Background to the Gallipoli campaign By the end

Background to the Gallipoli campaign

• By the end of 1914 (the first year of World War I) there was a stalemate on the Western Front. • The Ottoman Empire joined the war in 1914 on the side of Central Powers (Germany and the Austro. Hungarian Empire – also Bulgaria from October 1915). • The Allied Powers (France, Britain and Russia) wanted to control the sea route from Europe to Russia and to capture Constantinople, the capital of the Ottoman Empire.

The Gallipoli Campaign of 1915 -16, (sometimes called the Dardanelles Campaign) was an unsuccessful attempt by the Allied Powers to control the sea route from Europe to Russia during World War I. The Campaign began with a failed naval attack by British and French ships on the Dardanelles Straits in February-March 1915 and continued with a major land invasion of the Gallipoli Peninsula on April 25, involving British and French troops as well as divisions of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC). Lack of sufficient intelligence and knowledge of the terrain, along with a fierce Turkish resistance, hampered the success of the invasion. By mid-October, Allied forces had suffered heavy casualties and had made little headway from their initial landing sites. Evacuation began in December 1915, and was completed early the following January.

Where is Gallipoli? Images APT Library

Where is Gallipoli? Image Google Earth/Creative Commons

During February and March 1915 British and French navies bombarded coastal forts and artillery positions along the Dardanelles Straits, hoping to force their way through to Constantinople. On 18 March five Allied warships were sunk or disabled. Allied commanders decided that troops would need to attack the Gallipoli peninsula to disable the Ottoman defences before the naval attack could proceed. Images The Imperial War Museum/Royal Munster Library

Before dawn on 25 th April 1915 Allied troops began to land on the Gallipoli peninsula. The Ottoman defences were well prepared and Allied troops were injured and killed as they landed. The Ottomans also suffered heavy losses. Image The Imperial War Museum

Number of troops and casualties on each side Allies Total troops in action Killed or died of wounds Wounded, sick, POWs Ottomans 559, 000 315, 000 58, 000 87, 000 140, 000 251, 000 Number of troops and casualties in the Allied army Britain & Empire France & colonies Australia & New Zealand India Total troops in action 420, 000 80, 000 59, 000 16, 000 Killed or died of wounds 29, 500 12, 000 11, 000 1, 500 Wounded, sick, POWs 14, 000 30, 000 25, 000 3, 500 Source Gallipoli Association / Wikipedia

British troops in a trench at Gallipoli Image National Army Museum

Ottoman-Turkish infantry camp Image from Getty Images

A ship called the River Clyde’ carrying British troops was run aground at Sedd el Bahr, Gallipoli, to act as a pier Image from Getty Images

An Allied officer in the trenches with his men Image from Getty Images