What were the Allied objectives at Gallipoli?
The objective of the campaign was to seize control of the Dardanelles peninsula and the Bosphorus, giving Allied navies and merchant ships passage between the Mediterranean and Black Seas. The Gallipoli campaign failed due to miscalculations, tactical errors and an underestimation of Ottoman forces.
What was the casualty rate at Gallipoli?
The British government authorized the evacuation to begin from Suvla Bay on December 7; the last troops left Helles on January 9, 1916. In all, some 480,000 Allied forces took part in the Gallipoli Campaign, at a cost of more than 250,000 casualties, including some 46,000 dead.
What nations fought in Gallipoli?
What countries were involved in the Battle of Gallipoli?
- Great Britain and Ireland.
- Australia.
- France.
- New Zealand.
- India.
- Newfoundland.
- Allies.
- Ottoman Empire.
What was the purpose of the Gallipoli Campaign?
What was the purpose of the Gallipoli campaign? The purpose of the Galipoli Campaign was a strategic attempt to open a sea route to the Black Sea to aid Russia in WW1. To do this the Allies had to secure the seaway from land based artillery.
Who won the fight in Gallipoli?
the TurksThe Gallipoli Campaign cost the Allies 187,959 killed and wounded and the Turks 161,828. Gallipoli proved to be the Turks' greatest victory of the war. In London, the campaign's failure led to the demotion of Winston Churchill and contributed to the collapse of Prime Minister H. H. Asquith's government.
Who did Gallipoli fight against?
the Ottoman EmpireThis marked the start of the Gallipoli Campaign, a land-based element of a broad strategy to defeat the Ottoman Empire. Over 8 months, the Anzacs advanced little further than the positions they had taken on that first day of the landings. By November 1915, it was clear that the stalemate was not likely to be broken.
What is the battle of Gallipoli known for?
The Gallipoli Campaign of 1915-16, also known as the Battle of Gallipoli or the Dardanelles Campaign, was an unsuccessful attempt by the Allied Powers to control the sea route from Europe to Russia during World War I.
When was the Battle of Gallipoli fought and won?
Gallipoli campaignDate17 February 1915 – 9 January 1916 (10 months, 3 weeks and 2 days)LocationGallipoli Peninsula, Sanjak of Gelibolu, Adrianople Vilayet, Ottoman Empire 40°22′N 26°27′EResultOttoman victory
Why was Gallipoli fought?
The Gallipoli campaign was intended to force Germany's ally, Turkey, out of the war. It began as a naval campaign, with British battleships sent to attack Constantinople (now Istanbul). This failed when the warships were unable to force a way through the straits known as the Dardanelles.
Why did Australia fight at Gallipoli?
The aim of this deployment was to assist a British naval operation which aimed to force the Dardanelles Strait and capture the Turkish capital, Constantinople. The Australians landed at what became known as Anzac Cove on 25 April 1915, and they established a tenuous foothold on the steep slopes above the beach.
Was the Battle of Gallipoli a success?
British Commonwealth casualties, apart from heavy losses among old naval ships, were 213,980. The campaign was a success only insofar as it attracted large Turkish forces away from the Russians.
When was the Battle of Gallipoli?
February 19, 1915 – January 9, 1916Gallipoli campaign / Period
What was the most brutal battle in ww1?
The Battle of VerdunThe Battle of Verdun was one of the longest, bloodiest, and most ferocious battles of World War I. Some 300,000 people were killed, with many more wounded.
How did Turks won Gallipoli?
The initial naval attacks on the Dardanelles were repulsed by Turkish mines and inland artillery which led to the allied decision to attempt a landing at Gallipoli. In the month between the allied decision to make a landing the Turks were able to fortify their positions around the peninsula.
Was Gallipoli ww1 or ww2?
Dardanelles Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Gallipoli Campaign, also called Dardanelles Campaign, (February 1915–January 1916), in World War I, an Anglo-French operation against Turkey, intended to force the 38-mile- (61-km-) long Dardanelles channel and to occupy Constantinople.
How many Turks were killed at Gallipoli?
The Turkish defenders were victorious. After an eight-month-long campaign British Empire and French forces withdrew, having suffered 44,000 deaths. At least 85,000 Turkish soldiers died in the campaign. Consequently, Gallipoli is of profound importance to the national identity of both Australia and Turkey.
What was the significance of the Battle of Gallipoli?
The Battle of Gallipoli was a major victory for the Ottomans and is considered as a defining moment in the history of Turkey. It formed the background on which the Turkish War of Independence was fought.
