The Gallipoli Campaign (1915)

Summary

The Gallipoli Campaign (1915-1916) was a crucial episode of World War I, initiated by the Allies to break the stalemate on the Western Front and assist Russia against the Ottoman Empire. With a naval expedition aimed at capturing the strategic Dardanelles Strait, the campaign hoped to open supply routes and weaken the Ottoman Empire. Despite efforts, including a beach assault on the Gallipoli Peninsula led by General Ian Hamilton, the campaign ended in a stalemate with heavy casualties on both sides. This battle became significant to the military histories of Australia, New Zealand, and Turkey.

Highlights

• The Allies launched a naval expedition to control the Dardanelles and assist Russia. 🚀
• Winston Churchill pushed for a naval attack, but mines thwarted their plans. ⛴️
• The ANZAC forces' landing is remembered as a heroic effort against odds. 🦘
• Summer heat and dysentery plagued the soldiers on the Turkish coast. ☀️😷
• A failed attack on Suvla Bay led by Mustafa Kemal highlighted Turkish resilience. 🔄
• The eventual orderly evacuation marked the campaign's end with no further casualties. 🏃‍♂️

Key Takeaways

• The Gallipoli Campaign aimed to capture the Dardanelles Strait and open a new front in WWI. 🌊
• Winston Churchill played a key role in proposing the initial naval attack. 🚢
• The naval assault failed due to undetected mines and outdated ships. 💥
• A beach assault, involving British, French, and ANZAC troops, commenced April 25th, 1915. 🏖️
• Casualties were high as trench warfare ensued, mirroring the Western Front. 💣
• The campaign's failure influenced national identities of Australia, New Zealand, and Turkey. 🇦🇺🇳🇿🇹🇷

Overview

In a daring effort to break the stalemate of WWI, the Allies, encouraged by Winston Churchill, launched the Gallipoli Campaign. Designed to capture the Dardanelles Strait, the campaign aimed to establish supply routes to Russia and undermine the Ottoman Empire. It kicked off with a naval assault which proved disastrous due to hidden mines and outdated ships.

Undeterred, the Allies embarked on a full-scale beach assault with British, French, and Anzac forces aiming for quick victories on the Gallipoli Peninsula. Heavy losses were incurred almost immediately, not least due to the dogged resistance of the Ottoman soldiers and the challenging environment that mirrored the grim realities of trench warfare.

Despite the campaign's failure, it left a lasting impact. In Australia and New Zealand, the campaign forged national identities, celebrating the ANZAC bravery. Meanwhile, in Turkey, it cemented a moment of national pride under Mustafa Kemal's leadership. The campaign's legacy confirms Gallipoli as a defining moment for all nations involved.

Chapters

• 00:00 - 00:30: Introduction and Background The chapter titled 'Introduction and Background' provides a brief overview of the Gallipoli campaign during World War I, specifically from 1915 to 1916. By 1915, the Western Front had reached a stalemate, prompting the Allied powers in Belgium and France to consider new strategies. In January 1915, Grand Duke Nicholas of Russia requested Britain’s assistance against the Ottoman Empire, which had invaded the Caucasus region. This led to the launch of a naval expedition by the Allies aimed at capturing the Dardanelles Straits, as a strategy to open a new front in the war.
• 00:30 - 01:00: Initial Naval Attack The chapter 'Initial Naval Attack' describes a strategic plan during wartime where the Allies aimed to secure a passage from the Aegean Sea to the Black Sea via the Sea of Marmara in northwestern Turkey. The goal was to establish supply routes with Russia and weaken the Ottoman Empire's involvement in the war. Winston Churchill, as First Lord of the Admiralty, advocated for this naval strategy. He believed that opening this new front would also strain German forces by requiring them to support the struggling Ottoman forces. The plan involved a naval bombardment by British and French forces on the Dardanelles.
• 01:00 - 01:30: Naval Attack Continues The chapter, 'Naval Attack Continues,' focuses on a key event in naval history during World War I, around February and March 1915. It describes how battleships resumed their attack on February 19th, 1915, after briefly halting due to bad weather. Despite the efforts of the British, who deployed Royal Marines to disrupt Ottoman artillery, the Ottoman forces had effectively placed mines in the water, which many minesweepers failed to detect. On March 18th, the Allied battleships attempted to enter the Straits but faced fierce resistance. Turkish artillery fire and the undetected mines resulted in the sinking of three ships and damage to three others, demonstrating that the naval assault failed primarily because the Turkish guns and minefields combined to thwart the attack.
• 01:30 - 02:00: Amphibious Assault The chapter titled "Amphibious Assault" discusses a full-scale amphibious beach assault on the Gallipoli Peninsula after a failed naval attack. General Ian Hamilton, commanding 77 ships and 75,000 men, leads the operation despite lacking specialist landing craft. The operation involves British forces and Anzac troops.
• 02:00 - 02:30: ANZAC Cove Landings On April 25th, the ANZAC forces, along with French troops, began the landing operations on the Aegean coast, specifically targeting Cape Helles and a location initially north of the intended Gaba Tepe landing site, known as ANZAC Cove. This operation was marked by heavy casualties but is remembered for the valor of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps during the campaign.
• 02:30 - 03:00: Stalemate and Challenges The chapter 'Stalemate and Challenges' discusses the struggles faced by the Allies after landing, as they encountered the tough defense of the Ottoman Turkish. The situation quickly turned into trench warfare reminiscent of the Western Front. The troops also contended with extreme summer heat and a dysentery epidemic, worsened by the presence of swarms of flies around corpses. In an attempt to turn the tide, Hamilton ordered a significant assault on Suvla Bay in August, involving the landing of 63,000 Allied troops. Their objective was to connect with ANZAC forces at ANZAC Cove and break the ongoing stalemate.
• 03:00 - 03:30: Suvla Bay Attack The Suvla Bay Attack narrative highlights the tactical voids and subsequent challenges faced by the Allied forces during the Gallipoli Campaign. The indecision of the Allied commanders allowed the Ottoman Empire, under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal, to reinforce their positions and successfully recapture Suvla Bay on August 10th. This resurgence led to increased casualties for the Allies and perpetuated a stalemate situation. With insufficient reinforcements to continue the campaign, a decision was made to evacuate. The evacuation order was given on December 7th, with the last troops vacating Suvla Bay and ANZAC Cove by the early morning of December 20th, 1915. Eventually, the remaining forces left Cape Helles on January 9th, marking the end of the ill-fated military venture.
• 03:30 - 04:00: Evacuation and Aftermath In 1916, the evacuation of Allied forces was accomplished successfully with no casualties, marking the end of the disastrous Gallipoli campaign. This campaign resulted in over 250,000 casualties on both sides, affecting the Allies and the Ottomans significantly. For Australia and New Zealand, the battle of Gallipoli is seen as a pivotal moment in their national histories, symbolizing their emergence as independent nations. Meanwhile, in Turkey, this battle is regarded as a crucial event in the foundation of modern Turkey.
• 04:00 - 05:00: Conclusion and Impact The conclusion chapter discusses the victorious defense efforts before the end of the Ottoman Empire, encouraging viewers to explore more by watching other videos. It promotes 'Simple History World War One' available on Amazon and expresses gratitude to supporters of the Simple History YouTube channel. It also encourages fans to support the channel financially via Patreon, highlighting how donations can enhance content creation.

