The Battle of Sarikamish, fought between the Ottoman Empire and Russia, was intended to secure strategic gains in the Caucasus region during World War I. Amidst the harsh winter conditions of late December, Ottoman forces launched an ambitious offensive against the Russians, anticipating a decisive victory that would shift the war's dynamics in their favor. However, the complex terrain, combined with poor weather and communication breakdowns, led to deadly confusion among Ottoman troops. On December 23, 1914, in the fog of war, units mistakenly identified each other as enemy forces, resulting in a tragic case of friendly fire. This friendly fire incident decimated roughly 2,000 Ottoman soldiers and left many more injured, severely undermining the morale and operational capability of the Ottoman military.The aftermath of this incident had far-reaching implications for the campaign in the Caucasus. Disorganized and shaken by the loss of comrades under such tragic circumstances, Ottoman forces struggled to regroup and mount a cohesive response against the Russian army. As a result, the failure at Sarikamish not only showcased the shortcomings in the Ottoman command structure but also emboldened the Russian forces, who aimed to exploit the vulnerabilities exposed by the Ottomans' blunders. This incident reflected the broader challenges of military coordination that plagued many armies during World War I, where miscommunication could lead to devastating consequences on the battlefield.