What was the purpose of the Battle of Gallipoli?
Britain and France, who were Russia’s allies, intended to secure the peninsula from the Ottoman Empire. They launched an attack on the peninsula with the sole objective of capturing Constantinople, which is the modern Istanbul, and was the Ottoman capital. The campaign was abandoned after several months of fighting with thousands of causalities on both sides and the invasion forces retreated to Egypt. The Battle of Gallipoli was a major victory for the Ottomans and is considered as a defining moment in the history of Turkey. It formed the background on which the Turkish War of Independence was fought.
What was the British and French response to the Dardanelles Strait?
In response, the British and the French decided to launch a naval attack to capture the Dardanelles Strait. The attack on the strait began on February 19, 1915. The Turkish met the attack with heavy fire, stalling the advance. However, the allied battleship managed to enter the strait on March 18.
Where did the Turks set their troops?
Meanwhile, the Turks position their troops along the shores where they expected the enemies to land. The invasion of the Gallipoli peninsula was launched on April 25. Although the Allies suffered heavy casualties, they managed to set base at Helles and Gaba Tepe.
Who was the commander of the British forces in the Gallipoli invasion?
In the wake of the failed naval attack, the Britain and French began to prepare for a troop landing on the peninsula. General Ian Hamilton was appointed the commander of the British forces for this operation. He assembled troops from New Zealand, French, and Australian colonies. Meanwhile, the Turks position their troops along the shores where they expected the enemies to land. The invasion of the Gallipoli peninsula was launched on April 25. Although the Allies suffered heavy casualties, they managed to set base at Helles and Gaba Tepe.
Was the Ottoman campaign a stalemate?
The campaign is described in different ways by different historians. Some believe it was a close-fought affair that was a marginal defeat for the Allies while others view it as a stalemate. Yet other believes that the Ottoman resisted the Allies with relative ease.
Who was the first to fight at Gallipoli?
The Battle of Gallipoli was fought during World War I (1914-1918) and represented an attempt to knock the Ottoman Empire out of the war. The plan for the operation was conceived by First Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill who believed warships could force the Dardanelles and strike directly at Constantinople.
Why did the Allies land troops on the Gallipoli Peninsula?
When this proved unfeasible, the Allies elected to land troops on the Gallipoli Peninsula to open the straits. The early stages of the campaign were badly handled and Allied forces were effectively trapped in their beachheads.
What was Hamilton's attempt to revive the offensive at Sulva Bay?
On August 21, Hamilton attempted to revive the offensive at Sulva Bay with attacks on Scimitar Hill and Hill 60. Fighting in brutal heat, these were beaten off and by the 29th the battle had ended. With the failure of Hamilton's August Offensive, fighting calmed as British leaders debated the future of the campaign.
Why did the ANZACs cut across the peninsula?
While the 29th Division was to advance north to take the forts along the straits, the ANZACs were to cut across the peninsula to prevent the retreat or reinforcement of the Turkish defenders. The first landings began on April 25, 1915, and were badly mismanaged (Map).
What was the mission of the Allied forces in Gallipoli?
With the failure of the naval campaign, it became clear to Allied leaders that a ground force was going to be needed to eliminate the Turkish artillery on the Gallipoli Peninsula which commanded the straits. This mission was delegated to General Sir Ian Hamilton and the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force. This command included the newly formed Australia and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC), the 29th Division, the Royal Naval Division, and the French Oriental Expeditionary Corps. Security for the operation was lax and the Turks spent six weeks preparing for the anticipated assault.
How many people died in the Gallipoli campaign?
The Gallipoli Campaign cost the Allies 187,959 killed and wounded and the Turks 161,828. Gallipoli proved to be the Turks' greatest victory of the war. In London, the campaign's failure led to the demotion of Winston Churchill and contributed to the collapse of Prime Minister H. H. Asquith's government.
What was the name of the battle that Hamilton's men were unable to take?
Trench Warfare. Attacking on April 28, Hamilton's men were unable to take the village. With his advance stalled in the face of determined resistance, the front began to mirror the trench warfare of France. Another attempt was made to take Krithia on May 6.
What was the plan of the Allies at Gallipoli?
The Russian Black Sea fleet was bottled up. The Allies wanted to open the Dardanelles, open a second front against Austria, take Constantinople, and knock Turkey out of the war.
Who was the leader of the Turkish troops in Gallipoli?
Turkish reinforcements were sent to Gallipoli. There they entrenched under the leadership of the German general Liman Von Sanders and a Turkish colonel, Mustafa Kemal.
