A child soldier guarding the Dardanelles, points to a sinking folded paper boat. He stands on the northern, European side; a Turkish flag flies on the southern, Asian side. He wears a Turkish fez and what may be a German naval blouse. German officers, sailors, and artillery crews supplemented the Turkish defenders of the Dardanelles. On March 18, 1915, the Turks sank or badly damaged some of the French and British warships trying to break through to Constantinople, leading the Allies to end their attempt to force the Dardanelles.

Dardanellenwacht



Kriwub



Dardanelles Watch



Reverse:

Verlag Novitas, G.m.B.H., Berlin SW 68

Logo; No. 256



Message postmarked August 21, 1916

Other views: Larger, Back

Friday, March 19, 1915

"Friday, March 19, 1915

The Allied squadrons met with a reverse yesterday during a general attack on the forts which command the entrance to the Dardanelles. The French cruise Bouvet struck a floating mine; the battleship Gaulois was put out of action, and two English battleships, Irresistible and Ocean, were sunk."

Quotation Context

Entry from the memoirs of Maurice Paléologue, the French Ambassador in Russia, recording the results of an Anglo-French fleet's attempt to force the Dardanelles. Reopening the Dardanelles — closed by Turkey in September 1914 — was crucial to providing Russia the supplies she needed for her war effort. Both Britain and France had already agreed to Russia's demand for control of Constantinople after Turkey had been defeated. Unwilling to sacrifice more ships to the naval assault, the Allies would instead offer up men. Plans for invading the Gallipoli Peninsula began in earnest.

Source

An Ambassador's Memoirs Vol. I by Maurice Paléologue, page 306, publisher: George H. Doran Company, publication date: 1925

Tags

Bouvet, sinking of Bouvet, 1915-03-19, 1915, March, The Allied naval campaign in the Dardanelles