At the limit of complexity: British Military Operations in North Persia and the Caucasus 1918

MASTER OF MILITARY ART AND SCIENCE THESIS APPROVAL PAGE ABSTRACT ACKNOWLEDGMENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS ACRONYMS ILLUSTRATIONS CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION UPrologue UContext URelevance UComplexity ULiterature Review UOrganization UThesis CHAPTER 2 THE GEOPOLITICAL SITUATION 1917- 1918 UThe Global Strategic Environment UThe Strategic Outlook of the British in the Middle East 1917-1918 UThe objectives of the Ottoman Empire and Germany in the Caucasus and Northern Persia 1918 UThe interests of Russians, Armenians, Georgians, Azeri/Tartars, Kurds, and Persians in the Caucasus and neighboring regions 1917-1918 USummary CHAPTER 3 THE ESTABLISHMENT OF DUNSTERFORCE UThe political and military objectives of Dunsterforce UOpponents ULong-term British policy interests in the region UThe selection of Major General L.C. Dunsterville UThe Task Organization of Dunsterforce UBritish Government Support USummary CHAPTER 4 THE CAUCASIAN WHIRLPOOL UInitial Moves UBrest Litovsk - Carving up the Prize USudden independence-The people of Caucasus unmoored UEthnic Bloodletting UThe Ottomans Advance UShaping the Caucasus USummary CHAPTER 5 PERSIA SMALL FISH IN A TURBULENT SEA UNorth Persia Stability UIntelligence UHumanitarian Assistance ULines of Communication UThe development of Security Forces UClearing a path to the Caspian Sea UJangalis counterattack USummary CHAPTER 6 DEFENSE OF BAKU UOttomans Reorganize UThe British attempt to engineer an opening UBicherakov’s Toehold UCoup and Counter Coup UBritish Policymakers Debate UThe Defense UThe Withdrawal USummary CHAPTER 7 AFTERMATH UThe Massacre UEpic at Urumiah UEndgame USummary CHAPTER 8 CONCLUSION UAnalysis UInsights USummary GLOSSARY APPENDIX A AREA OF OPERATIONS APPENDIX B TIMELINE APPENDIX C DUNSTERFORCE ORDER OF THE DAY, No. 1. BIBLIOGRAPHY