Some of the biggest changes in Gallipoli compared to the previous games can be found in the gunplay. It has received a major set of improvements and reworks to really improve the realism and pacing of the game, while also making it more satisfying. You’ll feel greater differences between the weapons in the game.

Before we get into the actual changes, let’s discuss our reasoning!

Note: if you can't see the images, try the blog on Reddit!

While we believe our previous games were a good showcase of what fighting in WW1 was like, we really wanted to take it to the next level with Gallipoli. For this, we took a close look at pacing and immersion, how we could more closely capture what combat was like as a soldier on the front. We hope to push teamwork and smart decision making more in Gallipoli and make battles feel more realistic. Every weapon should have their own challenges, yet be fun and rewarding to use.

Now, that’s easier said than done. There’s no ‘immersion slider’ we can tweak a little. So to achieve this, we’ve made some major improvements in all kinds of different areas of the game. A lot of these are related to weapon handling and player status, how a soldier would react in the heat of combat. Let’s take a look at some of the improvements we’ve made!

Reloading got a lot of love in Gallipoli. All of the reloading animations are upgraded massively and are completely unique for each and every single weapon! Reloads and bolting are a bit slower and methodical in Gallipoli to better reflect real life, which also requires you to be more tactical with when and where you reload.

Each weapon in Gallipoli has their reload split into three stages: unloading, reloading and closing the bolt. For single-round reloaded weapons like rifles, every round inserted functions as an extra stage.

Completing a stage essentially functions as a checkpoint in case you need to interrupt the reload. It’s more realistic that way; once you put a round into the weapon, you won’t have to do so again after getting interrupted.

One of the other biggest changes is how suppression works and affects you at the receiving end. In Isonzo, getting suppressed was mostly a visual effect, restricting your vision. In Gallipoli however, it triggers your fight or flight instinct!

Being suppressed initially increases sway and recoil. As you continue to get suppressed, you’ll start to panic and the effects get much more severe. Your vision darkens and you lose color perception. Your hands start shaking, making it very difficult to aim and return fire. Near misses from bullets cause you to flinch and throw off your aim. 

If you’re heavily suppressed, you may also struggle to properly close the bolt, the last stage of a reload. It’s not a gun jamming mechanic that requires manual input. You will always succeed in reloading, but it takes a second longer than usual. Of course, this comes with another unique animation!

Suppression by bullets happens when bullets are whizzing past you. Machine guns have the easiest time suppressing others due to the volume of fire, and doing so should be the main priority. Bullet suppression is stronger at longer ranges, to make sure you don’t get all shaky in one-on-one close-quarters combat.

Explosions also suppress. The strength and range depends on the size of the explosion. Explosives that are designed to stun instead of destroy, like certain types of grenade, cause relatively more suppression. Explosions and stunning are a big topic on their own, so more on that in a later blog!

The best way to combat suppression is to go prone, preferably behind cover. Lying on the ground makes you partially resist the effects of suppression and helps you recover quicker.

Once you spawn in, weapon in hand, you’ll first notice some general changes we made to handling. We’ve built on the systems used in Isonzo to add more layers of depth and realism to the weapons in Gallipoli. 

Drag is a new feature in Gallipoli and determines how quickly your weapon follows your movement, based on its weight. Lightweight weapons like pistols respond only slightly slower to turning around, aiming down sights and the end of a sprint. Heavy weapons like machine guns take a bit longer to do all of that. Overall we balanced it to make it a bit more challenging to snap on target, but not take 3-5 business days to do so either.

Weapon modifications do affect a weapon’s weight, so an SMLE MK.III without bayonet or scope will be snappier than one with.

Weapon sway has gotten a lot of attention and now more closely reacts to your status! The basic ‘breathing sway’ pattern has been completely reworked to match reality more closely, but we’ve also added two new factors: ‘hand wobble’ and ‘arm fatigue’. Both add a bunch of little movements that come with handling a weapon of different weight classes.

Hand wobble is the inaccuracy that comes with handling lighter weapons like pistols, while arm fatigue is the strain on your arms from carrying around a big chunk of metal like a machine gun. Of course, holding your breath to focus on aiming massively reduces all sway for a limited time. 

