Gallipoli Campaign of World War I: A Detailed Summary

The Gallipoli Campaign of World War I was a major conflict and occurred on the Gallipoli Peninsula in modern-day Turkey.  It was primarily fought between the Allied Powers of Britain and France against the Central Powers of the Ottoman Empire and Germany.  Today, the Gallipoli Campaign is remembered as one of the most significant events of World War I.  For example, it is of particular importance in the history of Australia and New Zealand.  This is because both of the nations participated in the Gallipoli Campaign as part of the British Empire.​

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What were the key ANZAC roles and milestones in World War I?

Formation in EgyptFormation in EgyptAustralian and New Zealand forces combined into a single corps in Egypt in late 1914, under Lieutenant General William Birdwood.Defense of the Suez CanalDefense of the Suez CanalBefore Gallipoli, ANZAC troops defended the Suez Canal against Ottoman attacks while training for larger operations.Landing at GallipoliLanding at GallipoliANZAC forces landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula on April 25th, 1915, the date that became a defining moment for both nations.Trench Warfare at Anzac CoveTrench Warfare at Anzac CoveANZAC troops held a narrow coastal position for months, digging trenches and using periscope rifles to fire while staying below the trench line.ANZAC DayANZAC DayApril 25th is marked every year in Australia and New Zealand as a national day of remembrance for all who served and died in conflict.

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When and Where Did the Gallipoli Campaign Occur?

Also known as the ‘DardanellesA narrow strait of water near the Gallipoli Peninsula that controlled access to the Ottoman capital and the Black Sea. Campaign’, the Gallipoli Campaign took place from February 17th, 1915 until January 9th, 1916.  It was a major conflict of World War I and occurred on the Gallipoli Peninsula in southeastern Europe, in the modern nation of Turkey.  The Gallipoli Campaign was fought between the Allied Powers (the British Empire and France) and the Central Powers (the Ottoman Empire, with support from Germany).  Australia played a significant role due to its involvement in the British Empire.​

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key waterway in WWIcontrols Ottoman capital accesskey term!

Dardanelles

(noun)

The Dardanelles is a narrow strait, or channel of water, located near the Gallipoli Peninsula in what is now Turkey. It controlled access to the Ottoman capital of Constantinople and to the Black Sea beyond.

in a sentence: Allied forces attacked the Dardanelles in February 1915 to open a sea route to Russia.

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What Led to the Gallipoli Campaign of World War I?

The goal of the Gallipoli Campaign was for the Allied Powers to weaken the Ottoman Empire, which exerted a great deal of influence in the southeastern areas of Europe.  For instance, the Allied nations wanted to secure waterways in the area in order to ensure that the Ottoman Empire did not prevent necessary shipping routes, especially to Russia. This is because the Black Sea was an important trading route for Russia along its southern border, and the Ottoman Empire had the ability to control the waterways in and out of the Black Sea.​

Australian forces first arrived in the region in 1914.  For example, they arrived in Egypt in November of 1914 by ship.  While there, they defended the Suez Canal against Ottoman attack.  The Suez Canal was a vitally important trade route that the British controlled as part of their British Empire.  At the same time, Australian forces trained and readied themselves for battle on the Western Front of Europe. In fact, during this period, the Australian Army and the New Zealand Army combined to form the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZACThe combined Australian and New Zealand Army Corps formed to fight as part of British forces in World War I.) under the command of Lieutenant General William Birdwood.  The ANZAC forces became a significant fighting force in World War I.  It was believed that ANZAC would participate alongside other British forces in northern Europe.  However, the threat of the Ottoman Empire in southeastern Europe caused ANZAC to first deploy there instead.  For instance, Winston Churchill argued for an Allied naval attack against the Dardanelles.  At the time, Churchill was the First Lord of the AdmiraltyThe top civilian official in charge of the British Royal Navy., for the British Royal Navy.​

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Winston Churchill

First Lord of the Admiralty, British Royal Navy

Born: November 30th, 1874, Blenheim Palace, England

Appointed First Lord of the Admiralty: October 1911

Proposed Dardanelles naval attack: early 1915

Resigned from Admiralty: May 1915

Died: January 24th, 1965, London, England

Churchill served as the top civilian official in charge of the British Royal Navy during World War I and pushed for an Allied naval attack against the Dardanelles, hoping to weaken the Ottoman Empire and open a sea route to Russia. When the Gallipoli Campaign failed, Churchill was widely blamed for the disaster and resigned from his post in May 1915.

First Lord of the AdmiraltyDardanelles strategyGallipoli plannerBritish Royal Navy

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What Happened During the Gallipoli Campaign of World War I?

​The Allied nations (Britain, France, India, Australia and New Zealand) began their attack against the Ottomans in February of 1915 at the Dardanelles, which was a key entrance to the Ottoman capital of Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul).  This Allied attack failed and led to another Allied advance at the Gallipoli Peninsula in April of 1915.  The Gallipoli Peninsula is located near the Dardanelles.  The goal of the attack was to gain control over Constantinople (Istanbul).  The entire campaign was a massive failure for the British and their allies as their troops struggled against the Turkish forces of the Ottoman Empire.  The Allied forces abandoned their positions in the region by January of 1916.

