What is the Gallipoli Campaign?
The Gallipoli Campaign 25 April 1915 – 9 January 1916. The Allies attempted to gain control of the land either side of the Dardanelles, the straits that controlled the entrance/exit to the Black Sea. This area was part of Turkey. By capturing Gallipoli,the Allies would be able to force the Dardanelles and open a supply route to Russia across the Black Sea.Further, control of the straits would render Istanbul (the Turk capital) open to naval bombardment and attack,thus knocking Turkey out of the war. A brilliant concept at the grand strategic level was ruined by inept execution.Naval attacks in the area in February and March 1915 alerted the Turks to the landings, so they were ready when the invasion began.The campaign therefore quickly bogged down into trench warfare,the Allied commanders preferring to direct operations from a distance on board ship, rather than landing and seeing for themselves what was really going on. Having failed in their objectives,the Allies evacuated their troo
