The most glorious battle in Bulgaria's fight for freedom, Shipka 1877

One of the most important battles of the Russian-Turkish war for freedom took place on August 11 1877 at the peak of Sveti Nikola (located in the central Balkan mountain). The joint force of Russian soldiers from the 36th Eagle infantry regiment and Bulgarian freedom fighters was attacked by a Turkish army of almost 27 000. Commander of the defending army, which numbered only 5 000 soldiers, was general Stoletov. The besieged troops at the peak fought bravely as the battle went on for tree days. The invading army, which received fresh reinforcements, was successfully repelled until the decisive moment in the end of the third day. Just as the discouraged defenders were about to give up, a numerous army lead by general Radetski arrived.
In the bloody battle on what's now the Stoletov peak Northern Bulgaria was saved from being ravaged by Turkish troops but 3100 Russian soldiers and 535 Bulgarians were killed. A recreation of the battle was held 132 years later at the monument on Shipka peak which commemorates them.