You can now rest any weapon on any surface! Previously only an option for weapons with bipods, it’s now extended to all weapons in various degrees. 

If you’re aiming from behind cover or are lying prone on the ground, you’ll have an easier time aiming your weapon. Unlike bipods, there’s no setup required to benefit from it. Bipods are still available on some weapons and do still require deployment, but have a way stronger effect on aim than surface resting.

That’s all for now! There are a bunch more improvements that really elevate the immersion, but we’ll show those another day. If you’d like to stay up to date, be sure to wishlist and follow Gallipoli on Steam!

If you’d like to learn more about the history of the Middle Eastern theater of WW1, be sure to check out our new video with Dr Chris Kempshall!

Hello everyone!

Today we’re exploring another map coming to Gallipoli, and the map that probably comes to mind first when you think of ‘Gallipoli’: Anzac Cove.

Following the failure to force a naval passage through the Dardanelles Straits in March 1915, the Entente allies decided that they would need to change their strategy. If they were to achieve their goal of capturing Constantinople and knocking the Ottoman Empire out of the war, they needed to land infantry on the Gallipoli peninsula to capture or destroy the Ottoman fortresses that guarded the straits. 

Landing at Anzac Cove, source: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C53771

In the early hours of the 25th April 1915 soldiers from the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) approached the shore. They were aiming to land on Z Beach but had drifted a mile further north. Their plan was to take the beaches and then move on to capture various key ridges beyond. The Ottoman defenders detected their approach whilst the boats were still offshore and opened fire. The attack was on. Upon reaching the beach, the Australian soldiers fought uphill to capture their first objective: Plugge’s Plateau. However, the landscape beyond proved hugely difficult to traverse. 

Steep hills of Anzac Cove, source: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1000859

The defending Ottomans were hard-pressed. Whilst awaiting reinforcements, the commanding officer, Mustafa Kemal (later Kemal Atatürk, founding father of modern day Turkïye) issued his famous ‘I order you to die’ command to his men as he launched counter attacks. The Anzacs struggled to hold out against determined Ottoman attempts to force them back to the beaches. Their commanders decided to abandon the plan of capturing further ridges and instead dig in at Russell’s Top and hold the little territory they had gained. They would not progress much further for the rest of the campaign.

Mustafa Kemal (Kemal Atatürk, fourth from the left), source: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C196601

Steep hills, sharp ridges and enough shrubberies to make someone shout “Ni!” characterize Anzac Cove. There’s not much in terms of visual cover when you’re running around, but you can make use of plant cover if you lay down in the right spots. As for the battle itself, well, it starts off with a grand entry of the British Empire… by boat.

The battle starts with the British forces divided across multiple boats. Soldiers will then row you towards the beach. In the meantime, you can focus on providing covering fire with your weapon of choice. This continues until the first sector is captured, halfway up Plugge’s Plateau.

On the Ottoman side, you’re sitting relatively comfortably at the objectives. While the British forces are splashing about, they’re a sitting duck with a complete lack of cover. These early stages of the battle are the best time for the Ottomans to really hack away at the attackers’ momentum. Be sure to bring some rifles!

The objectives themselves provide plenty of cover, but more worryingly perhaps, Krupp 75mm and HMG positions that can be used to send the attackers on a quick one-way trip to the bottom of the Aegean Sea.

It’s an uphill battle for the British forces, both literally and figuratively. Once the first sector is captured however, they’ll be able to use it as their forward base and continue over Plugge’s Plateau and head for the Sphinx.

After running down the other side of Plugge’s Plateau, the climb back up begins. Along the ridge sits one of the two objectives, one that doesn’t have much in the way of cover. Aside from some sandbags and the odd shrubbery, this steep objective is sure to get chaotic. 

The other objective sits right on the shoulders of the Sphinx – or Yuksek Tepe amongst the Ottomans, an eye-catching geographical outcrop – and is likely easier to defend. Not only does it feature an underground cabin, some shooting nests, and plenty of foliage, it’s also one of the highest points on the map. You can spot people all the way back on Plugge’s Plateau, and even the beach in some places.

Running towards the third sector at Russell’s Top, the terrain evens out a bit. On the attackers’ left side, it’s only a slight incline. The right side sits lower, but leads to the same objective at the very end.

