The War Rages On 903the Admiralty, and Lloyd George. Such victories might also even expand
the British Empire, thus such a campaign would please the colonial lobby
at home. This strategy angered the French government, which bitterly
opposed any reduction of British support on the western front.
Churchill and Lord Kitchener planned an attack on Germany’s ally,
Turkey. When the Turks entered the war on the side of Germany and
Austria-Hungary in November 1914, they closed off the Dardanelles strait,
which separates the Aegean Sea from the Sea of Marmara. This cut off an
important route for supplies to Russia through the Black Sea. Turkish forces
also tied up Russian troops in the Caucasus Mountains. Turkey posed a
potential threat to the Suez Canal. The British high command planned an
assault on the Dardanelles strait. If everything went well, a British success
might bring an end to the power of the pro-German faction in the Turkish
government. Moreover, a successful campaign could open up a route to
Russia through the Black Sea. With Turkey out of the war, Churchill rea
soned, the German effort in the Balkans could be undermined, and Bul
garia would stay out of the conflict.
In April 1915, British ships sailed through the Dardanelles, destroyed
several Turkish ships, and disembarked five divisions of troops on the beach
of Gallipoli (see Map 22.5). British soldiers hurled themselves against the
well-defended heights held by the Turks. British troops managed to dig in,
British troops massing during the ill-fated Gallipoli