140 Years Anniversary of the Battle of Shipka Pass

We are marking 140 years of the heroic battles of the Shipka Peak, which have remained in the history of the Shipka Epopee. Hundreds of Bulgarians ascend the historic peak every year to pay tribute to the heroes who died for Bulgaria's freedom, BGNES reported.

The defense of the Shipka Pass is one of the most heroic and decisive battles during the Russo-Turkish War of Liberation in 1877-1878. The fights that took place from 09/21 to 13/26 August 1877 between the defenders of the pass and the Turkish Army entered the Bulgarian history under the name of the Shipka Epopee. The task of the small Russian-Bulgarian detachment under the command of a general Stoletov, consisting of about 7,500 people, is to stop Suleyman Pasha's supreme army (about 27,000 people and a reserve of 10,000) to prevent them from crossing the Balkan and joining the Turkish groupss in Northeastern Bulgaria to help the besieged Osman Pasha army in Pleven. The struggles for Shipka began on August 21/21, 1877. For six days, Bulgarians and Russians with fire and bayonet repelled the continuous attacks of the Turkish army. The heaviest and decisive for the defense is the third day - August 11/23, when the Turks are tightening the ring around the defenders, and the ammunition are at an end. In the afternoon, Suleyman Pasha throws all his reserves against the center of defense. At this most critical moment, when Shipka seemed to fall, from Gabrovo arrived the first backup sent by a general Radetzky. All troops arrive in the evening at 16 shooting battalions and after a fierce battle the Turks retreat. Shipka is saved! The fighting continues for the next three days, but the passage is already firmly in the hands of the Russian army. The defense of Shipka continues in the autumn and winter of 1877....