What preparations were made
for the attack on Gallipoli?
The Hemel Hempstead School History Department
Presentation 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.
The Hemel Hempstead School History Department
Was roundly
criticised for his rigid
tactics in the Gallipoli
campaign and was
sacked in October
1915 ending his
military career.
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.
The Hemel Hempstead School History Department
Was famous for his
chivalry in victory
and his words are
inscribed on an
Australian memorial
to the fallen at
Gallipoli.
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
Of the 75,000
decided that much of
Allied soldiers at
the Allied troops
Gallipoli, 50,000
which would make up
were ANZAC’s –
the land force would
the name given to
be from Australia and
the Australian and
New Zealand.
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.
ANZACs were
notorious for
their casual
attitude
towards
authority.
The Hemel Hempstead School History Department
The New Zealanders
were better trained
than the Australians.
They were hugely
confident. In fact, the
Allied troops were overconfident as they
underestimated the
Turks. Churchill thought
the campaign could be
achieved in three weeks.
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.
This attack was stopped
Vice-Admiral Robeck
by the mine fields laid by
ordered a massive fleet of
the Turks. Three
18 battleships to attack
battleships were sunk and
the Dardenelles on 18th
700 men were killed.
March 1915.
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
The British
that any naval attack
preparations were
would only be
hesitant and
successful if a
indecisive. This gave
successful land attack
the Turks ample time
was made to knock
to prepare for the
out the Turkish
defence of Gallipoli.
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 Hemel Hempstead School History Department