The sudden turn of events caused a rift within the defenders, who were originally prepared to fight to the death. Who would choose death when there's an opportunity to live?
As the war has unfolded thus far, even the most optimistic person wouldn't believe that the Ottoman Empire could make a miraculous recovery.
With the Ottomans gone, naturally, no one would hold them accountable for desertion. As for what to do afterward, that is a matter for the future.
Unlike Ankara, which was surrounded on all sides with no place to flee to, leaving Baghdad meant they could seek refuge in Persia.
In fact, by this stage in the war, many people already wanted to desert. However, having offended so many, they feared fleeing abroad would lead to them being devoured without a trace.
One only needs to glance at the newspapers to realize that migration is a journey fraught with sin and bloodshed, and it's incredibly difficult for outsiders to find their footing.
