In 1915, Australian and New Zealand soldiers formed part of an Allied expedition that set out to capture the Gallipoli Peninsula in the Ottoman Empire to open the way to the Black Sea for the Allied navies. The objective was to capture Constantinople, the capital of the Ottoman Empire, which was a member of the Central Powers during the war. The ANZAC force landed at Gallipoli on 25 April, meeting fierce resistance from the Ottoman Army commanded by Mustafa Kemal (later known as Atatürk). What had been planned as a bold strike to knock the Ottomans out of the war quickly became a stalemate, and the campaign dragged on for eight months. At the end of 1915, the Allied forces were evacuated after both sides had suffered heavy casualties and endured great hardships. The Allied deaths totalled over 56,000, including 8,709 from Australia and 2,721 from New Zealand. News of the landing at Gallipoli made a profound impact on Australians and New Zealanders at home and 25 April quickly became the day on which they remembered the sacrifice of those who had died in the war.
in 1915 australian and new zealand soldiers formed part of an allied expedition that set out to capture the gallipoli peninsula in the ottoman empire to open the way to the black sea for the allied navies the objective was to capture constantinople the capital of the ottoman empire which was a member of the central powers during the war the anzac force landed at gallipoli on 25 april meeting fierce resistance from the ottoman army commanded by mustafa kemal (later known as atatürk) what had been planned as a bold strike to knock the ottomans out of the war quickly became a stalemate and the campaign dragged on for eight months at the end of 1915 the allied forces were evacuated after both sides had suffered heavy casualties and endured great hardships the allied deaths totalled over 56000 including 8709 from australia and 2721 from new zealand news of the landing at gallipoli made a profound impact on australians and new zealanders at home and 25 april quickly became the day on which they remembered the sacrifice of those who had died in the war