July 20 – December 10, 1877 · Northern Bulgaria Theater
July 20 – December 10, 1877
The defining ordeal of the war. Osman Pasha entrenched his army in a ring of earthworks around Plevna, and three successive Russian and Romanian assaults through July, August, and September were thrown back with horrific losses — over 20,000 in the third assault alone. The great engineer Totleben was brought in to abandon storming for a total blockade. Starved out after five months, Osman attempted a breakout on December 10, was wounded and captured, and surrendered 43,000 men.
Commanders