The Hemel Hempstead School - History Department

What preparations were made for the attack on Gallipoli?

The Hemel Hempstead School - History Department

Presentation objectivesPresentation objectives

To examine the effectiveness of the Allied preparations for the Gallipoli campaign.

To be familiar with the key personnel relating to the Gallipoli campaign.

To understand the initial attacks launched on Gallipoli in March 1915.

The Hemel Hempstead School - History Department

Liman von Sanders [1855-1929]

A senior German officer who was

sent to Turkey in 1913 to lead Germany’s

military mission there.

During 1914, von Sanders

was responsible for the

reorganisation of the Turkish

forces.In 1915, he became the

commander of the Turkish Fifth Army – the largest force

in the Ottoman Empire with 84,000 men.

During 1915, von Sanders was

responsible for the organisation of the Turkish defences at

Gallipoli against the Allied landings.

The Hemel Hempstead School - History Department

Sir Ian Hamilton [1853-1947]

An extremely respected officer

who had a long and successful army

career before Gallipoli.

Was Commander in Chief of the

British forces in the

Mediterranean from 1910.

Appointed in 1915 to

command the force which was ordered to seize

control of the Dardanelles

Straits.

Was roundly criticised for his

rigid tactics in the Gallipoli

campaign and was sacked in October 1915

ending his military career.

The Hemel Hempstead School - History Department

Kemal Ataturk [1881-1938]

A Turkish army officer who

became the first President of the

Republic of Turkey.

Promoted to the rank of colonel in

1915, Kemal played a critical

role in the defeat of the Allied

troops in Gallipoli.

Kemal became a hero to the Turkish after Gallipoli, the

campaign which made his

name.

Was famous for his chivalry in victory and his

words are inscribed on an

Australian memorial to the

fallen at Gallipoli.

The Hemel Hempstead School - History Department

Ataturk’s words on ANZAC parade

Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives... you are now lying in

the soil of a friendly country. Therefore rest in peace. There is no difference

between the Johnnies and the Mehmets where they lie side by side here in this country of ours... You the mothers who sent their sons from far

away countries, wipe away your tears. Your sons are now lying in our bosom

and are in peace. Having lost their lives on this land they have become

our sons as well.

The Hemel Hempstead School - History Department

How did the Allies prepare their soldiers for the Gallipoli campaign?

Lord Kitchener decided that much of the Allied troops which would make up the land force

would be from Australia and New

Zealand.

Of the 75,000 Allied soldiers at Gallipoli, 50,000 were ANZAC’s – the name given to the Australian

and New Zealand Corps.ANZAC troops had been stationed in

Egypt to complete their training en route to Europe. Kitchener decided that these troops could be deployed rapidly to the Gallipoli campaign as they were the closest Allied soldiers to Gallipoli.

The Hemel Hempstead School - History Department

What were the key characteristics of the

ANZAC troops?The Australian and New Zealand Army

Corps. [ANZACs] were amongst the toughest

and bravest Allied troops.

The New Zealanders were

better trained than the

Australians.

ANZACs were

notorious for their casual

attitude towards

authority.

They were hugely confident. In fact, the Allied troops

were over-confident as they

underestimated the Turks. Churchill

thought the campaign could be achieved in three

weeks.

The Hemel Hempstead School - History Department

Why did the initial attacks on Gallipoli fail?

The initial Allied attack on Gallipoli was made by the Navy. The first attacks took place in the latter half of February 1915 with unsuccessful bombardments of the Turkish forts and defences of the area.Vice-Admiral Robeck

ordered a massive fleet of 18

battleships to attack the Dardenelles on 18th March 1915.

This attack was stopped by the mine

fields laid by the Turks. Three

battleships were sunk and 700 men

were killed. The attack achieved

nothing other than put the Turks on alert for a land

attack.

The Hemel Hempstead School - History Department

What preparations were made for the Gallipoli

landings of April 1915?The British decided that any

naval attack would only be successful if a successful land attack was made to knock out the

Turkish defences.From late March 1915, the British put together a force of 75,000 men [mainly ANZACs] ready for a land attack. Kitchener was advised that to make a successful ground attack 150,000 men were needed. Kitchener did not listen to the advice.

The British preparations were hesitant

and indecisive. This gave the

Turks ample time to prepare for the

defence of Gallipoli.