Gallipoli Campaign: Reasons and Outcomes

The Gallipoli Campaign: A Cheatsheet

The Gallipoli Campaign was a significant military operation during World War I. This cheatsheet outlines its causes, key features, and the critical importance of the troop evacuation.

Reasons for the Gallipoli Campaign

• Turkey Joins the Central Powers: In October 1914, Turkey allied with Germany and Austria-Hungary, creating a major problem for the Allies.

• Control of the Dardanelles: Turkey controlled the Dardanelles, a narrow strait leading to the Black Sea.

  • This blocked supplies (food and arms) from reaching Russia via the Mediterranean.

  • It trapped Russian ships in the Black Sea.

• Stalemate on the Western Front: The war on the Western Front was bogged down, and Russia desperately needed relief from German and Austro-Hungarian attacks.

• Churchill's Plan: Winston Churchill, then First Lord of the Admiralty, proposed a plan to:

  • Relieve pressure on Russia by diverting Turkish forces.

  • Open the Dardanelles for Allied shipping to supply Russia.

  • Initial plan involved a naval bombardment to knock out Turkish forts, followed by ground troops.

  • A successful campaign could also bring neutral countries like Bulgaria and Greece into the war on the Allied side.

Key Features of the Gallipoli Campaign

Initial Naval Attack:

• February 1915: Anglo-French naval force began bombarding Turkish coastal guns.

• March 18, 1915: Main naval attack launched.

  • Eighteen battleships attempted to force through the Dardanelles.

  • Three battleships were sunk by mines, leading to the fleet's retreat.

• Conclusion: Naval assault failed, necessitating a ground invasion.

Ground Invasion - April 1915 :

• An Allied army, primarily British and Anzac (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) troops, led by General Ian Hamilton, invaded the Gallipoli peninsula.

• Landing Challenges:

  • Troops had no experience with beach landings.

  • Beaches were often below cliffs and steeply rising terrain.

  • Hamilton lacked up-to-date maps.

• Turkish Preparedness: Turks used the time between February and April to strengthen their defenses and prepare their guns.

• Anzac Cove Landing:

  • Anzac troops landed at Anzac Cove, immediately facing machine-gun fire.

  • They established a foothold but were unable to move inland.

  • Soldiers described "bullets hit us like a blizzard of lead" and "awful tornado of shrapnel."

• British at Cape Helles:

  • Beaches became "bloodbaths."

  • Gained a small piece of land but never captured a single Turkish fort.

• French at Kum Kale: Defeated after a day of heavy fighting.

• Stalemate Achieved:

  • Allied troops were forced to dig trenches, just like on the Western Front.

  • They could not advance to clear the Dardanelles of mines.

  • The campaign, intended to break the Western Front stalemate, created a new stalemate in Gallipoli.

Consequences of the Failure:

• Heavy Casualties: Of 480,000 Allied troops:

  • 204,000 wounded

  • 48,000 killed

• Disease: Dirty conditions led to widespread typhoid, dysentery, and diarrhea.

  • Approximately 145,000 British soldiers affected.

  • Approximately 64,000 Turkish soldiers affected.

• Dardanelles Remained Closed: Russia's supply line remained cut, leading to "slow starvation."

• Western Front Unchanged: The campaign failed to break the stalemate there, and troops were diverted unnecessarily.

• Damage to Leaders' Careers:

  • General Hamilton removed from command.

  • Winston Churchill forced to resign as First Lord of the Admiralty.

• Turkish Morale: High, as they successfully defended their territory.

Significance of the Troop Evacuation from Gallipoli

• Campaign Failure Recognized: By autumn 1915, the campaign's failure was evident.

• General Hamilton's Opposition: Hamilton initially opposed evacuation, fearing up to 50% casualties. He was subsequently removed.

• General Monro's Order: Hamilton's replacement, General Monro, quickly ordered an immediate evacuation.

• Successful Evacuation (Dec 1915 - Jan 1916):

  • Over 135,000 troops and 300 guns evacuated.

  • Deception Tactics: Rifles set up to fire automatically convinced Turks that troops were still present.

  • Remarkable Success: Men and weapons removed without Turkish detection.

  • Minimal Casualties: Only three officially recorded casualties.

• Most Successful Part of the Campaign: The evacuation stood out as the only truly successful operation in an otherwise disastrous campaign, preventing further significant loose of life.