8 Jan 1915
Dardanelles proposal
British political and naval leaders consider an attack on the Dardanelles as a way to threaten Constantinople and assist Russia.
First World War · Dardanelles · Gallipoli
Gallipoli Campaign
Explore the World History Database collection covering the Dardanelles naval campaign, the Gallipoli landings, Cape Helles, Anzac, Suvla, Chunuk Bair, Ottoman defence, submarine operations, command decisions and the final evacuation.
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Gallipoli in the First World War
A brief history of the campaign before the searchable record collection.
The Gallipoli campaign developed from the Allied attempt to force the Dardanelles, threaten Constantinople and open a maritime route to Russia. British and French warships attacked Ottoman fortifications during February and March 1915, but the main fleet assault of 18 March failed after mines and shore batteries inflicted major losses.
The campaign then shifted to a land invasion. On 25 April 1915 British troops landed around Cape Helles while the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps landed north of Gaba Tepe at what became Anzac Cove. French forces operated at Kum Kale and Cape Helles. Ottoman troops, including formations commanded by Mustafa Kemal, contained the landings and prevented the Allies from securing the commanding heights.
Repeated Allied offensives failed to break the stalemate. The August offensive brought heavy fighting at Lone Pine, The Nek, Chunuk Bair, Sari Bair, Suvla and Hill 60, but it did not produce a strategic breakthrough. With winter approaching and the campaign under political review, Anzac and Suvla were evacuated in December 1915. Cape Helles was abandoned in January 1916.
Strategic aim: force the Dardanelles, threaten the Ottoman capital and create a supply route toward Russia.
Operational problem: difficult terrain, strong Ottoman defence, restricted beachheads, exposed supply lines and repeated failure to seize the main ridges.
Result: the Allies withdrew without achieving their strategic objective, while Gallipoli became central to Australian, New Zealand and Turkish national memory.
Key events
Major stages of the campaign. The detailed database below contains the full chronology.
19 Feb 1915
Naval bombardment opens
British and French warships begin sustained attacks on Ottoman fortifications guarding the entrance to the straits.
8 Mar 1915
Nusret lays mines
The Ottoman minelayer lays a concealed mine line in Erenkoy Bay that later inflicts major Allied losses.
18 Mar 1915
Main naval assault
The Allied fleet attempts to force the Dardanelles but loses battleships to mines and Ottoman fire.
25 Apr 1915
Gallipoli landings
British forces land at Cape Helles while Australian and New Zealand troops establish the Anzac beachhead.
28 Apr 1915
First Krithia offensive
The first major Allied attempt to advance from Cape Helles fails to break the Ottoman line.
19 May 1915
Ottoman attack on Anzac
A large Ottoman assault fails to destroy the Anzac perimeter and causes heavy casualties.
4 Jun 1915
Third Krithia offensive
Another Allied attempt to capture Krithia ends without a decisive breakthrough.
6–10 Aug 1915
August Offensive
Anzac attacks, the Sari Bair advance and a new landing at Suvla seek to break the stalemate.
8 Aug 1915
Chunuk Bair
New Zealand troops reach the summit before Ottoman counterattacks eventually restore control of the heights.
21–29 Aug 1915
Hill 60 and Suvla
Further attacks try to link Anzac with Suvla but fail to secure a decisive position.
Dec 1915–Jan 1916
Evacuation
Anzac and Suvla are evacuated in December, followed by Cape Helles in January 1916.
People in the records
All named participants in this dataset, grouped by nationality/country and alphabetically ordered.
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