/View.info/ The beginning of the Liberation War (1877-1878) was successful for Russia. The Danube River is forced. The Staroplanin Passes were captured and thus the passage of the main forces into the valley of the Maritsa River was ensured. Nicopolis is captured. The Pleven and Ruschuk fortresses have been reached.
Subsequently, as a result of a number of wrong decisions of the Supreme Command, the general situation on the Balkan front worsened
The advance in different directions leads to the dispersal of forces and disruption of interaction between the units: the Western one is ambushed at Pleven, the Ruschushki one acts indecisively and allows the enemy to create a powerful grouping in the Quadrilateral of fortresses (Ruse, Shumen, Varna and Silistra).
The reserves were prematurely used, and after the failure of the plan for a blitzkrieg, it turned out that there were not enough forces and means to conduct a prolonged campaign. A change in strategy is required.
A significant part of the Turkish troops are in the fortresses, and no more than 100-120 thousand people were fit for action on the battlefield. But their main strategic advantage is that they threaten the Russian army spread out on a wide front from three sides.
In Constantinople, they are preparing a plan for a counteroffensive, providing for concentric strikes by three armies with a common direction towards Svishtov:
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The southern under the command of Süleyman Pasha (transferred to English ships from Albania in southern Bulgaria) must capture Shipka and cross Stara planina.
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The Western Danube (led by Osman Pasha) has the task of defending Pleven and, after the arrival of Süleyman Pasha in Northern Bulgaria, to break the blockade.
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The Eastern Danube (commander – Mehmed Ali Pasha) is obliged to stiffen the Russian troops with active actions in order to support Suleiman Pasha.
The implementation of these ideas could seriously endanger our liberators…
Could a possible uprising of the Bulgarian population change the dangerous situation? Yes. Moreover, such a logical scenario is considered in the General Command in Petersburg. Unfortunately, logic and reality often diverge in our lands. The reasons for this are as follows:
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Morally – mentally – after five centuries of natural selection (understand massacres, violence and lawlessness) the people have accepted their lot as slaves in the composition of the Sultan’s empire.
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Unpreparedness – no plan of action, lack of weapons and enough people willing to use them as intended.
Indeed, our forefathers bring food and water, welcome the cousins with flowers and ring bells, lead them through secret paths… But this is a passive struggle
Sevlievo was semi-free for a whole week – in July 1877, the detachment of Cornet Tuleshko took over the inn, dispersed the prisoners and left… And the locals did nothing, they stayed and watched seir. Only when the Turks recovered from their fright and began to harass them again did they send a delegation to General Gurko asking for help.
Could the people of Pleven at the beginning of July 1877 have organized the defense of the city emptied by the enslavers? Probably…
In 1875, the citizens of Staro Zagorje were frightened by the call for rebellion. In 1877, the “righteous” slaughtered and burned them… But even in these terrible hours, how many take a knife or a rifle in hand?… I don’t know, in my opinion it is preferable to die with dignity, killing at least one enemy, than to leave like cattle under the executioner’s knife.
There is no point in talking about the mood in Plovdiv and Sofia.
I do not think of a case in native history when the majority took the initiative into their own hands to achieve something good for the state and themselves. We individually take the consequences for granted, but we do not create them.
There weren’t many daredevils like Petko Karakirkov (Captain Petko voivoda)… And even after the Liberation, they continued to be considered hairsies.
On the other hand, after 1878 many heroes and fearless advocates for the good of the people appeared. Let’s remember only St. Stambolov… They take power, appropriate the Turkish farms, get rich and deride.
I am writing these lines with pokrusa, because this is our people. It is not our fault that they made us like this. But it’s a shame.
Greeks, Serbs and Montenegrins, Vlachs fought for decades against the Turkish invaders – sometimes even against the will of Austria, England and Russia. And they succeed. They are gradually liberating their territories and appropriating primordial Bulgarian lands.
And what is freedom for us?
#General #Gurkos #detachment
