Documentary Series on Gallipoli

Drachenblut

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Hello All,

This might be old news and old hat, but I thought I might share this interesting documentary on the Turks, Germans, Brits and ANZACS during the Battles of Gallipoli, or the Dardanelles Campaign for you Brit and Aussie chaps. I had a distant relative who fought there, an Austrian living in Australia, who saw Gallipoli, and then later, Beersheba.

h ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBasKbD_1-k

The entire documentary is in easily watchable sections of 10 minutes, found above.

I mean no offence to CGN by posting a non-related site, but I feel this is pertinent, especially since there is mass use of the SMLE No.I Mk.III (*), Mauser Model 1893, Turkish Mausers and various other small arms.

All the best folks,
Drachenblut
 
Every time I see a show on the dardanelles (or any WW1) for that matter I can't believe the "colonies" fought under British control for more than one campaign....
 
I have done a great deal of reading on WWI and Gallipoli.
Much of that disaster can be attributed to officers who bought their commissions....
 
Fascinating and sometimes overlooked chapter of WWI. Thanks for posting the link, will watch it soon.

An interesting fact about the single-night retreat I once read. Since sporadic gunfire was the norm all through the evening, the retreating Brits and ANZACS were concerned that the lack of it, on the night of their retreat, might arise Turkish suspicions.

The solved that problem by propping loaded SMLE's in the trenches and attaching an empty can with a string to the trigger. Another can full of water was placed above the empty can. As the individual units retreated, in the dead of the night, the last guy would punch a hole at the bottom of the full can. Voila! Random shots taken all across the trenches.
 
I have done a great deal of reading on WWI and Gallipoli.
Much of that disaster can be attributed to officers who bought their commissions....

The story goes that in a German general staff meeting in WW1 a young officer commented that, "These English fight like lions." A senior officer replied,"Yes, it is fortunate for us that they are led by donkeys."
 
The story goes that in a German general staff meeting in WW1 a young officer commented that, "These English fight like lions." A senior officer replied,"Yes, it is fortunate for us that they are led by donkeys."

Agreed. Gallipoli could be used as an example of how to screw up an invasion.
 
Gallipoli was a failure due mainly, according to my readings, the incompetence of the British officers. The ANZACS had much better sectional heads, but the officers were just the same. They fought, they died, and both Turks and Aussies/New Zealanders realised it was not thier war. There is a monument there now, at Lone Pine I believe, which I think anyone in that region of the world should visit. It is a stark reminder of the follies of war. Example: Sailing an armada of old battleships up a narrow channel, controlled by Turkish forts, equiped with modern German cannons, on both sides and ignoring retreat only to have huge losses.
Second Example: Going a couple miles in shore, not seeing a Turk, and settling down for tea while your comrades to the south are dieing in droves.
 
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