Battle of Harmanli

The Battle of Harmanli was an action by the Southern Detachment's vanguard during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878. After the defeat of the remaining Ottoman forces at Plovdiv, scattered units of Süleyman Pasha's army and large groups of Turkish refugees withdrew through the Rhodopes and along the Maritsa valley.

On 4 and 5 January, a reconnaissance squadron sent by Major General Alexander Strukov located a large convoy of Turkish refugees and scattered Ottoman army units moving towards Harmanli. The squadron advanced to the town on 5 January and was attacked on arrival. Two hours later, a train from Adrianople carrying an Ottoman delegation reached the station. After it passed, the Ottomans set fire to the railway bridge.

Operations on 19 January included strengthening positions beyond Harmanli and reconnoitring near Devralia. Russian troops encountered a concentration of armed refugees and regular Ottoman soldiers. Russian shelling and an attack scattered them in panic. Fires and local clashes broke out during the fighting.

Afterwards, Russian troops returned to their starting positions. Refugees' children and belongings were brought back to Harmanli, and they were allowed to proceed freely towards Adrianople. War correspondents described the aftermath, while Lieutenant General Skobelev took measures to return abandoned property and children to the town.

The engagement was one of many wartime actions that contributed to the Ottoman army's disintegration and prepared the way for the liberation of further territories.