The final Headquarters is a series of trenches complete with tunnels, shooting nests and a nice view. Everything you need for a final Ottoman stand!

Let’s have a look at two more weapons commonly used on the Ottoman Front! This time, two standard issue sidearms you would’ve seen during the Landing at Anzac Cove.

The Webley Revolvers are a series of top-break revolvers adopted in 1887, where it became the standard issue service revolver of the British Empire. It fires the .455 Webley cartridge, making it amongst the most powerful revolvers of its type. 

Compared to its prior models, the Mark VI had its barrel extended from 100mm to 150mm for better effectiveness at range – though its typical engagement range was quite short.

The FN M1903 is a Browning-design semi-automatic pistol firing the 9mm Browning Long cartridge, comparable to the 9x19mm Parabellum of the German Luger. The design was popular for its ease of use, reliability and accuracy.

8,000 FN M1903 pistols were ordered by the Ottoman Empire for police use prior to WW1, but ended up in the hands of Officers and specialized units during the war. More were produced for the Ottomans after the FN factory was captured by the Germans. 

It is one of many famous foreign-made semi-automatic pistols fielded by the Ottoman army.

Got all that? Great. If you haven’t already, be sure to check out the Ctesiphon blog as well to learn more about the battles in Mesopotamia and the ancient Arch of Ctesiphon. You can expect more information from us again soon, so be sure to add Gallipoli to your wishlist!

During the brutal winter of 1918, hunger and frost claimed countless lives. But the fallen were not left alone. Packs of starving wolves, drawn by the scent of blood, began haunting the battlefield. They feasted on the dead… and soon turned their fangs on the living.

The attacks grew so relentless that German and Russian soldiers agreed to a ceasefire, to fend off the living nightmare together.

Was it real, or just a ghost story whispered through the ages? The evidence is scarce, and the tale mainly survives through eerie newspaper clippings from overseas. True or not, the Wolf Truce lives on, and every year, the wolves return.

The pack has returned… and this time, they’re right on time for Steam Scream Fest! The wolves will stalk into any match, forcing a sudden and eerie silence across the trenches.

When they appear, a ceasefire will be called. If both sides respect the truce and work together to drive off the beasts, all players will earn the rare Wolf Truce medal. But beware, if even one soldier breaks the peace, the battlefield descends into chaos, so think long and hard on who to shoot. One enemy can be argued with, the other not.

The Wolf Truce event runs until November 3, 10AM CET. Dare you face the howls in the dark?

We released a small patch fixing the Unity vulnerability issue, CVE-2025-59489[unity.com].

• Unity Editor update to 2022.3.67f2,

• Security patch

Download is expected to be around 3.5 GB.

Hello everyone!

Now that you have an idea how the Expedition game mode works, it’s time to explore one of the maps of Gallipoli: Ctesiphon! We’ll also be taking a look at two of your standard rifle options. But first, let’s dive into the Battle of Ctesiphon!

British forces landed in Mesopotamia in November 1914 to capture the valuable port of Basra and secure ongoing access to the oil fields. The following year, having been reinforced, Major-General Charles Townshend commanding the 6th (Poona) Indian Division resolved to march inland, following the River Tigris. Having captured the city of Kut Al Amra in September 1915, Baghdad now seemed to lay within reach. However, Townshend’s supply lines were becoming stretched and his single division was a long way into Ottoman territory.

© National Portrait Gallery, London, NPG x81092,

https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/use-this-image.php?mkey=mw73623

Despite this, Townshend was determined to push on. It was whilst moving towards Baghdad that his forces encountered a well-prepared Ottoman defensive position in the ruins of the ancient city of Ctesiphon on 21st November 1915. A strong defensive redoubt, known as the Vital Point secured one flank of the Ottoman line. Capturing this became Townshend’s prime objective and he ordered a dawn attack to begin on the 22nd November. However, although attacking forces – heavily composed of Indian and Gurkha soldiers – were able to seize part of the front line, they could not break through. Furthermore, the battlefield was proving to be deceptive – the Ottomans were able to flood various hidden irrigation ditches to make reaching the trenches much more difficult. 

