Questions and Topics We Can Help to Answer
Instructions:

Review the following 3 discussion and respond to each with 125 words. 

Article 1.
In this weeks forums I will address the ramifications of the Gallipoli offensive conducted by the British, ANZAC, and French forces during World War I. Gallipoli is a narrow peninsula that overlooks the strategic strait of the Dardanelles which controlled the entry and exit into the Black Sea. In and of itself the actions at Gallipoli were not a primary concern originally for the Entente powers. The primary objective was to clear the Dardanelles of Turkish forces thus providing the Russians an outlet to the Mediterranean Sea with an ability to move it's troops to areas of necessity on the Western Front of elsewhere abroad.(1) However this proved to be disastrous so the Gallipoli offensive was conceived to tie up Turkish forces on the the peninsula to prevent them from being used to reinforcing other fronts.

  It was hoped by Winston Churchill and others that a successful operation on the peninsula would garner new allies in the form of Greece, Bulgaria, and Romania as well as provide assistance to the Serbs. (2) However, from the beginning Gallipoli was a series of tragedies in the making. First among these was the entirety of the operation depended on precise interaction between naval forces and the ground forces landing on the beaches of the peninsula. This did not occur because the both the Germans and the Turks had anticipated the possibility of an assault at Gallipoli. Shortly after the troops were landed on  25 April, 1915, German submarine operations sank two British ships, the HMS Triumph and the HMS Majestic which caused the British navy to send away their capital ships to prevent further loses. (3) This meant that ground forces on the beach would not have sufficient naval artillery coverage. Furthermore there where other difficulties that were just as significant. The maps for the operations were not accurate, the terrain was steep and difficult to surmount, and the lack of aircraft made naval artillery fire and reconnaissance spotty at best. (4) All these factors slowed the advance till the assault became stagnant trench warfare.

The overall ramifications of Gallipoli had various negative effects for the Entente powers. This assault did not accomplish any of the perceived objectives that the allies wanted to accomplish. Adversely it became a meat grinder which needlessly denied troops that could have better served the Western Front or in fighting in Mesopotamia. Additionally due to the failures to capture the Dardanelles or territory on the Gallipoli peninsula, the British image of superiority within the Middle East was shattered which led to problem in the region for the British and French in the years to come.

As for the positive side of  Gallipoli, it galvanized the national identities of  the Australia and New Zealand through the gallant efforts of the ANZAC forces. It also provided a coherent legitimacy for the Turkish National identity, providing the faltering Ottoman empire with a sense of pride through this victory and canonizing a Turkish national hero in the form of Mustafa Kemal, (Ataturk). (5)

Article 2

The decision to mount the attack on Gallipoli carried with it, the great prospect of not only eliminating troops and supplies that could be sent to the main western front, but also a chance to destabilize the Ottoman Empire, and threaten Constantinople. If the operation was a success, the British believed that it would allow them to secure both water and rail ways east into Russia. The Russian army, was ill equipped and poor trained by the days standards, but the Allies felt that if properly equipped and armed, the Russians massive numbers would be enough to help defeat Germany and the Ottomans. 

            The difficulties of mounting such an invasion had been outlined by many of the senior commanders and persons involved in the plan, and no one had previously envisioned a successful way to take the Dardanelle’s with either naval or ground forces. Winston Churchill was anxious to get back in the fight, and even more so to get the British Navy back into the bulk of the fight instead of just the Navy. The plan called for a joint naval and army invasion, precision coordination between the forces, and a great deal of luck. In essence, even on the drawing table, everything in the plan would have to be executed and performed perfectly for there to be any chance of success. The Navy would bring in the troops, who would then be needed to attack and take the enemy guns and positions overlooking the narrow channel, so that the ships could continue on and support the land forces. In concert with the navy’s need for these positions to be taken, the army and land forces of British, French, and Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, or ANZAC, would desperately need the support of the large guns that the naval vessels could bring to support them. Both elements were in complete reliance on each other in order for success to be achieved. To add greater difficulty to the proposed mission, the Germans were aware of the attack, and along with their Turkish allies, were able to greatly reinforce and prepare the battlefield prior to the Allied attack. 

            As should have been expected, early in the battle, things did not go according to plan. The channel was heavily mined, which cost the allies ships, and the HMS Triumph and HMS Majestic were sunk by German submarines. After the loss of these ships, the order was given for all capital ships to withdraw, which left the ground forces with only the support of the much smaller naval guns on the allied destroyers. While most of the landings went fairly quickly, in the ANZAC section, the Turks, led my Mustafa Kemal, would be quick to attack and counter the landing forces, leaving them with the best option being to pull back and land again elsewhere, only the navy was unable to pick them up and support them. The battle of Gallipoli would be a learning lesson on the needs of air support, close communication, and better training for both the men and the officers who led them. While a major loss for the allies, Gallipoli would have a lasting effect on the war and the future in a few key areas. Winston Churchill would nearly be destroyed by what was seen as his own personal failure, and Gallipoli would be a great piece of the forming of the Prime Minister who would later lead England through the Blitz in WWII. This battle was also seen as the first time that both Australia and New Zealand were truly recognized as their own independent or, “grown up” nations. A major lasting outcome for the Ottoman side of the battle, would be the hero status and reverence given over to Mustafa Kemal, for his leadership and determination during the battle. Mustafa would go on to be a key figure in the establishment of Turkey as a nation independent of imperial masters.  

Article 3

Hello Professor and Class,

World War I saw the inclusion of the Ottoman Empire in late 1914. It became apparent the Ottoman Empire was supporting ties between the Triple alliance and consequently became a target by the allies. The Ottoman Empire held a strategic sea road block to Russia called the Bosphorus Strait which connected the Mediterranean Sea to the Black Sea. The allies sought to acquire the Dardanelles, or the peninsula of Gallipoli, to open access to Constantinople (Ottoman Empire capital), Russia, and potential allies in the Balkans. 

There were expected repercussions for the success or defeat according to both the Western allies and the Ottoman Empire. Each wanted allies in the Balkans and the battle for Gallipoli would potentially sway countries to join either side in the struggle.[1] Greece’s participation and its army’s capabilities (given its proximity to the Ottoman Empire) were what initially triggered Great Britain’s interest and pursuit of the Gallipoli peninsula.[2] Achieving the land mass would open stronger communication ties between Western allies and those countries who were in the Balkans.

Western allies viewed the acquisition of Gallipoli as strategically important, but not solely on perceived assistance from Balkan countries. Gallipoli would give access to a land invasion of Constantinople which was the capital of the Ottoman Empire. A quick surrender of the Ottoman Empire would free up troop movement and allow for more reliable supply line between Western allies and Russia who were both fighting Germany.[3] Germany realized this incredible threat and assisted the Ottoman Empire in defending Gallipoli from Western invasion.[4] Had the Ottoman Empire failed in defending the Gallipoli peninsula, Western allies would have taken Constantinople and ended the Ottoman Empire’s contributions to the war.

The invasion of Gallipoli had many ramifications for the Western allies. It was a defeat by the “Sick man of Europe” who had successfully prevented the acquisition of the Bosphorus Strait. Gallipoli was considered a major victory for the Ottoman Empire who held its capital, sphere of influence in the Balkans, and the Bosphorus Strait which prevented a Western supply line to Russia. A side result from the campaign was the forging of the Australian identity based on their fighting at Anzac Cove on April 25, 1915.[5] The war was to be continued elsewhere for the remainder of the war. Thank you