L3 - Preparation And Planning For Gallipoli Flashcards
(4 cards)
Ottoman entry into WW1
- 2nd August 1914= ottoman minister 4 war, Enver Pasha, signed a secret mil alliance w/ German ambassador against Russia / although only treaty applied when attacked by Russia it was clear ottomans = sided w/ Germany
- next few months = X ottoman involvement but ties w/ Germany increased and tensions w/ entente decreased / Brit gov requisitioned ottoman ships being built in british shipyards although they had been fully paid for / British blockaded entry into Dardanelles meanwhile German commanders were placed in the Ottoman Empire + specialist teams came to Constantinople
-growing tired bc of X involvement-> Enver pasha ordered an attack on Russian fleets in Sevastopol, Novorossick and odessa w/o declaration of war / known as Black Sea raid and done w/ German support - response = Russia declared war on ottomans on 2nd November 1914 + Britain and France following on the 5th
Training the AIF ( Australian Imperial Force )
-8th August= aust put in place their defence plan = rapidly formed aust naval + Military Expeditionary Force + army to serve overseas - AIF
-AIF recruited 52,561 men by end of 1914 + initial training = drill, military commands + operating a firearm / belief = men would be sent to Britain for more extensive training but were instead sent to Egypt bc it was considered a better place to train due to the it was winter in Britain w/ the first group arriving in mid dec
- when AIF arrived in Egypt they were moved to training camps outside Cairo
- Training = much more intense than in Aus w/ 8 hours of training in drills + manoeuvres 6 days a week / trained in blistering heat + full kit ( 47kg ) / water + sanitation was a problem in desert bases
- every 2 weeks = 2% of the unit had leave in Cairo but was a shock to lost of Aus men who hadn’t ever left home
-after 3-4 mnths of intensive training = decided that the men were ready to be sent to the frontlines + their first battle would be in Gallipoli against the ottomans but this surprised many soldiers as they believed they would be sent to the western front
An Attempt to break the stalemate
- wanted to break stalemate on western front, allies began to look at ways to exploit their superior naval pwr to make a breakthrough/ german ships= contained in the north sea -> brit navy can be used w/ minimal risk in other conflicts
- Churchill , British Lord of the Admiralty, suggested several targets to the brit war council ( 1 of which was an attack against the ottomans) / his plan was to launch a naval attack on the Dardanelles Strait w/ hope of breaking into the sea or marmara after which they could threaten the capital of OE, Constantinople -> could knock OE out of war + reduce german strength
-deemed risky but best plan that could break stalemate -> accepted by Brit War Council / X breakthrough was made in early 1915 + clear X change on western front soon/ OE forces launched an attack on Russia in the Caucasus region but Russia repulsed this offensive however it showed that OE was a threat
-Churchills’ plan came into action on 19th february 1915 / 1st task of brit+french navy = destroy defenses in the opening of Dardanelles strait + did it in 1 week/ but they realized it will be harder than they thought bc coastal batteries along the strait = much stronger than they thought and attempts to destroy were a failure + OE laid underwater mines along the strait that were hard to avoid
-18th March 1915 = 1 final attempt to breakthrough Dardanelles and attack Constantinople but just like previous attempts = failed + led to 3 battleships sinking but rather than concede defeat, Britain decided it needed a new strategy - a ground force would be sent on either side of the strait. this force would destroy the OE defensive positions+ coastal batteries overlooking the strait, allowing the navy to advance w/ ease + continuing their original mission
A new plan - The Gallipoli Landings
-22nd march= decided that army would be used to seize Gallipoli peninsula m+ capture OE defences, clearing the way for naval assault
- brit + ANZAC troops selected to be part of offensive =became part of new Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (MEF) led by Lieutenant-General Sir Hamilton
-Brit forces would lead the main attack, landing at the south part of Gallipoli Peninsula at Cape Helles/ French colonial troops would launch a diversion attack at Kum Kale on the Asia side of the strait/ ANZACs would make a separate landing midway up the peninsula near Gabe Tepe -> tasked w/ securing high ground @ centre of peninsula + stop OE reinforcements from reaching Cape Helles / then all forces could sweep up remaining resistance @ peninsula + head to Constantinople
- Hamilton knew it would be a hard task b/c troops=under-strength, under trained + under equipped/ only 1 mnth to plan/ terrain would be difficult to fight on
-but despite concerns, general belief in Brit High Command = OE forces were second rate compared to allies + victory would be quick
