Another wish of Enver Pasha was to add the Turks in Caucasus and Turkistan into Ottoman community by defeating Russia. After a period of preliminary preparations, Enver Pasha, taking command of the 3rd Army, made some important changes in the army. He substituted the ex-commanders by new and creative officers and went to Erzurum and initiated Caucasus war, which constituted a politically unforgivable timing mistake. Enver Pasha intended to catch unprepared Russian army, which was weakened because of the cold. However, this would not come true. Indeed, if Enver Pasha waited for the spring, he might have found a Russian army not recovered yet and could have saved some of the territories as he had thought.
The portrait of the conflicts of the first twenty days was no good for Turks. During the war, we had defended in general, but came out unsuccessful in attacks. However, the two armies wanted to continue the war as if they wanted to put an end to the grudge of centuries. The war lasted for fourteen days despite cold, diseases and unbelievable deficiency in war equipment.
Enver Pashas operation had no chance to succeed. 75.000 Turks and 23.000 Russians could not see the end of the war. The remaining ones could turn back to their countries having caught a fatal disease. The thoughts of Enver Pasha to dominate over Iran, India, Turan and Caucasus could not be realized under the conditions of those days. He could not realize the first part of his ideas when he had in mind when he declared a war on behalf of Turkey on the part of Germans. The lost territories could not be regained but much more territories of the motherland were lost on the contrary. However, Enver Pasha did not lose power because of this event when he turned back to Istanbul. On the contrary, this event made his reputation grow.
Russias occupying Tabriz just after the Caucasus war revived Pan-Turkism ideal which was retained for a period. Moreover, it gained support of the people. Turkish voluntary forces tried to defend Tabriz, in accordance therewith.
Now, Enver Pasha held the position of the spiritual leader and authorized saver of foreign Turks. World Turks sent letters to the Pasha and wanted him to regain their rights. Bolshevik Revolution, which occurred in 1917 was going to invite Pan-Turkism ideal for a second time, which would make Enver Pasha fight again. Pasha, who preferred Azerbaijan, which was the most possessor Turkish republic of the day, as a base, was able to collect some aid under the name of Islam Army. He commissioned his brother Nuri Pasha with the command of the Liberation Army consisting of 28.000 soldiers, which he established again. Arming was to be completed first, and then capital city Baku was to be rescued from red persecution.
Enver Pasha was careful this time not to go to Caucasus in order not to be unsuccessful because of a timing mistake for a second time and prepared his plans in Istanbul. But the big handicap of this commander was that his emotions took the lead again. Therefore, his plans were based on a very idealist framework. Enver Pasha not only imagined to seize Baku in four or six weeks, and Caucasus in two years, but also to reach Trans-Caucasus. However, Enver Pasha came across a great surprise after having completed all preparations when it was the turn of seizing Baku. German Empire had agreed with Russia in order not to allow England to capture the petroleum reserves and left Turkey in the lurch.
After Mondros Agreement was signed, Enver Pasha and his friends went to Germany where they decided to conduct their studies in German territories not giving up the great Turan ideal. Enver Pasha, who tried to complete his preparations between 1918 and 1920, was going to be arrested on his way to Russia and be put into prison for a period of time, but at last be able to go to his friend Ahmet Cemal Pasha.
At this point exactly, we see a change in the thoughts of Enver Pasha and famous commander established close relations with Russia. Of course Enver Pashas aim was not to get integrated to the communist system and to work for this new order. His aim was to put British, who destroyed Ottoman State and occupied Istanbul. His aim was to fight against Britain, which tried to demolish the state for which he gave his life within the borders of Soviet Union.
Communitarian Nationalism period of Enver Pashas life in terms of both his actions and ideas includes a period from 1917 Bolshevik Revolution to 1922, when he was martyred. Enver Pashas deciding this path is an obligation forced by the historical conditions ruling most of the peoples destinies. Therefore, the issue of greatest importance for Enver Pasha was to establish an alliance of Soviets, who waged a total war against British imperialism and Muslims for providing a foothold for Pan-Islamist and Pan-Turkist movement. As a matter of fact, Soviet Revolution, changing the political horizons of the East, has united Bolsheviks and Turks. For Enver Pasha, this meant a position which could help him to reach the objectives he planned to realize in the Muslim territories of Middle East and Turkistan.