Çanakkale War Chronology (1915-1916)
The Battle of Çanakkale was the land and naval battles that took place between the Ottoman Empire and the Allied Powers in the Dardanelles Strait between 1915-1916. Here is a detailed chronology of the war:
1. NAVAL OPERATIONS (November 3, 1914 – March 18, 1915)
Preliminary Preparations and Reconnaissance Attacks (November 3, 1914 – February 18, 1915)
November 3, 1914: British and French navies bombarded the Ottoman forts at the entrance to the Dardanelles for the first time.
February 19, 1915: Entente forces launched a powerful naval offensive. The forts at the entrance to the Strait were worn down with artillery fire.
February 25, 1915: The Entente navy advanced, destroying the entrance fortifications. Ottoman troops strengthened the coastal fortifications.
Great Naval Offensive (March 18, 1915)
The Entente Powers tried to pass the Strait with 18 warships.
Due to the mines laid by the Nusret Mine Ship, the battleships Bouvet, Irresistible, and Ocean were sunk, and Inflexible and Gaulois were heavily damaged.
Due to the heavy losses, the Entente powers halted the naval operations and focused on the land landings.
2nd LAND OPERATIONS (25 April 1915 – 9 January 1916)
Main Landing and Initial Clashes (25 April 1915)
The Entente States landed on the shores of Seddülbahir and Arıburnu.
Seddülbahir Landing: British and French troops landed at Morto Bay and V Beach (Seddülbahir). The Ottoman 9th Division units put up great resistance.
Ariburnu Landing: The Anzac Corps landed at Ariburnu. Mustafa Kemal directed the 57th Regiment to Conkbayırı, saying "I am not ordering you to attack, I am ordering you to die!"
Critical Battles (May - August 1915)
May 1, 1915: Ottoman forces counter-attacked, but the Entente forces defended the beachheads.
May 6-8, 1915 - Second Battle of Krithia: The Anglo-French offensive was repelled.
May 19, 1915 - Ottoman General Offensive: 42,000 Ottoman soldiers launched an attack, but suffered heavy losses.
June 4, 1915 - Third Battle of Krithia: The Entente forces could not advance.
August 6-7, 1915 - Anafartalar Landing: The Entente forces opened a new front and landed at Anafartalar. Ottoman troops under the command of Mustafa Kemal achieved great success.
August 9-10, 1915 - Battle of Conkbayırı: Mustafa Kemal launched an offensive at Conkbayırı and pushed back the British.
End of the War and Evacuations (December 1915 - January 1916)
December 19-20, 1915: The troops at Anzac and Suvla Bay were evacuated.
January 8-9, 1916: The last British troops at Seddülbahir withdrew.
Thus, the Battle of Gallipoli ended with a decisive victory for the Ottomans. The Allied Powers withdrew with heavy losses and their plans to reach Istanbul failed.