Source[www.qdl.qa]

Casualties at the end of the first day were heavy and after trading attacks and counter-attacks on the 23rd, both the British and Ottoman forces were nearly at breaking point. The Ottoman general in command – Nureddin Pasha – decided to withdraw his forces rather than risk them being overrun. However, upon realising that the British were also retreating, he changed his mind and took up the pursuit. The remnants of Townshend’s forces retreated back to the city of Kut where they were soon besieged.

Ctesiphon is an open map set on the ruins of the ancient city of its namesake. The Arch of Ctesiphon, or Tāq Kasrā, is most of what remains to this day, close to the current course of the river Tigris. It has three sectors to control, with a Headquarters each and an Optional Objective for the first two. Be sure to check out the Game Mode blog if you haven’t already!

The first sector features a small section of the wall that once protected the ancient city of Ctesiphon. It doesn’t stand as tall as it once did, but still provides great cover to whoever’s dug in here. The other objective is the Vital Point and allows you to spot anyone who dares go over the top.

Sector 2 has you battle under the Arch of Ctesiphon itself. It provides great cover to those who control the objective and funnels the engagement into a few chokepoints. The other side of the sector sits on top of the Gurkha Mound, providing a view over most of Ctesiphon.

The third sector sits right by the banks of the Tigris. Sand makes way for more fertile soil and crops as we close in on the final Headquarters objective. This large HQ is a series of supply and artillery pits, split in two by an offshoot of the river.

As the battle progresses, a sandstorm rolls in and changes the battlefield completely. Not only does the sand get everywhere, it also decreases your vision to just a couple meters ahead of you.

It’s not all bad news though, as limited vision also brings new opportunities. No man’s land is now a lot less dangerous than before, so a lot more engagements will take place on and around the objectives. Maybe ditch your sniper rifle for something with a little less magnification.

Now, if you’re heading to the front, you’re going to need something to fight with. Let’s take a look at two staples of the British and Ottoman armies!

Commonly known as the SMLE Mk.III, or “Smelly”, this is the quintessential Lee-Enfield rifle used by forces of the British Empire on the Ottoman Front. Over 5 million SMLE Mk.III rifles and variants thereof were produced during WW1.

The SMLE Mk.III has a 10-round box magazine to be loaded with two 5-round charger clips. It comes equipped with a rear sight arrangement, fixed charger guide, a magazine cut-off system and a handy field cleaning kit stored in the buttstock. Got to keep it in mint condition!

The Mauser 1903, or Ottoman Mauser, is a Gewehr 98 modified for use by the Ottoman Army, produced in Germany. The bolt arm had been curved to block the stripper clip when inserting rounds, the receiver, cocking cam and firing pin were made larger and longer and the rifle could be fitted with older Ottoman bayonets, to name a few of the changes made.

Around 200,000 rifles were received by the Ottomans by 1905 and distributed across the empire, remaining in Turkish service until the 60s. 

That’s it for today! Hope you like this first (proper) look at Ctesiphon and two of the weapons coming to Gallipoli. Stay tuned for more information coming soon, and please double check if Gallipoli is on your wishlist!

Hello everyone!

We know you’ve been eagerly waiting for more information about Gallipoli, and here it is! Today, we’ll walk you through the game mode of Gallipoli: Expedition.

With the war spread over huge distances, combatant nations moved their troops in expeditionary forces by sea and rail to fight on new fronts. These forces were specialized in mobility and self-sustainability, capable of heading deep into enemy territory and taking key positions. 

The Expedition Game Mode seeks to reflect the faster-paced combat, rewarding attackers who adapt on the fly and book results efficiently.

We would like to preface this blog with a disclaimer: everything mentioned and shown is work in progress and subject to change!

A battlefield is split into several sectors, laid out horizontally between the attacker and defender spawn points. Each sector has two objectives to control in order to take it. Sectors need to be taken in order towards the defenders’ spawn area. 

The defenders, of course, need to give everything in order to stop any of this from happening. If the attackers manage to capture every sector with the time and resources they have, they win. Otherwise, the defenders claim victory.

So far, those of you who’ve played Isonzo may think all this sounds a little familiar. Don’t worry: this is where all the differences come in.

