Many of you who have been on this board for a while may remember Abdul Hadi Pasha's idea and subsequent development of a scenario where the Ottomans had managed to fend off the Russians in the Russo-Turkish war of 1877-78. Its a scenario I've had a lot of interest in myself, and with the apparent abandonment of the project on the part of AHP, I've decided to take a stab at it myself, although trying as much as possible not to ape his take on the scenario.
While I have the actual conduct of the war and a number of its effects already researched and outlined, there are still some ideas and concepts I feel could be discussed.
Roughly, the course of the war is that the Russians manage to cross the Danube with a considerable amount of resistance on the part of the Ottomans, Gurko's attempts to secure a number of Balkan passes in order to deny the Ottomans secure internal communications is thrwarted, but the Russian army continues to progress towards Plevna, where as in OTL, they are met by Osman Pasha's forces. However, after the first two unsuccessful assaults of OTL, Osman Pasha is re-enforced and the Ottoman forces are eventually able to push the Russians back over the Danube.
While I agree with Pasha that the Ottomans will not be taking any territory, there are still a number of unresolved questions about the peace treaty. I find it likely that the British in particular will press for a harsh indemnity to be paid toward the Ottoman Empire (for financial reasons, to secure the Ottoman states debt many of their bankers hold, as well as to shore up the Ottoman Empire's position as a useful bulwark). My question is what figure would actually sound realistic? All my attempts up to now to find figures for how much the Ottomans payed to the Russians have failed, so I don't know what kind of figure would be appropriate.
More questions are raised at what happens to the Ottoman Empire afterward. Their immediate international security is secured, but there are still massive problems surrounding their debt, their shortage of money for investment in development, and the situation with its Christian population.
Any thoughts or comments are much appreciated.
While I have the actual conduct of the war and a number of its effects already researched and outlined, there are still some ideas and concepts I feel could be discussed.
Roughly, the course of the war is that the Russians manage to cross the Danube with a considerable amount of resistance on the part of the Ottomans, Gurko's attempts to secure a number of Balkan passes in order to deny the Ottomans secure internal communications is thrwarted, but the Russian army continues to progress towards Plevna, where as in OTL, they are met by Osman Pasha's forces. However, after the first two unsuccessful assaults of OTL, Osman Pasha is re-enforced and the Ottoman forces are eventually able to push the Russians back over the Danube.
While I agree with Pasha that the Ottomans will not be taking any territory, there are still a number of unresolved questions about the peace treaty. I find it likely that the British in particular will press for a harsh indemnity to be paid toward the Ottoman Empire (for financial reasons, to secure the Ottoman states debt many of their bankers hold, as well as to shore up the Ottoman Empire's position as a useful bulwark). My question is what figure would actually sound realistic? All my attempts up to now to find figures for how much the Ottomans payed to the Russians have failed, so I don't know what kind of figure would be appropriate.
More questions are raised at what happens to the Ottoman Empire afterward. Their immediate international security is secured, but there are still massive problems surrounding their debt, their shortage of money for investment in development, and the situation with its Christian population.
Any thoughts or comments are much appreciated.