Gallipoli campaign

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Gallipoli campaign (World War I) (25 Apr. 1915–9 Jan. 1916) A failed military offensive on the southernmost peninsula on the European side of the Dardanelles. Following the failure of a naval advance through the Dardanelles, British and ANZAC forces decided to land at Gallipoli, and from there attack the forts guarding the Dardanelles and the entrance to Constantinople. On 25 April a French corps attacked the Turkish positions at Gallipoli from land bases in Asia Minor. British and Australian troops under General Ian Hamilton landed at Cape Helles, at the tip of the Gallipoli peninsula, while Australian and New Zealand troops, under General William Birdwood, landed at Ari Burnu (later renamed Anzac Cove). Security had been so lax that the Turks under the German General Liman von Sanders were expecting them, and offered strong resistance. British and ANZAC troops desperately tried to advance up the steep hillsides, despite heavy casualties. On 6 August a further landing was made at Suvla Bay, to the west. This was a much more suitable site, but the Allies did not press their advantage, enabling Turkish troops to move into the hills above them. Trench warfare ensued until an evacuation was finally ordered. Some 36,000 Allied troops were killed, including 8,587 Australians. A further 82,000 were wounded or taken prisoner. Its failure was caused by inadequate and confused planning, while the offensive had been controversial from the start. Many had argued that it merely deflected efforts from the war's main and decisive theatre of operations, the Western Front.

Gallipoli campaign 1915, Allied expedition in World War I for the purpose of gaining control of the Dardanelles and Bosporus straits, capturing Constantinople, and opening a Black Sea supply route to Russia. The idea of forcing the straits was originally promoted by Winston Churchill, then first lord of the admiralty. After the failure (Mar., 1915) of a British naval force to open the straits, British, Australian, and New Zealand troops landed (Apr. 25) at various points on the east coast of the Gallipoli Peninsula, while a French force landed on the Asian side of the straits. The Turks, under General Liman von Sanders , had been reinforced, and they put up stubborn resistance, preventing the Allies from making any important gains. Allied cooperation was poor, and there was lack of coordination between land and naval forces that resulted in a premature naval attack without sufficient support from the army. The two-month lag between the navy's arrival at Gallipoli (Feb., 1915) and the arrival of land forces (Apr., 1915) gave the Turkish army ample time to reinforce its troops. By April, the Turks had deployed six times as many troops as they had ready two months earlier. The landing (Aug., 1915) at Suvla on the west coast of the peninsula resulted in severe casualties. After months of costly fighting the Allied commander, Sir Ian Hamilton, was replaced by Sir Charles Munro, and the Allies withdrew from the area on Jan. 9, 1916. The evacuation was brilliantly executed.

Bibliography: See Sir Ian Hamilton, Gallipoli Diary (1920); R. R. James, Gallipoli (1965).

Gallipoli Campaign (1915–16) An unsuccessful Allied attempt to force a passage through the Dardanelles during WORLD WAR I. Its main aims were to force Turkey out of the war, and to open a safe sea route to Russia. A naval expedition, launched in February and March 1915, failed. A military expedition (relying mainly upon British, Australian, and New Zealand troops), with some naval support, was then attempted. The first landings, on the Gallipoli peninsula and on the Asian mainland opposite, were made in April 1915. Turkish resistance was strong and, although further landings were made, fighting on the peninsula reached a stalemate. The Australian casualties on Gallipoli were 8587 killed and 19,367 wounded. The Allied troops were withdrawn. Winston CHURCHILL, who was largely responsible for the campaign, was blamed for its failure.

Gallipoli Campaign (1915–16) Allied operation against the Turks during World War I. Some 45,000 British and French and 30,000 ANZAC troops were involved. After eight months of inconclusive fighting and more than 145,000 casualties on both sides, the Allies withdrew.

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