While capturing objectives and pushing towards the next sector, the attackers have to manage their Momentum. In essence, this resource represents how well the Expedition is proceeding. The attack starts with 100 Momentum, one of which is lost whenever an attacking soldier perishes. In the simplest terms, 1 Momentum = 1 attacker life.

Of course, you’re not expected to complete every single objective with just 100 men. There’s a multitude of ways to regain your Momentum. 

• Kill Threshold: A portion of Momentum is regained once 50 defenders are taken out. The amount regained depends on how long it took to reach this threshold.

• Capture an objective: A small amount of Momentum is regained when an objective is captured for the first time.

• Secure an objective: A large amount of Momentum is regained when an objective is secured.

Defenders don’t have Momentum. Instead, it’s their goal to either drain the attackers’ Momentum by killing them without taking casualties, or holding on to their Headquarters by any means necessary.

Both teams can capture an objective. Once captured, the objective will be supplied with static weapons to aid the defense. However, that’s not the end: the other team can recapture the objective if not secured!

Each sector has two objectives: the Headquarters and a Support Objective.

The Headquarters is the primary objective you need to secure in order to advance. Securing is something only the attackers can do after capturing the objective. Once secured, it can never be recaptured by the defenders, and the attackers may proceed to the next sector.

The Support Objective is different. This objective isn’t required to advance, but the attackers can target the Support Objective to regain Momentum if running low. Additionally, it acts as a forward spawn point for the team that controls it and it’s equipped with mortars, as well as a field gun, to support the battle for the Headquarters. Since it cannot be secured, the enemy can always try to recapture it.

No two battles are the same; not in history, not in Gallipoli either. The spawn location of the Headquarters is randomly picked between two possible locations per sector. The Support Objective will be at the other of the two locations.

But wait, there’s more! The Headquarters also has two types it will randomly select: Build to secure and Detonate to secure.

Build to secure requires you to build 3 buildable structures on the objective, randomly placed in 5 possible locations. Multiple people can work on a single structure at a time to speed up progress, but you’ll also want some people to deal with the enemy! Build progress is never lost, not even when the objective changes hands. Finish building to secure!

Can't see the gif? Click here![preview.redd.it]

Detonate to secure may be a bit more familiar: plant a bomb on the objective in order to destroy it. Once destroyed, it’s secured. However, the defenders can disarm the bomb at any time!

With 11 different possible layouts per Headquarters, 2 layouts per sector and up to 5 sectors per map, this means that a large map can have up to 5,153,632 different layouts! However, you’ll only get to see what the layout of the next sector is once you secure the preceding sector.

Not overloaded with information yet? Good, because here’s Foothold.

Foothold is an overtime system that triggers upon Momentum reaching 0. Foothold counts down unless the attackers are contesting an objective that can still give them Momentum.

Any actions that would normally give Momentum now extends Foothold instead. However, there’s no way to remove Foothold; once in effect, it will remain until the end of the battle.

As long as they have allies fighting on the Headquarters objective or keep extending the timer, attackers can still defeat the defenders. It is even possible for the attackers to activate Foothold in the first sector and still win the battle – if they lock in.

If Foothold reaches 0 and none of the attackers reach an objective within 3 seconds, the battle ends in favor of the defenders!

That sure is a whole lot of information, so here’s your TL;DR:

• Attackers need to be fast and efficient to maintain their Momentum while securing objectives.

• Defenders need to dig in and stop the attackers in their path by wasting their Momentum.

• Capturing Headquarters is required to proceed, Support Objectives give more Momentum, weapons and a spawn point. Objectives are randomized per sector.

• Foothold is a last ditch effort for the attackers after they run out of Momentum.

Be sure to check out the new Verdun event inspired by the Battle of Broodseinde! You can read the blog to learn about the battle, or jump right into the game on support of your allies!

https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/242860/view/534362428708750899?l=english

At dawn on October 4th, 1917, the British launched a massive artillery barrage along Broodseinde Ridge near Ypres. This was part of the ongoing Third Battle of Ypres. The attack was carried out by the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, alongside British units, against the German 4th Army dug in on the ridge.

