Battle of Sarikamish

Ottoman War Minister Enver Pasha personally led a reckless winter offensive against Russian forces in the Caucasus mountains. Poorly equipped Ottoman soldiers, many lacking winter clothing, marched through mountain passes in freezing conditions. Of roughly 100,000 Ottoman troops, fewer than 18,000 survived, with most dying from exposure and disease rather than combat. The catastrophic defeat destabilized the eastern Ottoman Empire and contributed to the tragic events that followed.