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

2. Propaganda Posters

5. 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

6. 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

8. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

18. 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

19. What did British Commanders think of their colonial allies?

20. ANZAC Soldiers in the trenches

21. 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

22. Turkish Soldiers at Gallipoli

23. 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

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

25. Waltzing Matilda and Anzac Day
ANZAC DAY – National Memorial Day, April 25th

26. 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.

27. Women & Children forced to march into the Syrian desert

28. International Reaction to the crime