As the creeping barrage rolled forward, infantry advanced behind it in close coordination, a tactic perfected after years of brutal trial and error. The Germans, who were preparing their own counter-attack at that very moment, were caught out in the open. The result was devastating: German stormtroopers were cut down before they could even begin their assault, and the Allies pushed through to seize Broodseinde Ridge.

This was not just a small tactical success, it was one of the clearest victories of the entire Passchendaele campaign. The Allies inflicted heavy losses, captured thousands of prisoners, and took control of vital high ground. But the success came at a cost: over 6,000 Australian casualties alone in a single day, with similar losses for other units involved.

By late 1917, the Entente was under immense strain. On the Western Front, the fighting at Passchendaele had already become a byword for mud, exhaustion, and endless attrition. Yet at Broodseinde, the coordinated use of artillery and infantry showed what could be achieved with meticulous planning.

The victory forced the Germans to further stretch their manpower and reinforced the image of the ANZACs as formidable troops. However, heavy rains soon returned, bogging down future attacks and turning the battlefield into a quagmire. Though Broodseinde was a shining moment, the wider Passchendaele offensive would grind on until November with far fewer results.

From today until October 9th, you can take part in the Broodseinde Campaign event across Verdun and Tannenberg. All casualties in Frontlines and Maneuver game modes will count towards the grand total.

Just as in history, this time it isn’t simply about taking ground, it’s about survival. The winning side will be whichever army suffers the fewest casualties during the event, and those survivors will be awarded a special campaign medal!

Can the Central Powers turn the tide and hold their ridge this time, or will history repeat itself? It’s up to you, soldiers.

Hard to believe it’s been 12 years already!

When we first released Verdun in Early Access back in 2013, we had no idea how far the WW1 Game Series would go. One of the biggest milestones on that journey was Tannenberg’s open beta launch in 2017, bringing the massive battles of the Eastern Front to life. With its unique Maneuver mode and emphasis on squad-based warfare, Tannenberg opened up a whole new side of WW1 that players still love today.

Let’s get this party started with a trip down memory lane. Featuring our most iconic trailers and moments, including of course the Iconic Tannenberg anthem and Trailer from 6 years ago, here’s a compilation of our legacy!

If you’re interested in a WW1 Game Series timeline, be sure to check out our website[www.blackmillgames.com]!

Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for joining us on this journey. Especially to those of us who’ve been here since the early days of Verdun (anyone remember playing Verdun in your browser?) supporting us with each new release. What started off as a passion project by a few enthusiastic rookies turned into an amazing series played by millions and a space for us all to nerd out over WW1 history.

If you own Verdun, be sure to join us this Saturday (September 20th) at 8 pm CEST for a game night with 128 player matches! We’ve been testing large scale battles and – while not perfect – it should be good fun for a game night! Be sure to join us on our Discord[discord.gg].

Now, we also have something a bit newer for you. During the gamescom Awesome Indies showcase, an extended version of the Gallipoli trailer aired, which you can now watch on our YouTube channel as well! Don’t expect any big new reveals, but you’ll want to give it a watch if you’re eagerly awaiting Gallipoli.

Closed Playtests for Gallipoli are officially starting this week! We’ve already made our selection for the first playtest, but if you’d like to join future playtests, be sure to sign up here!

Whether you’re looking to complete your WW1 Game Series collection or have been considering taking your first plunge, we have some great news for you. To celebrate our 12 Year Anniversary and the newly announced Gallipoli, we’re hosting a franchise sale with some of our biggest discounts yet!

Check out the Great Franchise Sale page below for everything on offer. Be sure to take a look at Isonzo especially, as this is the first time it’s on sale with an 80% discount!

Take me to the Great Franchise Sale! [store.steampowered.com]

Again, thank you so much for supporting us all the years. We hope to see you around as we work towards the release of Gallipoli!

- The BlackMill Games team

Hello everyone!

We hope you enjoyed the reveal of Gallipoli last month and are excited to learn more about the game! There are a lot of reveals and deep dives planned for the months ahead, but we’d like to rewind to the early stages of World War 1 and explore how we even got to the events in the Middle Eastern theater.

We’d like to formally introduce you to Dr Chris Kempshall, a historian who has been helping and advising us on all things historical during the development of Gallipoli. So, whether it’s a history lesson or a refresher for you: take it away, Chris!

