Battle of Yenidje

Map of the battle

Date	November 2 [October 20 (O.S.)] 1912
Location	Yenice-i Vardar, Salonica Vilayet (now Giannitsa, Greece)
Result	Greek victory

Belligerents

Greece

Ottoman Empire

Commanders and leaders

Crown Prince Constantine

Gen Hasan Tahsin Pasha

Units involved

Army of Thessaly

VIII Provisional Corps

Strength

60,000 men,
110 guns

ca. 25,000 men,
30 guns

Casualties and losses

188 dead,
785 wounded

250+ killed during the battle
1000+ wounded during the battle
200 captured
11 field artillery pieces

The Battle of Yenidje or Yenice or Battle of Giannitsa, was a battle between the Greek Army and the Ottoman Army on October 19–20/1912, during the First Balkan War. The Greek Army defeated the Ottomans, opening the way towards Thessaloniki and capturing Yenidje (now Giannitsa).

The Turkish army in the Greek front gathered at Giannitsa and fortified it. The strategic location of Gianitsa was low hills, which acted as barriers for excellent defense, while the nearby lake made forced the opponents into a relatively narrow space, further enhanced with artillery units. 25,000 Turkish troops and 30 guns waited for the Greeks. The battle began on October 19 and lasted two days. The Greek military forces had to pass a bridge to the stream of Balitzas. In torrential rain, the Greek regiments had many losses and difficulties in development. By evening the Greek army completed the development of artillery and took corrective action over from Giannitsa. The raid of the Greek army was impetuous and in the morning of the 20th, the victory was a fact. The losses were heavy. The losses of the Turks were three times more. In the city there was a fire. But the road to the liberation of Thessaloniki was now open. The battle of 20 October 1912 was the most deadly battle of the Balkan wars and perhaps the most important. It marked the liberation of the city from the Turks and the inclusion of the Greek state. At the same time it paved the way for the liberation of Thessaloniki that helped shape the modern map of Greece.

Coordinates: 40°47′N 22°23′E / 40.79°N 22.38°E / 40.79; 22.38

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