The Gallipoli Campaign (1915) Transcription

• 00:00 - 00:30 The Gallipoli campaign: 1915 to 1916. World War I. By 1915, the war on the Western Front had fallen into a stalemate. The Allied powers fighting in Belgium and France, were considering opening a new front. In January 1915, Grand Duke Nicholas of Russia had appealed to Britain for assistance, against the Ottoman Empire. A member of the central powers, which had invaded the Caucasus. A naval expedition was launched by the Allies to capture the Dardanelles straits.
• 00:30 - 01:00 A passage that connects the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara in northwestern Turkey and beyond that, the Black Sea. If they were successful in their goal, the Allies could link up supply routes with Russia, and knock the Ottoman Empire out of the war. Furthermore, as First Lord of the Admiralty, Winston Churchill proposed, opening another front would dilute the German forces as they supported the depleting Ottoman Turkish army. British Admiralty Winston Churchill pushed for a naval attack on the Dardanelles with a bombardment by British and French
• 01:00 - 01:30 battleships On February the 19th 1915. And resumed on the 25th because of bad weather. The Ottomans had placed mines in the water and the mine sweepers had failed to detect many of them. The British also sent Royal Marines ashore to sabotage Ottoman artillery. On March the 18th. Allied battleships entered the Straits. Fire from the Turks and undetected mines sank three of the ships, and damaged three others. This naval assault could not work because the Turkish guns needed to be silenced, and so did the minefields, which was
• 01:30 - 02:00 Impossible to do at the same time. The naval ships were also mainly obsolete warships, unsuitable for action. After this failed naval attack, a full-scale amphibious beach assault would begin on the Gallipoli, Peninsula. General Ian Hamilton was commander and had assembled 77 ships, and 75,000 men. However, he lacked specialist landing craft. Under his command were British forces, Anzac
• 02:00 - 02:30 (standing for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps), and lastly, French troops. The landing started on April 25th. The ally suffered heavy casualties establishing the beachheads of Cape Helles and ANZAC cove on the Aegean coast. The ANZAC forces had landed a little north of the intended landing site of Gaba Tepe at a cove instead. The Gaba Tepe landings would become known as the ANZAC Cove Landings, in honour of the Australian and New Zealand troops who fought valiantly
• 02:30 - 03:00 against the determined Ottoman Turkish defenders. After the landing the Allies could not progress as trench warfare quickly formed like it had done on the Western Front. The summer heat, and the dysentery epidemic were unbearable, and swarms of flies hung around corpses. Hamilton ordered an attack on Suvla Bay in August involving the landing of 63,000 Allied troops. They were to link up with ANZACS at ANZAC Cove and break the stalemate.
• 03:00 - 03:30 But indecision meant that the Ottoman Empire would reinforce the position, and by August 10th an attack, led by Mustafa Kemal, recaptured Suvla Bay. Allied casualties increased and the stalemate continued. Reinforcements were lacking. It was time for evacuation. The order to evacuate the Allied troops was given on the 7th of December, with the last troops leaving Suvla Bay and ANZAC Cove before dawn, on the 20th of December 1915. The last troops left Cape Helles on January the 9th,
• 03:30 - 04:00 1916, and the evacuation was a success with no casualties. The Gallipoli campaign was a disaster for the Allies, who suffered more than 250,000 casualties. While on the Ottoman side they also had an estimated 250,000 casualties. Gallipoli has become a defining moments in the history of both Australia, and New Zealand and has been recognised as their baptism of fire, and a key event to their emergence as Independent nations. In Turkey, the battle was seen as a significant event in the foundation of modern Turkey, and a final
• 04:00 - 04:30 victorious defence before the end of the Ottoman Empire. Watch our other videos to learn more. Get your copy of simple history World War one available on Amazon now. Thank you guys for all your support on the Simple History YouTube channel. If you enjoy it, please consider visiting our patreon page. There, you can show us your support for the channel by donating, and make a huge difference in what we're able to create for you.
• 04:30 - 05:00 Plus you can get early access on upcoming videos, so let's keep it growing, and thank you for being part of this amazing community.