Greetings to you all! I have been working as the historian for BlackMill Games on Gallipoli since June last year and it is very exciting to come out of the shadows now that the game has been announced! 

My background is as an academic First World War historian specialising principally in allied relations and on the way that the war is portrayed in computer games. I’m also the current President for the International Society for First World War Studies[www.firstworldwarstudies.org] and an Associate of the Imperial War Museum Institute[www.iwm.org.uk]. So, working on Gallipoli is a very exciting prospect for me!

Whilst there are more reveals of the game to come, when it comes to the historical aspect a good place for us to start is by exploring the background and motivations of the Gallipoli and Mesopotamian campaigns. Why were they attempted? What was the thought and strategy behind them? Were they really a viable option of winning the war? And what had brought the Ottoman Empire into the conflict in the first place?

As with many of the major European powers at the outbreak of the First World War, the Ottoman Empire had its own internal instabilities and considerations that would inform its decision to ally with the Central Powers. It had previously had a notable relationship with the British Empire. Both the British and the French had fought against the Russians - long-term rivals of the Ottomans - during the Crimean War to help preserve Ottoman territory and the balance of power in Europe.

But those relationships had deteriorated over time and the Ottoman Empire had become politically isolated by July 1914. As with other nations like Italy, the Ottomans were also concerned with which potential alliance and outcome might help them secure their ongoing status as a Great Power. This was easier said than done. 

Whilst Mehmed V[www.britannica.com] reigned as Sultan, his powers had been dramatically reduced before the war and the Committee of Union and Progress (CUP)[www.britannica.com] effectively ruled the Ottoman Empire. Although they favoured an alliance[encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net] with Germany, the Germans viewed the Ottomans as a military liability and were not as keen! However, the concern of them instead joining the Triple Entente proved motivation enough to have them secretly join the Central Powers.

Source unknown, but referenced in various academic works

Anger at the Triple Entente increased within the Ottoman Empire when, in early August, the British seized two new dreadnoughts that had been under construction in one of their shipyards that had been ordered and paid for by the Ottomans. Despite this the secrecy of the new alliance held until October when the Ottoman Empire launched an attack on Russian forces in the Black Sea and, as a result, was formally involved in the conflict against the full Triple Entente.

As seen at their entry into the war, the Ottomans were eager to launch early attacks against the Russian Empire and began a, largely unsuccessful, winter campaign against them in the Caucasus. Fighting here would rumble on in various forms for years.

Aside from that it was not entirely clear in what form the war would come to the Empire, if at all. The British and French appeared to be focusing most of their interests on the struggle against Germany on the Western Front. 

However, the British in particular drew a great deal of its oil supplies from Mesopotamia which could now be threatened by the Ottomans. They resolved to secure these oil fields[www.nam.ac.uk] and landed a division of Indian infantry in November 1914. They were immediately surprised by what they found.

The Ottoman Empire was enormous and covered huge swathes of territory. Whilst landmass could be important when it came to Great Power posturing, for the Ottomans it brought some significant problems. Firstly, how could you adequately defend an Empire that covered so much ground? At the start of the war the Ottoman army only numbered around 150,000 men. That was in no way capable of defending all its borders and also launching an attack on the Russians.

Map of Ottoman Empire in 1914, Manatū Taonga — Ministry for Culture and Heritage, https://nzhistory.govt.nz/media/photo/map-ottoman-empire-1914

Within the Ottoman Empire were also a significant number of competing identities and races. There were Turks, Arabs, and - particularly in Mesopotamia - there were various different tribes of Shiite muslims who had no real love for the Empire. The 23,000 Ottoman troops stationed in Mesopotamia by September 1914 were not intended to act as a defence against invasion, but instead to deal with issues along the border of Persia and also keep the local tribes at bay. It was hoped that these same tribes would, in the case of foreign interference, act against the invaders themselves as an irregular force. But this is not what happened.

When the British arrived[encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net] they discovered very little in the way of defences. The Ottoman hope that the local tribes would rally to defend the Empire was largely in vain. Whilst some of the notable tribes would coordinate with the Ottomans most continued to operate independently and seemingly saw no reason to get involved.

