Gallipoli holds a central position in the history of New Zealand, but some Kiwis today know why our troops are fighting there - or much about our enemy, the Ottoman Empire. This feature explores the history of a sophisticated yet often forgotten kingdom where its troops fight against New Zealand troops for four years, in the Gallipoli, Sinai and Palestine campaigns.
Ottoman War Medal
The use of popular terms such as 'Turkey' and 'Turkey' refers to Gallipoli, the Middle East and the First World War blurring the important distinction between the Ottoman Empire and the modern Turkish Republic. The fact that the first shot fired in anger by the New Zealand army in the war against the Ottoman army, and not the German army, made more sense when this distinction was understood.
The Ottoman Empire is a large multinational kingdom that has been involved in the affairs of the great powers of Europe for much of its history for 600 years. Thus, it is not surprising that in 1914, the war involved a war involving such great powers. The Empire has experienced periods of prolonged economic and cultural decline, and faces serious internal unrest. The Ottoman Empire, however, still controls all modern Turkey and much of the Middle East, and can still put a million soldiers into the field.
The 'Young Turks' revolutionary movement took power in 1908 and tried to bring about social and economic reforms, with varying success. Some members of the movement, such as Enver Pasha, the Minister of War, supported the idea of pan-Turkish nationalism and dreamed of 'liberating' regions associated with ethnic Central Asia from the Russian government. In pursuit of this agenda, he championed the Ottoman Empire into the First World War on the German side and Austria-Hungary in November 1914.
Kemal Atatürk & İsmet İnönü
The dream turned into a nightmare. After four long-blooded years of war ended in total defeat, with about 700,000 Ottoman troops killed and imperial on the verge of collapse. After five years of regional conflict and social upheaval, the modern Turkish Republic finally emerged in 1923 under the leadership of veteran Gallipoli Mustafa Kemal - better known as the descendant of 'Kemal Atatürk'.
Continued stage 2.........!!