Why did the Allies want to take control of the Dardanelles?
The Allies desperately wanted to take control of the Dardanelles (the straights connecting Constantinople with the Mediterranean). They were crucial to Russia and would make it possible for Russia to (in effect) have a warm-water port. The only problem is the Ottomans had controlled the Dardanelles for five centuries and were backed by Germany ...
What was the Turkish attack on Russia?
Meanwhile, the Turkish army launched an attack on Russia through the Caucasus. They hoped to create a “Pan Turanian” (Pan-Turkic) Empire, uniting people who spoke Turkic languages. The campaign was a complete disaster. More than half of the Turkish soldiers froze to death and many more were killed.
Why did the British send ships to the Dardanelles?
The Turks had laid many mines in the Dardanelles, and the British sent minesweeper ships in to remove as many as possible. The minesweepers faced fire from coastal forts as well as a strong opposing current.
Which countries were involved in the war against Turkey?
In October, the Allies declared war on Turkey. Turkey, Russia, and Britain. The Dardanelles (the straights connecting Constantinople with the Mediterranean) were crucial to Russia. They made it possible for Russia to (in effect) have a warm-water port. One-third of Russian exports went through the Dardanelles.
Where did the Allies get their foothold?
To do this, the Allies needed to get a foothold in Turkey near the Dardanelles. The Gallipoli Peninsula was chosen. The Alliees came up with a plan in which Allied soldiers would be landed at Gallipoli. After they gained control of the peninsula, they would march to Constantinople and seize control of it.
What was the name of the Allied cove in Gallipoli?
Allied troops lining the shore at "ANZAC Cove" on the Gallipoli Peninsula. The cove was named after the ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) troops that were part of the Allied forces. The Dardanelles Campaign against the Turks was a bloody defeat for the Allies. Hulton Archive/Getty Images.
Why did the Gallipoli Campaign fail?
The plan failed to produce decisive results because of poor military leadership in some cases, faulty tactics including complete lack of surprise, the inexperience of the troops, inadequate equipment, and an acute shortage of shells. Gallipoli Campaign. Wounded Turkish troops at an assembly during the Gallipoli Campaign.
What was the Dardanelles campaign?
Gallipoli Campaign, also called Dardanelles Campaign, (February 1915–January 1916), in World War I, an Anglo-French operation against Turkey, intended to force the 38-mile- (61-km-) long Dardanelles channel and to occupy Constantinople.
What was the Dardanelles committee's decision?
On February 16 that decision was modified, as it was agreed that the shores of the Dardanelles would have to be held if the fleet passed through.
Why did the British take the Dardanelles?
On January 2, 1915, in response to an appeal by Grand Duke Nicholas, commanding the Russian armies, the British government agreed to stage a demonstration against Turkey to relieve pressure on the Russians on the Caucasus front. The Dardanelles was selected as the place, a combined naval and military operation being strongly supported by Winston Churchill, who was then the first lord of the Admiralty. On January 28 the Dardanelles committee decided on an attempt to force the straits by naval action alone, using mostly obsolete warships too old for fleet action. On February 16 that decision was modified, as it was agreed that the shores of the Dardanelles would have to be held if the fleet passed through. For that purpose a large military force under Gen. Sir Ian Hamilton was assembled in Egypt, the French authorities also providing a small contingent.
Why did the British government stage a demonstration against Turkey?
On January 2, 1915, in response to an appeal by Grand Duke Nicholas, commanding the Russian armies, the British government agreed to stage a demonstration against Turkey to relieve pressure on the Russians on the Caucasus front. The Dardanelles was selected as the place, a combined naval and military operation being strongly supported by Winston ...
When did the war between the Allies and Turkey begin?
When war between the Allies and Turkey began early in November 1914, the matter was reexamined and classed as a hazardous, but possible, operation.
Who was responsible for Gallipoli?
Asquith was partly blamed for Gallipoli and other disasters and was overthrown in December 1916, when David Lloyd George proposed a war council under his authority, with the Conservatives in the coalition threatening to resign unless the plan was implemented. After failure to reach agreement, Lloyd George and then Asquith resigned, followed by Lloyd George becoming Prime Minister. Lloyd George formed a new government, from which Churchill, active again in the House of Commons from June 1916, was excluded because of Conservative opposition. In the summer of 1917, Churchill was eventually appointed to the cabinet-level post of Minister of Munitions but not to the War Cabinet. The final report of the Commission was issued in 1919, concluding that with the forces available, success was dependent on the government giving priority to the expedition and leaving the British Expeditionary Force in France to make do. The Commissioners found that Hamilton had been over-optimistic from the beginning and had added to Stopford's difficulties on 8 August 1915. Hamilton emerged from the investigation more favourably than perhaps was justified, partly because he made devious attempts to gain collusion from witnesses and obtain leaks from the deliberations of the Commission; Hamilton was never given another army appointment.