National Army Museum, 1966-02-97-31, https://collection.nam.ac.uk/detail.php?acc=1966-02-97-31

So the British, after reinforcing their position, resolved to keep moving forwards and began capturing southern Iraq. Mascat and Oman both fell in short order before Basra was captured on 23 November 1914. This was followed by Qurna, which lay at the joining of the Euphrates and Tigris rivers[www.britannica.com], on 11 December.

National Army Museum, 1987-01-70-33, https://collection.nam.ac.uk/detail.php?acc=1987-01-70-33

Suddenly the upper reaches of the region could be targeted. The British eyed the opportunity to capture Baghdad itself and deliver a serious blow to the Ottomans by compromising their territorial integrity. To reach it though they would have to travel further inland along the Tigris through the town of Kut and, beyond it, the ancient ruins of Ctesiphon.

Realising the danger they were now in, the Ottomans mobilised new forces in the region and prepared to meet them. We will return to the details of these battles in a future post!

Whilst the Mesopotamian Front would prove an ongoing challenge for the Ottoman Empire, the greatest moment of danger was still yet to come. Its roots could be found on the Western Front. The British and French had spent much of the last months of 1914 and early 1915 struggling to find a way through the deadlock of trenches in Belgium and France. 

Assaults had been launched that had cost many lives but shown no real sign of rupturing the German defences. With their territory occupied by the invaders, the French had little interest in sending their infantry reserves anywhere other than the front line. But the British were still in the process of building themselves an army[encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net] and did not necessarily want to destroy it against barbed wire if an alternative could be found. Furthermore, soldiers from their Empire were now being mobilised in greater numbers. What if they could be put to better use than in France? And what of the vaunted Royal Navy[encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net]? It was the major military strength of the British Empire but, in a land war in Europe, had very little opportunity to impose itself.

Australian War Memorial, C02141, https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1012137

The leading members of the Triple Entente did not fully understand how the alliances within the Central Powers worked. They believed that Germany was being supported and maintained by allies like Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire. If one of them could be defeated, it would knock the supports out from under Germany and they would collapse. This was actually completely the wrong way round. Throughout the war it was Germany that was supporting its allies with military equipment and resources. But, if we accept the British and French view, then it makes what comes next make much more sense.

When looking at Germany’s allies, Austria Hungary was effectively out of reach. Though they were fighting against the Russians in Eastern Europe, there was no easy route for British and French forces to intervene there. Whilst Italy would join the war in 1915, they were still neutral at this point. So Austria-Hungary was not a viable target. The Ottoman Empire on the other hand looked much more promising.

A plan was formed that would see the Royal Navy ‘force’ the Dardanelles Straits[www.britannica.com] that separated the Mediterranean from the Sea of Marmara. Beyond them, and across that sea, lay the capital of the Ottoman Empire: Constantinople. If it could be captured, the Ottoman Empire could be knocked clean out of the war. Furthermore a new supply route could be opened up to the Russians as well as a pathway into southern Europe and the supposedly soft underbelly of Austria-Hungary and, more importantly, Germany.

© The Times (Q 109143), https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205351875

The Dardanelles Straits were, however, narrow and the Ottomans had forts on both banks. They had also secretly laid numerous minefields in the region to prevent enemy fleets from pushing through. The initial attempt on 18 March 1915 by the joint British and French navies was a disaster; with three battleships – HMS Irresistible, Bouvet, and HMS Ocean – being sunk and three more – Gaulois, Suffren, and HMS Inflexible – were severely damaged. With no hope of progressing, the Entente forces retreated. 

By Royal Navy - Library of Congress, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=72443

If they were to get through the Straits then the forts in the area would have to be seized or destroyed. To do this would require massed infantry landings at key points along nearby coastlines. Those forces would be required to push in land, capturing key strategic points before eventually overwhelming the fort defences to clear the way for the fleet.

These landings would take place along the Gallipoli peninsula. They would represent the greatest challenge to the Ottoman Empire of the entire war and also become the foundation of modern Australian national identity.

Now that you’re up to speed with the events leading up to Gallipoli, it’s almost time we share a bit more about the game. In the meantime, we'd like to ask you to wishlist Gallipoli if you haven't already! It would truly help us out a lot. Anyways, see you soon!

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