Allied vs Ottoman

Troop numbers at Gallipoli, 1915 to 1916

The Allied forces at Gallipoli brought approximately 489,000 soldiers to the campaign, compared to roughly 315,000 for the Ottoman Empire. Despite that numerical advantage of more than 170,000 troops, the Allies failed to take the peninsula and withdrew by January of 1916.

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What Was the Outcome of the Gallipoli Campaign of World War I?

Today the Gallipoli Campaign is viewed as a major loss for the Allies.  In fact, most historians view the Ottoman victory at Gallipoli as incredible due to the perceived inferiority of the Ottoman Army and soldiers.  More specifically, the Allied nations were much more industrializedHaving advanced factories and technology that give a country greater military and economic power. and educated than the Ottomans, thus it seemed natural that the Ottoman Army would struggle against a superior force.  As well, the Allied nations attacked with superior numbers.  It is believed that the Allied nations had as many as 489,000 soldiers in the Gallipoli Campaign, whereas the Ottomans are thought to have had only 315,000.  However, the Ottomans were able to withstand the Allied attacks and ultimately proved victorious at Gallipoli.

In total, the Allied forces suffered over 300,000 casualtiesThe total number of soldiers killed, wounded, or otherwise lost during a military campaign. in the battle, including 46,000 deaths.  In comparison, historians estimate that the Ottoman Empire suffered approximately 250,000, including over 56,000 deaths.  The casualty figures for the Gallipoli Campaign are controversial though, due to dispute among historians and the role of sickness.  For instance, many Allied and Ottoman soldiers suffered from diseases that spread easily throughout the duration of the Gallipoli Campaign.  These diseases included typhoid, dysenteryA serious intestinal disease that spreads easily and caused many deaths among soldiers during the campaign. and diarrhea.  Regardless, the Gallipoli Campaign was a major victory for the Ottoman Empire, and is remembered today as a dramatic loss for the Allies (especially Australia).

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Troops of the 29th Indian Brigade in trenches at Gallipoli in 1915. Soldiers from India fought at Gallipoli alongside British, French, Australian and New Zealand forces. (Colorized by historycrunch.com)

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What Was the Significance of the Gallipoli Campaign?

The Gallipoli Campaign has remained a significant event in the histories of both Australia and New Zealand.  In fact, the Gallipoli Campaign has become an important symbol of Australia’s national identity and is viewed as significant to the promotion of Australian nationalismStrong pride in one’s country that can drive people to seek independence or a separate national identity..  For instance, Australian losses in the Gallipoli Campaign included over 26,000 casualties and 8,100 deaths.  In fact, the event is honored every April 25th with ‘Anzac Day’ in both Australia and New Zealand.  Anzac Day is a national day of remembrance in which they remember those that have fought and died in conflict.  The significance of April 25th is that it marks the initial landings made by the ANZAC forces in the Gallipoli Campaign.  As such, the Gallipoli Campaign is an important moment in the history of both Australia and New Zealand.  The growth of nationalism that both countries experienced due to events like the Gallipoli Campaign arguably led to the independence movement from the British Empire.

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The Event

Australia suffered over 26,000 casualties and 8,100 deaths at Gallipoli, and the weight of that loss transformed the campaign into a founding symbol of Australian national identity.

Australian soldiers returned home with a shared sense of sacrifice that set the ANZAC forces apart as a distinct national force, not simply an extension of the British Army.

The Australian government established April 25th as Anzac Day, a national day of remembrance marking the date ANZAC troops first landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula in 1915.

Australians came to see Gallipoli not as a defeat but as proof of their soldiers' courage and determination, and that belief became a source of lasting national pride.

The grief and pride surrounding Gallipoli strengthened the push for a separate Australian national identity, distinct from Britain, and contributed to growing feelings of independence from the British Empire.

Anzac Day is still observed every April 25th in both Australia and New Zealand, making Gallipoli a lasting source of shared national memory in both countries.

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To cite this article as a source, use one of the formats below.

MLA: Beck, Elias. “Gallipoli Campaign of World War I: A Detailed Summary.” HistoryCrunch, 29 September 2026, https://historycrunch.com/gallipoli-campaign-of-world-war-i/.

APA: Beck, E. (2026). Gallipoli Campaign of World War I: A Detailed Summary. HistoryCrunch. https://historycrunch.com/gallipoli-campaign-of-world-war-i/

Chicago: Beck, Elias. “Gallipoli Campaign of World War I: A Detailed Summary.” HistoryCrunch. September 29, 2026. https://historycrunch.com/gallipoli-campaign-of-world-war-i/

Sources

• John Keegan, The First World War.
• Margaret MacMillan, The War That Ended Peace.