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Battle of Gallipoli Facts

Battle of Gallipoli Facts
The Battle of Gallipoli, often referred to as the Gallipoli Campaign, was an Allied offensive against the Ottoman Empire in Asia Minor during World War I that began on February 17, 1915 and ended with an Ottoman victory and Allied withdrawal on January 9, 1916. The Allied forces, comprised primarily of British, French, Australian, and New Zealand men, attempted to take the Gallipoli Peninsula through an amphibious invasion in order to control access to the Black Sea, but were quickly bogged down by stronger than expected resistance from the Turks. It was the last major victory the Ottoman Empire would enjoy, while for the Allies it was a costly and somewhat humiliating loss that extended the war. The one bright spot for the Allies was the contribution of the Australians and New Zealanders, who distinguished themselves on the battlefield.
Interesting Battle of Gallipoli Facts:
The Australians and New Zealanders served together in the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC).
The Allies outnumber the Turks at the beginning of the battle. The combined Allied force number just under 500,000 men, while the Ottomans fielded just over 300,000
The Ottoman Turkish forces were augmented by 700 Germans from the German Military Mission.
On March 18, eighteen Allied battleships advanced to the narrowest point where the straits are only one mile wide. The Turks had laid mines before the Allied arrival, which caused immense damage and created a choke point.
The inability of the warships to dislodge Turkish artillery batteries led to the decision to conduct an amphibious invasion.
The Allies severely underestimated the Ottomans' battlefield potential, which led to several battle losses and countless casualties for the Allies.
The Allied landings took place on April 25.
The Allies used a small number of seaplanes for reconnaissance but not combat.
The beach where the Australians and New Zealanders landed became known as ANZAC Cove.
The beach where the British and French landed was known as Helles.
Kemal Ataturk (1881-1938), the first president of Turkey, commanded the 19th Division of the Fifth Army of the Ottoman Empire at Gallipoli.
On May 19, the Ottomans initiated the Third Attack on ANZAC Cove, but were repelled. More than 3,000 Turks died in the battle versus only 168 ANZACs. The two sides called a temporary truce to bury the dead.
The Turks were never able to take ANZAC Cove.
The Helles sector of the campaign quickly became bogged down in trench warfare similar to what was taking place on the Western Front.
When Germany joined the Central Powers in October 1915 it complicated the Allied Gallipoli Campaign. Bulgaria's location in central Europe created a land bridge between Germany and the Ottoman Empire and the Allies were forced to take some of their forces from Gallipoli to face Bulgaria in central Europe.
Every April 25 is ANZAC day in Australia and New Zealand. It is a day of remembrance and a national holiday in both countries, similar to Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and the Fourth of July in the United States.


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