Demiryolu Mühendisliği

Öz

This study aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the construction process, strategic significance, and military consequences of the Kars–Sarıkamış railway, which was completed in 1913 on the eve of World War I, based on archival documents and technical reports. As part of the transportation infrastructure mobilization initiated by the Russian Empire in the second half of the 19th century, extensive railway lines were constructed, particularly in strategic regions such as the Caucasus. In this context, the primary lines connecting the administrative center of the region, Tiflis, to the Russian interior were completed first, followed by secondary lines extending to border cities such as Gyumri and Kars. In the final phase, a highly critical railway line was put into operation, extending as far as Sarıkamış, a location in close proximity to the Ottoman border. Constructed as a strategic move by the Russian Empire, this railway strengthened its military and political control over the region, while simultaneously exposing the inadequacy of the Ottoman Empire’s logistical infrastructure and deepening its disadvantage on the battlefield. During the Battle of Sarıkamış, Russian forces were able to receive rapid reinforcements even under harsh winter conditions thanks to the railway network, whereas the Ottoman army, suffering from poor transportation infrastructure, incurred heavy losses-offering a striking example of the decisive role of logistics in modern warfare.