COMMUNICATION: What happens when military coordination is ineffective? Gallipoli COMMUNICATION: What happens when military coordination is ineffective? AN EPIC FAILURE

Propaganda Posters

General Overview Essentially involved British, French, and untested Australian and New Zealand forces (Anzacs) Initially viewed as purely only a naval battle to win the Dardanelles Straits, to supply Russia in the Eastern Front, and better coordinate allied war programs Rough dates: February 1915-January 1916

Why do this at all? The Straits were viewed as strategically important geographically… and have been for a long time! (Continuity & Change) The Straits linked the Mediterranean Sea with the Sea of Marmora, giving Entente powers access to Constantinople and a lane into the Black Sea Access to the Black Sea would give Britain and France a supply route to their eastern ally, Russia

The Difficulty of the Straits Because of its huge tactical and strategic value, it was heavily defended, mainly by natural geography To the north they were protected by the Gallipoli Peninsula; to the south by the shore of Ottoman Asia. As well, fortresses were well positioned on cliff-tops overlooking shipping lanes

Lack of Success on Western Front Both Britain and France were receiving sobering news from the campaign on the Western Front, and much of the resources were consumed there Both governments came to look at the opening up of another front in the Mediterranean, one that offered better prospects of success, as a good change

Political Approval Formal approval had been given in Britain by January 28, 1915, although it was still unclear how this was going to unfold – Winston Churchill (remember this name!) In Paris, the government was preoccupied in affairs on the Western Front and felt less inclined to fully commit a British-sponsored expedition Ultimately France agrees, driven mostly by an unwillingness for Britain to make a breakthrough alone: the French still wanted to share in the glory

Initial Attacks -19/25 February 1915 On February 19,the first attempt began by a naval approach, using a considerable amount of British and French battleships The pounding of outer fortresses proved ineffective, although greater damage was inflicted than had been realized On February 25, another bombardment proved unsuccessful as the attack could not silence the Turks pouring shellfire from the heights

Failure to Force the Narrows On March 18, an attempt was made to force through The Narrows, named so because of the 1,600 heavily mined meters that separated the shore on both sides This also failed, primarily because of the presence of an unsuspected Turkish minefield A realization is finally made…ground support was required! There was a month’s pause to prepare for Allied landings at Helles and Anzac Cove

Allied Command Opinions…. “For this trench warfare no great technical knowledge is required. A high moral standard and a healthy stomach these are the best. . . for he who aspires to fight his way to the front at the Dardanelles." General Ian Hamilton to Winston Churchill, early 1915

Reinforecments, Landings, and Failed Attacks 18, 000 French Colonial troops were added, as well as a force of 75, 000 largely untested Australian and New Zealand troops – training in Egypt 84, 000 enemy troops were brought in and were dispersed to strategic locations around Gallipoli On April 25, two landings occurred, one at Helles and the other at Anzac Cove, establishing two beachheads Heavy casualties were taken because of positioning

Three Failed Attacks Between April and June, three attacks were directed toward Krithia without much success Landings at Suvli Bay, August 6, also signaled a new offensive which would attempt to link all three points into a general sweep of the peninsula This ultimately lost its momentum, coupled with the reality of more reinforcements by the Turks

What did British Commanders think of their colonial allies?

ANZAC Soldiers in the trenches

The Reality of Geography The Allies now had control of three beachheads, however, they all were overlooked by high ground commanded by Turkish forces Turkish Artillery was effective Heavy fire was constant and casualties were at 40, 000 while trench warfare settled in… a disastrous reality Evacuation came to fruition on October 11, 1915

Turkish Soldiers at Gallipoli

The Highlight-the Evacuation! The British government finally sanctioned a formal evacuation that began on December 7 The evacuation was easily viewed as the most successful element of the entire campaign British casualties: 205, 000 French casualties: 47, 000 Turkish casualties: 250, 000

Timeline of Gallipoli Date Event 19/25 February 1915 First & Second Allied naval bombardment 18 March 1915 Allied naval attempt to force The Narrows 25 April 1915 Allied landings at Helles and Anzac Cove 28 April-4 June 1915 First, Second and Third Battles of Krithia 6 August 1915 Allied landings at Suvla Bay 10-20 December 1915 Allied evacuation of Anzac Cove and Suvla 9 January 1916 Completion of evacuation of Helles

Waltzing Matilda and Anzac Day http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPFjToKuZQM ANZAC DAY – National Memorial Day, April 25th

Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey What is it? The systematic murder of Armenians by the Ottoman/Turkish government How many Armenians were murdered? We are not sure. Numbers range from 800,000 to 1.5 million. Armenians had been discriminated against and often targeted by the Ottoman government for many years before the genocide. Armenians were subject to negative propaganda which portrayed them as a danger to the Ottoman Empire.

Women & Children forced to march into the Syrian desert

International Reaction to the crime