New Zealand: The Gallipoli Campaign Essay

Submitted By Campbell-McVicar
Words: 2096
Pages: 9
Open Document
Introduction
New Zealand began its long and treacherous path towards Gallipoli with the outbreak of World War I in 1914, between the Allies and Central Powers.
War on the Western Front had reached a stalemate and William Massey, New Zealand Prime Minister at the time, Pledged New Zealand's support as part of the British Empire and set about raising a military force for service overseas.

The Gallipoli Campaign had a significant effect on New Zealanders. New Zealand first joined the war because of the British involvement in the war and that we wanted to show our loyalty to the British Empire because at this stage of New Zealand's development, New Zealand was highly dependent on Britain. Because of the British Empires size and wealth, keeping an alliance with them was essential and helping the British in their efforts in the war would keep the bond between the two countries strong so that the British would continue to protect New Zealand.
In late October 1914, the Ottoman Empire (Germany) entered the war, siding with the Central Powers (Germany, Bulgaria and Austria-Hungary). This strategically changed the situation in the Middle East, where Central Powers forces proposed a direct threat to the Suez Canal, a Vital British shipping lane between Europe and Asia. Britain took a precautionary measure in stationing Australian and New Zealand expeditionary forces In Egypt to partake in their training, and they helped British forces flight off an attack by the Ottoman Empire on the Suez Canal. Because War had reached a stalemate on the Western Front and the Suez Canal was a risky chance to take for the allies, the British Empire turned its attention to the Dardanelles Strait on the Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey. The Dardanelles Strait in the Allies Powers eyes would control the sea route from Europe to Russia. Which commenced the Gallipoli Campaign.

The New Zealand Expeditionary force's wait in Egypt was ended in early 1915, when it was transported to the Greek Island of Lemnos to organise for the invasion of the Gallipoli Peninsula. The Peninsula was an important land feature because it leads to the Dardanelles Strait, Which leads to the Sea of Maramara and via the Bosporus, the Black Sea. The Allied plan of attack was to breach the straits and capture the Ottoman capital, Constantinople (Istanbul). This would gain the Allied Forces access and a supply line to Russia, as well as an opportunity to launch an attack on the Central Powers. Outline The Campaign

The Gallipoli Campaign of 1915-16, also known as the Battle of Gallipoli, was an unsuccessful attempt by the Allied Powers to control the sea route from Europe to Russia during World War I. The campaign began with a failed naval attack by British and French ships on the Dardanelles Straits in February - March 1915 and continued with a major land invasion of the Gallipoli Peninsula on April 25th, involving British and French troops as well as divisions of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC). Lack of sufficient intelligence and knowledge of the terrain, along with a fierce Turkish resistance, hampered the success of the invasion. By mid - October, Allied forces had suffered heavy casualties and had made little headway from their initial landing sites.

With World War I stalled on the Western Front by 1915, the Allied Powers were debating going on the offensive in another region of the conflict, rather than continuing with attacks in Belgium and France. Early that year, Russia’s Grand duke Nicholas appealed to Britain for aid in confronting a Turkish invasion in the Caucasus. (The Ottoman Empire had entered World War I on the side of the Central Powers, Germany and Austria-Hungary, by November 1914.) In reply the Allies launched a naval expedition to get the Dardanelles Straits, a passage connecting the Aegean Sea to the Sea of
Show More

Related Documents: New Zealand: The Gallipoli Campaign Essay

Arthur Seaforth Blackburn Research Paper

Rifles". After his training, he landed at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915. Gallipoli is a peninsula which is located in northwest coast of Turkey between Gulf of Saros and Dardanelles. This battle took place in the year 1915 and it was fought during World War I (1914-1918).…

Words 633 - Pages 3

Essay On Anzac Legend

Australian and New Zealand Army Corps was created through eight months of intensive warfare on Gallipoli. The word Anzac has been part of Australia’s history, language, life and thought since 1915, Anzac is the acronym for “Australian and New Zealand Army Corps”. ‘Anzac’ was used in various ways, for military formation, as in the ‘Anzac area’, ‘Anzac cover’, people,etc. The importance of ‘Anzac’ was widely spread partly because of the Anzac Legend as well as the history of the Gallipoli landing. The…

