Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolaevich 1856–1929

Involvement In World War One Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolaevich was Commander in Chief of the Russian army during the first year of the First World War and for a brief moment at the end of Tsar Nicholas II’s reign. He had no part in the planning and preparations for World War One. He was appointed to the supreme command by Nicholas II of Russia. Prior to this he had never commanded armies in the field. His role was to pick and choose from various battle plans offered by the numerous Russian Army Generals. Tsar replaced the Grand Duke as commander of the Russian armed forces on August 21st, 1915.

Command in the Caucasus The Grand Duke was immediatley appointed commander- in-chief in the Caucasus area. General Yudenich was the driving figure in the Russian Caucasus army. Thier opponent was the Ottoman empire. While the Grand Duke was in command, the Russian army sent an expeditionary force through to Persia to link up with British Troops. In 1916, the Russian army also captured the Fortress of Erzurum, the port of Trabzon and the town of Erzincan.

Map of the Caucasus

Fortress Captured by Russian army. Town captured by Russian army. Port captured by Russian army.