October 22, 1912 · Thrace Theater
October 22, 1912
The Battle of Kirk Kilisse (modern Kırklareli) on October 22–24, 1912, was Bulgaria's opening triumph of the First Balkan War. Bulgarian forces under General Radko Dimitriev assaulted the fortified Ottoman city in Thrace, routing the Eastern Army commanded by Abdullah Pasha. The Ottoman commander had divided his forces and failed to concentrate before the Bulgarian attack, allowing the Bulgarians to defeat his corps in detail. Kirk Kilisse fell rapidly, yielding enormous quantities of supplies, artillery, and war material abandoned by the retreating Ottoman forces.
Commanders