What was the purpose of the Gallipoli campaign?
The Entente powers, Britain, France and Russia, sought to weaken the Ottoman Empire, one of the Central Powers, by taking control of the Turkish straits. This would expose the Ottoman capital at Constantinople to bombardment by Allied battleships and cut it off from the Asian part of the empire. With Turkey defeated, the Suez canal would be safe, and a year-round Allied supply route could be opened through the Black Sea to warm water ports in Russia.
What battle did the Allies fight in 1915?
In the Helles sector, which had been extensively entrenched by both sides, the Allies attacked Krithia and Achi Baba again, in the Third Battle of Krithia on 4 June, with the 29th Division, Royal Naval Division, 42nd Division and two French divisions.
What was the name of the British division that was deployed at Suvla Bay?
On 20 September 1915, the Newfoundland Regiment was deployed at Suvla Bay with the 29th Division. On 25 September, Kitchener proposed detaching two British and one French division for service in Salonika in Greece, which was the beginning of the end of the Allied campaign at Gallipoli.
What aircraft sank an Ottoman tug?
Allied aircraft also undertook anti-shipping operations in the Gulf of Saros, where a seaplane from HMS Ben-my-Chree sank an Ottoman tug with an air-launched torpedo. Gurkha Rifles of the 29th Indian Brigade in bivouacs, Gallipoli, 1915.
How many New Zealanders were killed in Gallipoli?
The New Zealand semi-official history (1919, by Fred Waite) estimated that 8,556 New Zealanders served at Gallipoli and contained an estimate of 251,000 Ottoman battle casualties including 86,692 dead. In 2000, McGibbon wrote that 2,721 New Zealanders had been killed, about a quarter of those who had initially landed on the peninsula; other estimates were 2,701 (Pugsley) or 2,779 (Stowers). A 2019 study by New Zealand historians John Crawford and Matthew Buck arrived at a higher estimate for the numbers of New Zealand soldiers who served at Gallipoli, over 16,000, perhaps 17,000 (rather than earlier revised figures of 13,000 to 14,000 and the 1919 figure of 8,556).
How many British soldiers died in the Great War?
There were nearly 500,000 casualties during the campaign, with the British History of the Great War listing losses including sick as 205,000 British, 47,000 French and 251,000 Ottoman troops (with some Turkish (sic) sources referring to 350,000 casualties.) Ottoman casualties have been disputed and in 2001, Tim Travers gave casualty figures of 2,160 officers and 287,000 other ranks (battle and non-battle); included among this may be 87,000 killed. Sanders estimated that the Ottomans suffered 218,000 casualties, including 66,000 dead and that 42,000 wounded returned to duty.
What was the order of battle for the Gallipoli campaign?
Order of battle for the Gallipoli campaign. This is an order of battle listing the Allied and Ottoman forces involved in the Gallipoli campaign during 1915.
What is the appendix 1 of the French official history?
^ Appendix 1 of the French official history (AFGG 8,1) has a four page table listing the units of the C.E.O. at its departure on 4 March 1915. Appendix 2 has a four page breakout of the transport vessels and units aboard.
When did the Dardanelles attack begin?
Dardanelles Campaign: March 1915 . The attack, planned throughout the winter of 1915, opened on March 18, 1915, when six English and four French battleships headed toward the strait. The Turks were aware that an Allied naval attack on the strait was a strong possibility, and with German help, had greatly improved their defenses in the region.
What was the purpose of the Dardanelles attack?
In March 1915, during World War I (1914-18), British and French forces launched an ill-fated naval attack on Turkish forces in the Dardanelles in northwestern Turkey, hoping to take control of the strategically vital strait separating Europe from Asia. The failure of the campaign at the Dardanelles, along with the campaign that followed later that year in Gallipoli, resulted in heavy casualties and was a serious blow to the reputation of the Allied war command, including that of Winston Churchill, the British first lord of the admiralty, who had long been a proponent of an aggressive naval assault against Turkey at the Dardanelles.
How many casualties did the Dardanelles cause?
