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When the Great War (World War I) began in August 1914 there were confident
predictions that it would be all over by Christmas.
It wasn't. In fact a
stalemate had developed along the Western Front. So Churchill's
plan was to attack Turkey, one of Germany's allies. If Britain and her
allies could capture Constantinople (Istanbul) they would be able to attack
Germany and Austria-Hungary from the east; take control of the Black Sea and
supply Russia with much needed guns and ammunition.
If the plan had worked it may well have shortened the war in Europe by two
years and had a profound effect on the history of the twentieth century.
But it didn't.
The naval attack on the Dardanelles failed dismally. So it was decided
that a land attack on the Gallipoli peninsula was necessary.
There is useful background material at
The Anzac site
This material has been produced by UNITEC Institute of Technology
under contract to the Ministry of Education.
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