The siege of Dushanbe took place in February 1922 during the

Basmachi rebellion The Basmachi movement (, derived from ) was an uprising against Imperial Russian and Soviet rule in Central Asia by rebel groups inspired by Islamic beliefs. It has been called "probably the most important movement of opposition to Soviet rul ...

, an anti-Soviet uprising in Central Asia. The town of

Dushanbe Dushanbe is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Tajikistan. , Dushanbe had a population of 1,564,700, with this population being largely Tajiks, Tajik. Until 1929, the city was known in Russian as Dyushambe, and from 1929 to 1961 as St ...

was captured by Basmachi forces under the command of

Enver Pasha İsmâil Enver (; ; 23 November 1881 – 4 August 1922), better known as Enver Pasha, was an Ottoman Empire, Ottoman Turkish people, Turkish military officer, revolutionary, and Istanbul trials of 1919–1920, convicted war criminal who was a p ...

, a former Ottoman military leader who had aligned himself with the Basmachi rebels. The Soviet garrison was overwhelmed after a brief siege, and the Basmachi forces gained control of the town, marking a significant moment in the rebellion.

Background

The siege of Dushanbe occurred during the

, a widespread anti-Soviet insurgency in Central Asia that lasted from 1916 to 1934. The rebellion was driven by a combination of factors including resistance to Soviet rule, nationalistic aspirations, and local grievances against Bolshevik policies. Dushanbe, then a small town in the Soviet Central Asian region, was of strategic importance due to its location in the region of

Tajikistan Tajikistan, officially the Republic of Tajikistan, is a landlocked country in Central Asia. Dushanbe is the capital city, capital and most populous city. Tajikistan borders Afghanistan to the Afghanistan–Tajikistan border, south, Uzbekistan to ...

. Control of Dushanbe was crucial for both the Basmachi rebels and the Soviet authorities, as it provided a critical base for operations and influence over the surrounding area. Enver Pasha, a former

Ottoman military The Military of the Ottoman Empire () was the armed forces of the Ottoman Empire. It was founded in 1299 and dissolved in 1922. Army The Military of the Ottoman Empire can be divided in five main periods. The foundation era covers the years ...

leader who had fled to

Central Asia Central Asia is a region of Asia consisting of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The countries as a group are also colloquially referred to as the "-stans" as all have names ending with the Persian language, Pers ...

after

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, emerged as a prominent leader among the

Basmachi The Basmachi movement (, derived from ) was an uprising against Imperial Russian and Soviet rule in Central Asia by rebel groups inspired by Islamic beliefs. It has been called "probably the most important movement of opposition to Soviet rul ...

forces. His involvement was driven by both personal ambition and the broader goal of resisting Soviet control in the region. Pasha's strategic leadership played a pivotal role in the Basmachi offensive against Soviet positions. In early 1922, Pasha's Basmachi forces, estimated at 1,500 strong, launched a well-coordinated siege on

. The Soviet garrison, although committed to defending the town, faced challenges due to the lack of reinforcements and resources. The siege was characterized by intense combat, with Pasha's forces employing a combination of direct assaults and psychological warfare to pressure the Soviet defenders.

Encirclement of Dushanbe by the Basmachi forces

The Basmachi forces surrounded the town and began their assault. They employed a combination of direct attacks and psychological tactics to pressure the Soviet defenders. The Soviet garrison, although determined, struggled to withstand the sustained siege due to limited reinforcements and supplies. The Basmachi rebels were able to cut off supply lines and effectively isolate the town. Intense fighting and the rebels' strategic positioning gradually eroded the Soviet defenses. After several days of heavy combat, the Basmachi forces succeeded in breaching the town's defenses and capturing Dushanbe.

Aftermath

This victory was significant as it demonstrated the effectiveness of Pasha's leadership and the rebels' ability to challenge Soviet control in the region. The capture of Dushanbe was a temporary success for the Basmachi rebels. The Soviet Union responded with increased military efforts to regain control over the region. 2 days after the capture of Dushanbe, Enver Pasha advanced on

Uzbekistan , image_flag = Flag of Uzbekistan.svg , image_coat = Emblem of Uzbekistan.svg , symbol_type = Emblem of Uzbekistan, Emblem , national_anthem = "State Anthem of Uzbekistan, State Anthem of the Republ ...

and captured major important towns like Yurchi in January 30.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dushanbe 1922 Enver Pasha's Rebellion Basmachi movement 1922 in the Soviet Union 1920s in Tajikistan Sieges of the Russian Civil War Battles of the Russian Civil War in 1922 Battles involving Soviet Russia (1917–1922) Turkestan February 1922

Background

Encirclement of Dushanbe by the Basmachi forces

Aftermath

See also

References