The failure of the campaign at the Dardanelles and at Gallipoli resulted in heavy casualties—approximately 205,000 for the British Empire and 47,000 for the French (there were also 250,000 Turkish casualties) —and was a serious blow to the reputation of the Allied war command, including that of Churchill, who resigned his position with the admiralty after being demoted, and headed to the Western Front to command a battalion.
Who was the first lord of the admiralty in the British army?
Support from the rest of the British war command came none too soon for Winston Churchill (1874-1965), the British first lord of the admiralty (akin to the secretary of the U.S. Navy), who had long been a proponent of an aggressive naval assault against Turkey at the Dardanelles. Though others, especially the French military command, led by Joseph Joffre, argued that the navy should not strike until ground troops could be spared from the Western Front, Churchill pushed to begin immediately.
Launch of The Gallipoli Campaign
Gallipoli Land Invasion Begins
- In the wake of the failed naval attack, preparations began for largescale troop landings on the Gallipoli Peninsula. British War Secretary Lord Kitchener appointed General Ian Hamilton as commander of British forces for the operation; under his command, troops from Australia, New Zealand and the French colonies assembled with British forces on the Greek island of Lemnos. …
Decision to Evacuate Gallipoli
- With Allied casualties in the Gallipoli Campaign mounting, Hamilton (with Churchill’s support) petitioned Kitchener for 95,000 reinforcements; the war secretary offered barely a quarter of that number. In mid-October, Hamilton argued that a proposed evacuation of the peninsula would cost up to 50 percent casualties; British authorities subsequently recalled him and installed Sir Charle…
Launch of The Campaign
- The World War I could not proceed past the Western Front by 1915. The Allied powers were contemplating going on the offensive on other regions rather than continue with the attack on the Belgium and France. In 1915, the Russians requested for help from Britain to help confront the Turkish invasion. In response, the British and the French decided to launch a naval attack to capt…
Land Invasion
- In the wake of the failed naval attack, the Britain and French began to prepare for a troop landing on the peninsula. General Ian Hamilton was appointed the commander of the British forces for this operation. He assembled troops from New Zealand, French, and Australian colonies. Meanwhile, the Turks position their troops along the shores where they expected the enemies t…
Evacuating Gallipoli
- With the rising allied casualty in the campaign, Hamilton asked for 95,000 reinforcements. However, he was offered less than a quarter of what he had asked for. In October, Hamilton was replaced by Sir Charles Monro who recommended an evacuation of the 105,000 troops. The evacuation began on December 7 with the troops at Sulva Bay. The troops at Helles were the las…
Aftermath
- The campaign is described in different ways by different historians. Some believe it was a close-fought affair that was a marginal defeat for the Allies while others view it as a stalemate. Yet other believes that the Ottoman resisted the Allies with relative ease. The campaign resulted in approximately 500,000 casualties including 205,000 British,...
Fast Facts: Gallipoli Campaign
Background
on The Offensive
- Operations against the Dardanelles began on February 19, 1915, with British ships under Admiral Sir Sackville Carden bombarding Turkish defenses with little effect. A second attack was made on the 25th which succeeded in forcing the Turks to fall back to their second line of defenses. Entering the straits, British warships engaged the Turks again on March 1, however, their mines…
Ground Forces
- With the failure of the naval campaign, it became clear to Allied leaders that a ground force was going to be needed to eliminate the Turkish artillery on the Gallipoli Peninsula which commanded the straits. This mission was delegated to General Sir Ian Hamilton and the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force. This command included the newly formed Australia and New Zealand Arm…
Trench Warfare
- Attacking on April 28, Hamilton's men were unable to take the village. With his advance stalled in the face of determined resistance, the front began to mirror the trench warfare of France. Another attempt was made to take Krithia on May 6. Pushing hard, Allied forces only gained a quarter mile while suffering heavy casualties. At Anzac Cove, Kemal launched a massive counterattack on M…
Gridlock
- After a limited victory at Gully Ravine in late June, Hamilton accepted that the Helles front had become a stalemate. Seeking to move around the Turkish lines, Hamilton re-embarked two divisions and had them landed at Sulva Bay, just north of Anzac Cove, on August 6. This was supported by diversionary attacks at Anzac and Helles. Coming ashore, Lt. General Sir Frederick …
Aftermath
- The Gallipoli Campaign cost the Allies 187,959 killed and wounded and the Turks 161,828. Gallipoli proved to be the Turks' greatest victory of the war. In London, the campaign's failure led to the demotion of Winston Churchill and contributed to the collapse of Prime Minister H. H. Asquith's government. The fighting at Gallipoli proved a galvanizin...