Red Army invasion of Azerbaijan

Red Army invasion of Azerbaijan
Part of the Armenian–Azerbaijani War and the Russian Civil War
Red Army in Baku, May 1920
Date 27 April – 12 May 1920 Location Transcaucasia Result Soviet victory Overthrow of the ADR government Establishment of Azerbaijan SSR
Belligerents
Russian SFSR Azerbaijani Bolsheviks	Azerbaijan
Commanders and leaders
Mikhail Tukhachevsky Mikhail Levandovsky Mikhail Yefremov Anastas Mikoyan Gazanfar Musabekov Nariman Narimanov Chingiz Ildyrym	Mammad H. Hajinski Samad Mehmandarov Abdulhamid Gaytabashi Aliagha Shikhlinski

The Red Army invasion of Azerbaijan, also known as the Sovietization or Soviet invasion of Azerbaijan, took place in April 1920. It was a military campaign conducted by the 11th Army of Soviet Russia with the aim of installing a new Soviet government in the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic.^[1][2][3] This invasion occurred simultaneously with an anti-government insurrection organized by local Azerbaijani Bolsheviks in the capital city of Baku. As a result of the invasion, the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was dissolved, and the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic was established.^[4][5]

During 1919–1920, Azerbaijan was grappling with a severe political and socio-economic crisis, and the internal political situation was highly volatile. Armed conflicts were occurring between various political and social factions across the provinces of the country. Simultaneously, since the collapse of Soviet power in 1918, underground organizations comprising diverse political parties and socialist-oriented groups were active. These factions united with the AC(b)P in February 1920 to achieve their political objectives.

In April 1920, the 11th Red Army, having defeated the Volunteer Army in the North Caucasus, approached Azerbaijan's borders. Azerbaijani Bolsheviks were preparing for armed uprisings set to begin on the night of April 26–27. Alongside the uprisings in Baku, several Soviet armored trains crossed into Azerbaijan, conducting successful deep raids behind Azerbaijani lines.

After gaining control over key strategic locations in the capital, the Bolsheviks issued an ultimatum to the Azerbaijani government and parliament, demanding the transfer of power. In an emergency session, the parliament voted to hand over power to the Azerbaijani Communist Party.^[6] With the support of the 11th Red Army entering the country, the new government quickly brought the remaining territories of Azerbaijan under its control. The principal outcome of these events was the establishment of Soviet rule in Azerbaijan, under the leadership of the Communist Party, and the proclamation of the independent Azerbaijani Soviet Socialist Republic. Azerbaijan SSR functioned as an independent state until 1922.^[7][8][4]