[7] In the context of the Ottoman front during World War I, the German government had initially opposed Turkish advances into the Caucasus region.

However, due to their growing frustration with the actions of Trotsky, the Germans abandoned their previous objections and agreed in the final version of the Brest-Litovsk Treaty to the clearance of Russian troops from the districts of Ardahan, Kars, and Batum.

Approximately 600 individuals lost their lives, and 700 others were wounded, primarily due to an explosion in an ammunitions depot.

The circumstances surrounding the explosion remain uncertain, as it is unclear whether it was an accident or an intentional act.

The casualties included 1,050 Russians and 250 Greeks,[9] highlighting the diverse ethnic composition of the region.