YEREVAN. - On May 26 Armenia marks the Sardarapat Battle Victory Day.

The Battle of Sardarapat took place during World War I (1914-1918) from May 21–29, 1918 between regular Armenian troops and rebels on one side, and Turkish occupants, who invaded Western Armenia, on the other. The battle took place in the area of Sardarapat railway station, near Hoktemberyan city.  

Following Russia’s victory in the October Revolution in 1917, the Russian troops left the territories of Western Armenia occupied during the World War I. Capitalizing on this, Turkey decided to not only reoccupy Western Armenia, but also Eastern Armenia and  Transcaucasia.

Violating the armistice concluded in December 1917, the Turkish army assumed the offensive and occupied the cities of Erzincan, Erzurum, Sarikamish, Kars and Alexandrapol (Gyumri). Armenians began to lose ground to the adversary’s forces which outnumbered them for many times. The Turks were moving toward Yerevan, when Armenian troops, commanded by Coronel Daniel Bek-Pirumian Pirumian, met them behind Etchmizadzin city. Armenians defeated and drew them back by a number of successful attacks.

Sardarapat Battle had a huge significance for Armenia: Armenian population of the northern area of Ararat valley escaped another genocide by Turks. Besides, conditions were created for the re-establishment of the Armenian statehood.

On May 28, 1918 the independence of the Armenian Republic was declared. Commemorative date was fixed in honor of Sardarapat Battle and overthrow of the Turkish army on May 26, 1918. On the 50th anniversary of the battle in May 1968, Sardarapat Memorial was opened (not far from Yerevan). The memorial was designed by architect Rafayel Israyelyan.