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Attack on the Beaches The attack on Gallipoli was one of the more imaginative strategies of the First World War.The German army had delivered a crushing blow to Russia at Tannenberg at the start of the war and had been driving eastwards. The Russians were threatened by a Turkish advance through the Caucasus and appealed to their allies for assistance. Gaining control of the Dardanelles would re-establish communications with Russia and release wheat and shipping locked in the Black Sea by Turkey.
Were the General’s right? • The Gallipoli campaign is still debated today. Why were Australians and New Zealanders fighting in Turkey? Did the Anzacs land in the right place? Read war correspondents and soldiers landing accounts, and investigate historians' research findings. • Why did the Anzacs land at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915 and what should the generals have done differently?
The Strategy • By April 1915 there had been fighting in World War I for eight months. Britain and France were facing Germany on the Western Front (northern France and Belgium); Russia was fighting Germany and its ally Austria-Hungary on the Eastern Front; Turkey was supporting Germany (see Source 1). • The British and French agreed to land troops on the Gallipoli Peninsula separating Europe from Asia. The aim of this was for the troops to move overland and attack the forts which were overlooking the Dardanelles Strait, and to seize the Turkish capital, Constantinople. Controlling the Dardanelles would enable allied ships to provide supplies to Russia, and put more pressure on the Eastern Front. It might also take Turkey out of the war. Ships alone had failed to take the Dardanelles. Therefore a landing of troops by sea was now decided on.
The Bungled Attack • A CRITICAL MOMENT."Then the Australians found themselves facing an almost perpendicular cliff of loose sandstone covered with thick shrubbery. Somewhere half-way up the enemy had a second trench strongly held, from which there poured a terrible fire on the troops below and on those pulling back to the torpedo-boat destroyers for a second landing party. • THE WRONG LANDING POINT."As daylight came it was seen that a landing had been effected rather further north of Gaba Tepe than had originally been intended, and at a point where the cliffs rise very sheer. The error was a blessing in disguise, for there were no places down which the enemy could fire, and the broken ground afforded good cover once the Australians had passed the forty yards of the flat beach.
Life on the Beaches May-July This was a period of stalemate. There were occasional attempts to gain ground, with no success. There were trench raids, sniping, bomb-throwing, and attempted undermining of each side’s trench system. The summer heat brought millions of flies, and with them dysentery and other diseases. Disease became one of the biggest killers of troops during this period. Life was uncomfortable, unhygienic and monotonous. What could have been done to make the life of the soldiers more endurable?
Poor Leadership • Hamilton spent six fruitless months unimaginatively bombarding the Turks at Gallipoli, making little progress but incurring severe casualties. He nevertheless remained optimistic with regard to the overall success of the plan, to the point of opposing Cabinet moves in London to initiate an evacuation. • Made a scapegoat for the failure of the operation (despite being hopelessly undermanned and having faced formidable logistical difficulties), Hamilton was recalled to London on 16 October 1915, effectively ending his military career. He was replaced by General Sir Charles Monro who, echoing Hamilton's belated recognition of the futility of the campaign, immediately recommended evacuation.
Withdrawal • September 1915-January 1916 • The stalemate continued into the bitter cold of early winter, with many cases of illness and severe frostbite quickly developing among the troops. • The decision was made to withdraw the troops. This was a difficult operation, as the Turks would be able to attack the weakened defences. Over three weeks in December 80,000 troops from both the Suvla and the Anzac positions were evacuated by stealth without the Turks realising. On 20 December the defenders suddenly realised that there was not one enemy soldier left at Anzac.
Nationalities Dead • Gallipoli Casualties • Turkey 86,692 • Britain 21,255 • France 9,798 • Australia 8,709 • New Zealand 2,701 • India 1,358 • Newfoundland 49 Where did the troops at Gallipoli come from? There were three main landing forces: Australian and New Zealand Army Corps The British 29th Division A French Army Corps The total number of men was about 75,000. 44,000 died.
Fixing Gallipoli Group Presentation: Using What You Know • Why did the Anzacs land at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915 and what should the generals have done differently? • Strategies • Weapons • Show your strategy on a map • What could have been done to make the life of the soldiers more endurable? • Supplies • Reinforcements • Weapons- ground, sea, air 1 page minimum to be handed in outlining both questions and covering the 6 bullets.
