The Turkish-Georgian war was a short war fought between Democratic Republic of Georgia and Ottoman Empire during World war I. It ended with the victory of Georgia. However, the defeat of the Ottoman Empire in the First World War and Armistice of Mudros allowed Georgia to retake its territories in 1918-1920.
Background
On 3 March 1918, the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed by Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, the German Empire, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire and the Bulgaria, by which Russia withdrew from World War I. Under the terms of the treaty, Russia was to cede its Caucasus provinces, Batum oblast and Kars oblast to the Ottoman Empire. At that time, these territories were under the effective control the Transcaucasian Seim and Transcaucasia Commissariat. although it had not declared independence. The Ottoman Empire demanded the immediate evacuation of Georgians from these regions as well. The Transcaucasia Seimas tried to negotiate with Ottomans through diplomatic means, sending a delegation to start the Trebizond Peace Conference on 12 March 1918. However the delegation established by Seim was regarded by the Ottoman Empire as representing, not a state, but instead the peoples of the region and the Ottomans refused to negotiate. Meanwhile, the Ottoman army started military operations to occupy the disputed territories.
Combat operations until April 6
On 9 March 1918, 6th and 3rd Ottoman armies under the command of Mehmed Vehib Pasha attacked the Caucasus. On 31 March 1918, the Ottomans captured Batumi. The 4th Infantry Legion (Commander Tsereteli) stationed in the city fled to Ozurgeti, and the 2nd Infantry Legion (Commander Colonel Karalashvili) fled to Chakvi. The Chairman of the National Council of Georgia, Noe Jordania, instructed Giorgi Mazniashvili to immediately go to Natani Station and prevent the Ottomans from advancing to the Choloki River here. Mazniashvili took over as chief of staff on 1 April.
On 2 April, Mazniashvili sent an armored train to Chakvi to relieve the besieged 2nd infantry legion, which was cut off by the Ottomans and was awaiting capture. Ottoman infantry was fortified east of Kobuleti, along the railway, and a thousand of their cavalry were stationed at Chakvi station. Armored personnel arrived at Chakvi station at 9 o'clock in the morning and destroyed the Ottomans entrenched at the station with machine gun fire. Karalashvili's legion took advantage of this and retreated with few casualties. This legion, which consisted of 500 soldiers, was demoralized and Mazniashvli sent it to Lanchkhuti, in reserve, which was to be filled with volunteers gathered by Isidore Ramishvili. Mazniashvili divided the 4th infantry legion into four thousand units and distributed them in Likhauri, Shekarni, Vashnar and Ozurgeti. At the Supsa station there was a horse battery under the command of Poruchiki Karaev. Mazniashvili had 4 machine guns, 6 buglers, an armored train with 90 soldiers and 400 National Guardsmen at his disposal.
The front line started from the port of Kotupili and continued to the village of Shekarni. It was bordered by the Black Sea on the right, and the Adjara-Guria mountains on the left. Along the entire length, from the sea to Ozurgeti, the banks of the Choloki and Natane rivers were almost impassable for the army. Only locals who knew the paths could go there. This section had only two exits: railway bridges over Natani and Choloki and Sharagza through Likhauri to Ozurgeti. Mazniashvili started filling the army with local volunteers. Isidore Ramishvili helped him in this. In the countryside, almost everyone had a gun, and a few rifles were needed for distribution.
On 3 April, an armored train derailed south of Choloki. The road was spoiled by the righteous. During the attack on the track, the Georgian side opened fire, to which the advanced detachment of Georgian scouts responded with fire, killing two of the enemy and holding several guns. On April 4, the Ottomans captured Kobuleti. including one officer and wounded several others. The Ottomans then retreated.