The Battle of Çanakkale (1915) - Part 1

In the World War I, the Allies wanted to reach Istanbul passing through Çanakkale strait by means of the utterly strong British navy, to overthwor the Ottoman government and push the Ottoman state to withdraw from the war. Even if it would not be possible to capture Istanbul with a mere fleet, the British hoped that the sight of a fleet in the strait would cause an upheaval that would lead to the overthrow of the government and overpower Turks. Beside this, the Ottoman state's inclusion in the war had broken the contact of Russia to its European allies. The allies were in need of Russian wheat, and the Russians in need of British and French military support. Therefore, the straits were to be kept open in one war or another. Russia's staying part of the war would also enable opening another front against Germant and Austria-Hungary. There also war the fact that a victory at Çanakkale would bring about a prestige, which might have helped the Allies get on their side some states that were not yet in either side, such as Greece, Bulgaria, Romania and Italy.