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April 25th, 1915, one of the most misunderstood and relatively unknown (to Americans) campaigns of WWI started.
A few months earlier the Ottoman Empire (Turkey) threw their hat in with the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary) much to the chagrin of the Allies. Russia whine to its partners (UK and France) to take the war to the Ottomans in order to relieve Russia.
Winston Churchill, among others decided to launch an amphibious assault on the Ottoman' Gallipoli peninsula with the expressed purpose of hopefully capturing Constantinople (modern day Istanbul).
The amphibious assault was the largest (up to that point) in history.
The entire campaign ended up as a miserable failure for the Allies– losing a quarter of a million casualties and gaining very little territory. Churchill ended up taking it on the chin both personally and professionally.
Three groups ultimately "gained" from the fighting– the Turks, who earned grudging respect from allies for their tenaciousness, and the Australians/New Zealanders who took their sacrifices as a sign of their countries willingness to fight.
Anzac Day (April 25th) is THE day of remembrance in both New Zealand and Australia.
A few months earlier the Ottoman Empire (Turkey) threw their hat in with the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary) much to the chagrin of the Allies. Russia whine to its partners (UK and France) to take the war to the Ottomans in order to relieve Russia.
Winston Churchill, among others decided to launch an amphibious assault on the Ottoman' Gallipoli peninsula with the expressed purpose of hopefully capturing Constantinople (modern day Istanbul).
The amphibious assault was the largest (up to that point) in history.
The entire campaign ended up as a miserable failure for the Allies– losing a quarter of a million casualties and gaining very little territory. Churchill ended up taking it on the chin both personally and professionally.
Three groups ultimately "gained" from the fighting– the Turks, who earned grudging respect from allies for their tenaciousness, and the Australians/New Zealanders who took their sacrifices as a sign of their countries willingness to fight.
Anzac Day (April 25th) is THE day of remembrance in both New Zealand and Australia.