On 19 February 1915, British and French ships began a naval assault on the Dardanelles . The fighting culminated in a heavy setback for the Allies on 18 March due to large losses from Turkish mines. ... The Dardanelles campaign remains one of the First World War’s most controversial episodes.
Why were the Dardanelles and Constantinople important in the British plan?
The city provided a land bridge between Europe and Asia, and the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles gave a sea passage from the Black Sea into the Aegean and Mediterranean seas. Britain was particularly concerned to avoid Russia gaining control of any sea route to India .
Why did the allies want to control the Dardanelles?
The Allies hoped to seize control of the strategic Dardanelles Strait and open the way for their naval forces to attack Constantinople (Istanbul), the capital of Turkey and the Ottoman Empire . Allied forces landed on Gallipoli on 25 April.
What is the main reason for Churchill to attack Dardanelles?
Later that month, Winston Churchill, First Lord of the Admiralty, proposed a naval attack on the Dardanelles, based in part on erroneous reports of Ottoman troop strength .
Who won the battle at the Dardanelles?
| Naval operations in the Dardanelles campaign | Date 19 February – 18 March 1915 Location Dardanelles, Ottoman Empire Result Ottoman victory | Belligerents | United Kingdom France Russian Empire Ottoman Empire German Empire | Commanders and leaders |
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Who won Gallipoli?
The Gallipoli Campaign cost the Allies 187,959 killed and wounded and the Turks 161,828. Gallipoli proved to be the Turks’ greatest victory of the war.
Why did the allies want Constantinople?
Official declaration, March 16, 1920. On March 16, 1920, the third day of hostilities, the Allied forces declared the occupation: In an effort to prevent the spread of Turkish nationalism , General Sir George Milne and an Allied force occupied İstanbul.
Who won World war 1?
Germany had formally surrendered on November 11, 1918, and all nations had agreed to stop fighting while the terms of peace were negotiated. On June 28, 1919, Germany and the Allied Nations (including Britain, France, Italy and Russia) signed the Treaty of Versailles, formally ending the war.
Was Gallipoli a success or failure?
Gallipoli was a success because it built the reputation of an emerging nation and increased Australia’s self-image and boosted nationalism. ... The Gallipoli campaign played a part in ensuring victory for the allies by opening up a new front and distracting the ottomans from the main fight in central Europe.
Why did Gallipoli fail?
The Gallipoli campaign was intended to force Germany’s ally, Turkey, out of the war. It began as a naval campaign, with British battleships sent to attack Constantinople (now Istanbul). This failed when the warships were unable to force a way through the straits known as the Dardanelles .
Why was Churchill blamed for Gallipoli?
The North Sea was too close to Germany and too often frozen and the Far East too distant. Churchill forcefully argued for the least worst option: bust through the Dardanelles – the narrow sea passage from the Mediterranean leading towards the Ottoman capital, Istanbul, and the Black Sea.
Who was to blame Gallipoli?
As Britain’s powerful First Lord of the Admiralty, Winston Churchill masterminded the Gallipoli campaign and served as its chief public advocate. It was no surprise then that he ultimately took much of the blame for its failure.
How many New Zealand soldiers died in Gallipoli?
More than 130,000 men had died during the campaign: at least 87,000 Ottoman soldiers and 44,000 Allied soldiers, including more than 8700 Australians. Among the dead were 2779 New Zealanders , nearly a sixth of those who had landed on the peninsula.
How many Turkish soldiers died in Gallipoli?
The Ottoman Empire paid a heavy price for their victory: an estimated 250,000 Turkish and Arab troops were killed or wounded defending Gallipoli. Note: It is difficult to determine exact casualty figures for the Gallipoli campaign as numbers vary in different publications.
Why did Australia fight in Gallipoli?
The aim of this deployment was to assist a British naval operation which aimed to force the Dardanelles Strait and capture the Turkish capital, Constantinople. The Australians landed at what became known as Anzac Cove on 25 April 1915, and they established a tenuous foothold on the steep slopes above the beach.
How many ships were sunk at Gallipoli?
Between April and December 1915, thirteen Allied submarines (nine British and four French) sank a battleship, a destroyer, 5 gunboats, 11 troop transports, 44 supply ships and 148 sailing vessels . In the same period, eight Allied submarines were sunk in the Dardanelles Strait and the Sea of Marmara.
