War Lords and the Gallipoli Disaster: How Globalized Trade Led Britain to Its Worst Defeat of the First World War

The Gallipoli campaign was a failed attempt by the British government to force a passage of the Dardanelles Straits in 1915. This new interpretation by Nicholas Lambert argues that the campaign was originally intended to respond to the disruption of the international grain trade caused by the war, rather than relieve pressure on the Western Front. The War Lords authorized the attacks to open the straits to the flow of Russian wheat, seeking to lower the price of grain and eliminate the need for British loans to support Russia's war effort.

\n Format: Hardback
\n Length: 360 pages
\n Publication date: 21 April 2021
\n Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc
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The Gallipoli campaign, a pivotal moment in World War I, is reexamined in this insightful interpretation. In early 1915, the British government dispatched the Royal Navy to force a passage through the Dardanelles Straits, the world's most heavily fortified waterway. Despite the Navy's failure to breach Turkish defenses, British and allied ground forces launched an assault on the Gallipoli peninsula. However, their efforts to advance were hindered by the challenging terrain and fierce resistance. Throughout the year, the Allies deployed hundreds of thousands of reinforcements, but their efforts proved futile. Regarded as one of the greatest military disasters in history, the Gallipoli campaign has garnered significant attention in previous works. These accounts have often focused on the battles and sought to explain the reasons behind the British failure, with First Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill being a prominent figure. In this groundbreaking new account, Nicholas Lambert presents the first fully researched explanation of why Prime Minister Henry Asquith and his senior advisers, the War Lords, ordered the attacks in the first place. Lambert challenges the manipulation of the historical record by those involved in the campaign's inception, unveiling the original political-economic motivations behind the attacks. Rather than seeking to relieve pressure on the Western Front, the War Lords intended to respond to the devastating disruption of the international grain trade caused by the war. By the beginning of 1915, the price of wheat was soaring, posing a significant threat to Britain, the world's largest importer of wheat. At the same time, Russia, the world's largest exporter of wheat and a key ally of Britain in the East, faced financial collapse. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, the War Lords authorized the attacks at the Dardanelles to facilitate the flow of Russian wheat, which was desperately needed to stabilize both countries' economies. Through meticulous research and analysis, Lambert demonstrates that the Gallipoli campaign was not solely a military endeavor but also a strategic move aimed at securing vital economic interests. The campaign's failure, however, had far-reaching consequences, shaping the course. It marked a significant setback for the Allies and contributed to the prolongation of the war, ultimately leading to the loss of countless lives and the devastation of entire regions. The Gallipoli campaign serves as a reminder of the complex interplay between military, political, and economic factors in shaping the course of history. By examining the motivations behind this infamous campaign, Lambert offers a fresh perspective on a pivotal moment in global history.

\n Weight: 670g\n
Dimension: 243 x 164 x 33 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9780197545201\n \n