkish advance were aimed directly at Yerevan, the capital of Armenia. The Armenian forces were commanded by General Silikian. To halt the Turkish approach, General Silikian formed a thousand-strong force which held the Turkish advance at Sardarabad, thus saving the Armenian nation from complete annihilation.