Words 832 - Pages 4

The Pros And Cons Of The Gallipoli Campaign

The Gallipoli campaign was one of the most challenging yet significant wars Australia has ever served in. Thousands of young Australian and New Zealand soldiers landed on the shores of Gallipoli on April 25, 1915, unprepared and unaware of the dangers and struggles that awaited them. While the campaign is considered a military failure, the battle had many positive outcomes. Some of which being it introduced many new household names such as, “ANZAC” and became the bond which tied colonies and Australians…

Words 983 - Pages 4

How Will Does The Anzac Legend Tell The Story Of Individual Australian Soldiers During World War One 1 Essay

very devastating and also a nasty experience, it caused many difficulties for people, but brought much honour to some for things such as bravery, courage, teamwork and individuality. The Anzac legend is a concept which suggests that Australian and New Zealand soldiers possess shared characteristics, specifically the qualities those soldiers are believed to have shown on the battlefield in World War I. These qualities are around several ideas, including endurance, courage, bravery, good humour and mateship…

Words 1072 - Pages 5

ANZAC Legend Essay

were sent all the way to Gallipoli, Turkey in 1914. Even though the Gallipoli Campaign was deemed a disaster in terms of the loss of life suffered there and the failure to achieve a military victory, the ANZACS became a legend. What happened at Gallipoli made them an important part of Australian culture at a time when the newly-federated nation of Australia had not yet established herself at an international level. In theory, the legend is that the Australian and New Zealand troops helped to establish…

Words 786 - Pages 4

How Did Turkish Capture Gallipoli

Newfoundland was still a colony of the British Empire therefore its armed forces acts independently from Canada. Instead of travelling to Europe like the Canadian troops the Royal Newfoundland Regiment were under the Command of the British. The Gallipoli campaign started as a response to aid the Russian’s on fighting the Turkish army. On December 1914, The Ottoman Empire has entered the war on the side of the Triple Alliance or in this case Germany and Austria-Hungary. The Turkish launched an invasion…

Words 588 - Pages 3

Gallipoli Movie Analysis

The 1981 film Gallipoli, follows the story of several young men from Western Australia, Two in particular Archy and Frank. Leaving their various backgrounds and dreams to enlist in the Australian Army during World War 1. Throughout the first half of the film their personal beliefs and lives as young Australian men are shared and documented. The second half of the film shows how the young men begin to lose their innocence at war and purpose of the war, as the Australian and New Zealand and in particular…

Words 1158 - Pages 5

Anzac Legend Research Paper

The Anzac legend was born ashore the Gallipoli Peninsula where the British and Anzac were fighting against the Turkish troops in World War 1. The tragic events that happened throughout the Gallipoli campaign began on that day, the 25th April, 1915. Due to their sacrifices made for the nation, this day has become an important part of Australia’s national identity. The legend commemorates the qualities of courage, resourcefulness and the endurance of the soldiers against the crushing odds. The Anzac…

Words 520 - Pages 3

The Attacks Of The Dardanelles

On April 25, 1915, a week after Anglo-French naval attacks on the Dardanelles end in dismal failure, the Allies launch a large-scale land invasion of the Gallipoli Peninsula, the Turkish-controlled land mass bordering the northern side of the Dardanelles. In January 1915, two months after Turkey entered World War I on the side of the Central Powers, Russia appealed to Britain to defend it against attacks by the Ottoman army in the Caucasus. Lord Kitchener, Britain's secretary of state for war…

Words 443 - Pages 2

Anzac Legend Research Paper

fighting, particularly in winter when the trenches turned to freezing cold mud pits. Through their determination and courage and in the most dreadful conditions the ANZACs had proven themselves capable of doing the impossible. The ANZAC legend of Gallipoli had a major impact on ANZAC military activities later in the war, by now ANZAC troops had a reputation of being ‘dogged fighters’ this made the German generals a lot more cautious. The great Battle of Somme, which took place in Fromelles on the…

Words 1202 - Pages 5