The war at sea and Gallipoli Flashcards
Battle of Heligoland Bight 1914
German -regular pattern
cruisers and destroyers go to nroth sea every evening
destroyers patrol north sea looking for british shipping and return in morning.
Britihsh plan was to cath Germans going back to port.
Successful
31 destroyers, two light cruisers and 8 subs.
Battle of Dogger Bank 1915
British decoded, knew German raid was heading for North sea, Britain met them at dogger bank, Germany surprised and retreated, Britain followed and shot one ship down killing 954 Men.
Battle of Jutland 1916
German fleet sent out to North sea, to draw out British grand fleet. Britain knew ship was coming, 259 warships met off coast of Denmark at Jutland. Britain lost 14 ships, Germany lost 9 ships.
How did USA nearly enter war
German U-boat sank the US passenger ship the Lusitania
Where was the Lusitania travelling
From New York to Liverpool
Why was it taken down
Carrying ammunition and food as well as passengers.
Reason for Gallipoli campaign
1914 Turkey joined the war on the side of Germany. Turkey controlled the Dardanelles, a narrow strait of water leading to the black sea. This meant supplies of food and arms could no longer be sent to Russia. It also meant that Russian ships moored in the black sea were trapped.
What was Churchills plan
A naval bombardment would knock out the Turkish forts on their Gallipoli peninsula, which was guarding the Dardanelles. This would enable troops to move in and clear the way, opening the Dardanelles to allied shipping. Allied forces attack the Turkish capital, Constantinople, Turkey leave the war.
Main features of the campaign
18 battleships, supported by cruisers and destroyers, tried to force their way through the Dardanelles. But three battleships were blown up and 300 sailors drowned.
It was decided that an allied army would land on the coast of Gallipoli and fight up capturing forts.
The Turks were prepared for the attack. They had spent time strengthening their positions and the landscape was unforgiving.
Effects of the GAllipoli campaign
48,000 killed
many soldiers became sick because of dirty conditions, diarrhoea.
The Dardanelles were still closed.
Troops were needed back on the western front.
Operation Michael 1918
Ludendorff planned to break the stalemate by driving west through the weakest part of French and British lines of trenches. Using gas. British retreated, German troops, advanced 65 km into France.
Why did the Ludendorff offensive fail
American troops, 20,000. L sent to many troops into French territory, where 400,00 had been killed.
3 reasons why Gallipoli failed
troops had no experience of landing on enemy beaches.
Most of the Turkish beaches were below cliffs and steeply rising ground.
HAmilton did not have up-to-date maps of the area.
