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The Gallipoli Campaign took
place at Gallipoli peninsula in
Turkey from 25 April 1915 to 9
January 1916, during the First
World War. A joint British
Empire and French operation was
mounted to capture the Ottoman
capital of Istanbul, and secure
a sea route to Russia. The
attempt failed, with heavy
casualties on both sides.
In Turkey, the campaign is known
as the Canakkale Savaslari,
after the province of Canakkale.
In the United Kingdom, it is
called the Dardanelles Campaign
or Gallipoli. In France it is
called Les Dardanelles. In
Australia, New Zealand and
Newfoundland, it is known as the
Gallipoli Campaign or simply as
Gallipoli. It is also known as
the Battle of Gallipoli.
The Gallipoli campaign resonated
profoundly among all nations
involved. In Turkey, the battle
is perceived as a defining
moment in the history of the
Turkish people a final surge in
the defense of the motherland as
the centuries-old Ottoman Empire
was crumbling. The struggle laid
the grounds for the Turkish War
of Independence and the
foundation of the Turkish
Republic eight years later under
Ataturk, himself a commander at
Gallipoli.
In Australia and New Zealand,
the campaign was the first major
battle undertaken by a joint
military formation, the
Australian and New Zealand Army
Corps (ANZAC), and is often
considered to mark the birth of
national consciousness in both
of these countries. Anzac Day
(25 April) remains the most
significant commemoration of
military casualties and veterans
in Australia and New Zealand,
surpassing Armistice
Day/Remembrance Day. |
