SHIPKA PASS
1 ROUTE OF RUSSIAN ADVANCE
Russian strategy was to march an army of 250,000 men through Romania, cross the Danube – in order to avoid Ottoman fortresses – and seize the passes in the Balkan Mountains. From here, Russian forces would advance on Adrianople and Constantinople to force terms on the Ottomans.
2 CROSSING OF THE DANUBE
The main Russian advance initially went well, with all four corps having crossed the Danube River into Bulgaria by 1 July 1877. However, they soon began to deviate from their original plan by adopting a more broad and slower advance than previously envisioned.
3 GURKO RACES AHEAD
General Gurko advances ahead of the main Russian force with 16,000 men to take possession of the vital passes through the Balkan Mountains. He takes the Khankoi [Hankoi] Pass but is delayed due to some skirmishes with Ottoman forces, which prevents him working in concert with Mirsky.
4 PRINCE MIRSKY’S ADVANCE
Prince Mirsky, commander of the Russian 9th Infantry Division, advances on Shipka Pass and attacks it on 17 July without Gurko’s assistance. However, the attack, carried out by 2,000 men of the 36th (Orlovski) Infantry Regiment, supported by Cossacks and artillery, fails to dislodge the Ottoman defenders.
5 GURKO ATTACKS SHIPKA PASS
Gurko advances from the Khankoi Pass and finally arrives at the Shipka Pass on 18 July, immediately attacking it with two infantry battalions supported by two companies of Cossacks. The attack fails but the Ottoman defenders quietly abandon their positions the next day. Shipka Pass is then seized by the Russians.
6 GURKO GOES ON THE OFFENSIVE
Leaving a garrison at Shipka Pass, Gurko advances south towards the town of Kazanlak. On 29 July, his Bulgarian troops clash with an advanced guard of Ottoman forces under Süleyman Hüsnü Pasha at Stara Zagora [Eski-Zagra].
