On March 13 (old century) 1913, during the Balkan War, the Bulgarian army achieved one of the most glorious victories in its history - the capture of the Edirne Fortress. At that time, Edirne was considered one of the strongest fortresses in Southeast Europe and a strategic point on the way to the capital of the Ottoman Empire, Constantinople, recalls the website “Lost Bulgaria“.
After the defeat in the Russo-Turkish War of 1877 - 1878, the Ottoman Empire lost its natural defensive lines, the Danube and the Balkans. There was a need to create new ones to protect the capital, Constantinople. For this purpose, the old Edirne Fortress was restored, which, together with Lozengrad and several others, formed a new defensive line. Edirne is located at the confluence of the Maritsa, Tundzha and Arda rivers, along the valleys of which the most convenient routes for communication with the imperial capital pass.
Fortified, Edirne closes the roads leading from the west and north to Constantinople. In the event of its possible capture by the enemy, the Turks would lose the advantages that the city gives them. This is precisely the goal of the Bulgarian army, and in this way it would remove an important obstacle, would gain freedom and space for further actions, and most of all - would take a decisive step towards the cherished goal - victory in the war.
The Bulgarian army reached and besieged Edirne in early October 1912, very soon after the start of the Balkan War.
The siege lasted for five months. The decisive attack of the Bulgarian units began on March 11, 1913. Artillery shelling of the Edirne fortress began, lasting more than 10 hours. The next day, March 12, the infantry offensive began at dawn. In the evening, a general assault followed, preceded by heavy artillery fire.
At 2 a.m., the heavily fortified Aydığılı fort was captured, followed by the Aivazbaba and Kestenlik fortifications. After an 8-hour attack on the morning of March 13, the commandant of the Edirne fortress, Shukri Pasha, surrendered along with the entire Edirne garrison. He handed over his sword to the commander of the Second Bulgarian Army, Gen. Nikola Ivanov. Bulgarian tricolor flags fluttered above the largest Edirne mosque, Sultan Selim. A few days later, H.H. Tsar Ferdinand entered the city, and the Bulgarian army marched triumphantly through the streets of Edirne.
The total number of casualties was over 11,000. killed Turkish soldiers and officers and almost 52 thousand prisoners. We also capture 413 cannons, over 12 thousand rifles and a large amount of other military equipment. Our losses are 1316 killed, 451 missing without a trace and more than 6 thousand wounded.
The capture of Edirne is the last decisive blow against the Ottoman Empire and only two weeks after its defeat, it is forced to begin peace negotiations. On April 12, an armistice was signed, and on May 30, 1913, the London Peace Treaty, with which the Balkan War finally ends.