ottoman empire

The Gallipoli campaign

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  Each year on Anzac Day, New Zealanders (and Australians) mark the anniversary of the Gallipoli landings of 25 April 1915. On that day, thousands of young men, far from their homes, stormed the beaches on the Gallipoli Peninsula in what is now Turkey.

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• Page 1 - The Gallipoli campaignEach year on Anzac Day, New Zealanders (and Australians) mark the anniversary of the Gallipoli landings of 25 April 1915. On that day, thousands of young men, far from their

Central Powers

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  Key statistics and facts about the forces of Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, Germany and the Ottoman Empire during the First World War

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• Page 5 – Ottoman Empire

  Key information and statistics about the Ottoman Empire during the First World War

The Ottoman Empire

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  Few Kiwis today know much about one of our main First World War enemies, the Ottoman Empire - a sophisticated but often forgotten empire whose soldiers fought against New Zealand troops for four years in the Gallipoli, Sinai and Palestine campaigns.

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• Page 2 – Background

  Although the Ottoman Empire was dominated by the Turks, it also included Arabs, Kurds, Greeks, Armenians and other ethnic minorities.

• Page 3 – Three wars in three years, 1911-13

  The Ottoman Empire came under attack in wars fought in Libya and the Balkans between 1911 and 1913.

• Page 4 – Ottoman Empire enters the First World War

  Enver Pasha, the Ottoman Minister for War, reacted to the mobilisation of the Russian Army by ordering the Ottoman Army to prepare for war in August 1914.

• Page 5 – Ottoman Empire at war

  How the Ottoman Empire fared during the First World War

• Page 6 – The Armenians' suffering

  Turkey has always denied accusations that in 1915 the Ottoman authorities committed genocide against their Armenian subjects.

• Page 7 – Rise of Arab nationalism

  As the Ottoman Empire entered the First World War in 1914 the loyalty of its Arab subjects could no longer be taken for granted.

• Page 8 – The Arab Revolt, 1916-18

  The rise of its Arab subjects against the Ottoman Empire in the later years of the First World War saw them fight alongside the British forces, though ultimately they were

• Page 9 – Collapse of the Ottoman Empire, 1918-1920

  The Armistice of 31 October 1918 ended the fighting between the Ottoman Empire and the Allies but did not bring stability or peace to the region.

• Page 10 – Birth of the Turkish Republic

  The Birth of the Republic of Turkey from 1920-23

• Page 11 – The Ottoman Army

  There were some Arab and even a few non-Muslim officers in the Ottoman Army in 1914, but all the senior military commands were held by Turks.

• Page 12 – The Turkish soldier's experience

  Mehmetçik – ‘Little Mehmet’ – was an affectionate Turkish nickname for Ottoman (Turkish) soldiers.

• Page 13 – Weapons of the Ottoman Army

  The Ottoman Army went to war in 1914 with significant gaps in its arsenal, particularly in machine guns and field artillery.

• Page 14 – Further information

  Recommended books and journals about the Ottoman Empire

Armistice Day

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  After four terrible years, the First World War finally came to a close with the signing of an armistice between Germany and the Allied Powers on 11 November 1918. New Zealanders celebrated enthusiastically, despite having recently celebrated the surrenders of the three other Central Powers and the premature news of an armistice with Germany.

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• Page 2 - Pre-Armistice Day surrendersFrom October 1918 New Zealanders progressively celebrated the surrenders of Bulgaria, the Ottoman Empire and Austria-Hungary before the armistice with Germany on 11

The Imperial Camel Corps

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  The Imperial Camel Corps, which included two New Zealand companies, played a vital role in the Sinai and Palestine campaigns during the First World War. Between 400 and 450 New Zealanders fought in the Corps, and 41 died before the two New Zealand companies were disbanded in mid-1918.

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• Page 3 – New Zealand Camel Companies

  In August 1916 No 15 (New Zealand) Company, Imperial Camel Corps, was formed from men originally intended as reinforcements for the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade.