Combat actions of the Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army forces in cooperation with detachments of the Young Bukharans and the Bukhara Communist Party in the Bukhara Emirate aimed at overthrowing the monarchy.

In early July 1920, Bukhara Emir Seyid Alim Khan received information of the Russian SFSR’s intention to establish Soviet power in Bukhara and announced the mobilization of the army. However, the Bukhara emir appeared unable to organize an armed uprising against the Soviet power, which had been established in most of Central Asia by the time.

In early August, the commander of the Turkestan Front, Mikhail Frunze, issued the order to advance to Bukhara. Soviet troops were divided into four groups: Chardzhui, Kagano-Bukhara, Katta-Kurgan, and Samarkand. The general command rested with Georgy Zinoviev. The main blow was delivered to Bukhara, by the Kagano-Bukhara group of troops under the command of Ivan Belov. It was in Bukhara that almost the entire Emir’s regular army was concentrated. The Chardzhui group of troops struck in the direction of Old Chardzhui in order to seize the crossings on the Amu Darya. The group was assisted by the Amu Darya flotilla. The Katta-Kurgan group of troops under the command of Ernest Kuzhelo was to capture Khaatarchi, Ziaetdin, Kermine. The Samarkand group of troops advanced on Kitab, Shakhrisabz, Guzar.

On August 29, the Red Army units launched an offensive. It was preceded by armed actions of Bukhara revolutionaries in some parts of the Emirate, undertaken in accordance with the decision of the 4th Congress of the Bukhara Communist Party on the uprising and overthrow of the power of the Emir, adopted in mid-August. By August 30, the Bukhara Emir’s army had been encircled, the Reds approached the town walls of Bukhara.

Bukhara was subjected to intense bombing (more than 200 aerial bombs were dropped on August 31), which caused severe fires in the city. September 1 saw the last assault begin. The Red Army forces overcame the fortress gates and burst into the city. On the morning of September 2, the Emir’s residence, Ark (Kremlin), was captured. The Emir had fled to Eastern Bukhara on the previous day. The monarchical regime in Bukhara was liquidated.