Gallipoli Campaign

Gallipoli Campaign
Conflict	Gallipoli Campaign
Partof	the Middle Eastern theatre of World War I
Caption	ANZAC troops at Anzac Cove in 1915.
Date	17 February 1915 – 9 January 1916
Place	Gallipoli Peninsula, Ottoman Empire
Result	Ottoman victory
Combatant1	British Empire, France, Russian Empire
Combatant2	Ottoman Empire, German Empire, Austria-Hungary
Commander1	Ian Hamilton, John de Robeck, Horace Hood, Maurice Bailloud
Commander2	Otto Liman von Sanders, Mustafa Kemal, Cevat Çobanlı, Esat Pasha
Strength1	5 divisions (initial), 16 divisions (final)
Strength2	6 divisions (initial), 16 divisions (final)
Casualties1	~252,000 casualties
Casualties2	~218,000–251,000 casualties

Gallipoli Campaign. The Gallipoli Campaign was a major Allied military operation during the First World War that aimed to secure a sea route to Russia and knock the Ottoman Empire out of the conflict. Launched in April 1915, the campaign centered on an amphibious assault on the Gallipoli Peninsula, which guards the strategic Dardanelles strait. It resulted in a costly and protracted stalemate, culminating in a full Allied withdrawal by January 1916 and a significant victory for the Ottoman defenders.

Background and strategic objectives

The strategic concept was primarily championed by First Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill, who sought to break the deadlock on the Western Front. The plan aimed to force a passage through the Dardanelles, capture the Ottoman capital of Constantinople, and open a supply line to the Russian Empire via the Black Sea. A successful operation, it was argued, might also persuade neutral states like Bulgaria and Greece to join the Allies. The campaign followed a failed naval assault in February and March 1915, which convinced Allied planners, including members of the British War Council, that a large-scale ground invasion was necessary to silence Ottoman shore batteries.

Opposing forces and commanders

The Allied invasion force, designated the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, was a multinational effort under the command of British General Sir Ian Hamilton. It included the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC), the British 29th Division, the Royal Naval Division, and corps from France and the British Indian Army. The Ottoman defense was organized by the German advisor Otto Liman von Sanders, who commanded the Fifth Army. Key Ottoman field commanders included Mustafa Kemal of the 19th Division and Esat Pasha, who played crucial roles in the early resistance.

Landings and initial operations

The main landings occurred on 25 April 1915 at multiple beaches. The British 29th Division faced heavy resistance at Cape Helles, while the ANZAC corps landed further north at a cove later named Anzac Cove, where they became entangled in difficult terrain. A diversionary French attack was made at Kum Kale on the Asian shore. Ottoman forces, forewarned and well-prepared, contained the beachheads with fierce counter-attacks. Critical actions in the first days included the Ottoman defense at Sedd el Bahr and the struggle for Baby 700 near Anzac, which prevented any significant Allied advance inland.

Stalemate and trench warfare

By early May, the campaign had degenerated into a bloody stalemate reminiscent of the Western Front. A network of opposing trenches stretched from the shores at Cape Helles to the heights above Anzac Cove. Major Allied offensives, such as the Third Battle of Krithia and the Battle of Sari Bair in August, failed at great cost. The August offensive included the disastrous charge of the 3rd Light Horse Brigade at the Nek and the landing at Suvla Bay, which also bogged down. Conditions were horrific, with soldiers suffering from extreme heat, dysentery, and rampant disease.

Evacuation and aftermath

After months of failure and mounting casualties, the decision to evacuate was made. The withdrawal from Suvla Bay and Anzac Cove was executed with remarkable secrecy and skill in December 1915, followed by Cape Helles in January 1916. The campaign resulted in approximately 250,000 Allied casualties, including over 44,000 killed, and an estimated 218,000 to 251,000 Ottoman casualties. The failure contributed to the resignation of Prime Minister Asquith, the demotion of Winston Churchill, and a bolstering of Ottoman morale. It also influenced the subsequent Arab Revolt and the Middle Eastern theatre of World War I.

Legacy and remembrance

The campaign is foundational to the national consciousness of Australia and New Zealand, marking the birth of the Anzac spirit commemorated annually on Anzac Day. In Turkey, it is celebrated as a defining victory and a key moment in the rise of national hero Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. The battlefields are preserved as the Gallipoli Peninsula Historical National Park, a site of pilgrimage for all three nations. The campaign has been extensively studied in military history, notably in the works of Alan Moorehead and Les Carlyon, and is often cited as a classic example of a failed amphibious operation.

Category:World War I Category:Battles of World War I involving Australia Category:Battles of World War I involving the Ottoman Empire