1915 – 1916 · Ottoman Empire vs United Kingdom vs France vs Australia
Allied attempt to force Turkish straits (1915-1916) killed 500,000+ in a catastrophic failure of amphibious assault planning.
British and French sought to capture the Gallipoli Peninsula and force the Turkish straits to supply Russia. Poor planning, Turkish defense, and terrain difficulties doomed the campaign. ANZAC forces (Australian and New Zealand) suffered devastating casualties. Turks (under Mustafa Kemal, future founder of modern Turkey) resisted fiercely. After months of brutal fighting and disease, Allies withdrew. Estimates: 500,000+ casualties (Allied and Turkish, mostly from disease and combat). The campaign achieved nothing strategically. Turkish defense boosted Kemal's reputation.
Gallipoli was the first major amphibious assault failure, teaching lessons about amphibious warfare complexity. The campaign boosted Turkish nationalism and Kemal's reputation—he became a national hero. For Australians and New Zealanders, Gallipoli became founding myth of ANZAC identity (bravery in defeat). The campaign showed that WWI's land-focused strategies would not work at sea. The campaign's failure contributed to pressure on British government (leading to political crisis). The disaster vindicated critics of aggressive offensives. Modern military doctrine studies Gallipoli as cautionary tale about planning failures.
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