Binding: Hardcover
Description: The failed naval offensive to force a passage through the Straits of the Dardanelles in 1915 drove Winston Churchill from office in disgrace and nearly destroyed his political career. For over a century the Dardanelles campaign has been mired in myth and controversy. For some it was a brilliant concept that might have dramatically shortened the First World War and saved millions of lives. For others it was fundamentally misconceived and doomed to fail. Churchill is either the hero of the story or the villain. Drawing on a wide range of original documents Christopher M. Bell shows that both perspectives are flawed. Bell provides a detailed and authoritative account of the campaigns origins and execution explaining why the naval attack was launched why it failed and how it was transformed into an even more disastrous campaign on the Gallipoli peninsula. He untangles Churchills complicated relationship with Britains admirals politicians and senior civil servants and uncovers the machinations behind the bitter press campaign in 1915 to drive him from power. The book goes on to explore the origins of the myths surrounding the ill - fated campaign. It provides the first full account of Churchills tireless efforts in the decades after 1915 to refute his legion of critics and convince the public that the Dardanelles campaign had nearly succeeded. Largely by his own exertions Churchill ensured that the legacy of the Dardanelles would not stop him becoming Prime Minister in 1940.
Title: Churchill And The Dardanelles
Author(s): Bell Christopher M. (Professor Of History Dalhousie University)
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Barcode: 9780198702542
Pages: 458 Pages, 17 Black & White Illustrations
Publication Date: 5/1/2017
Category: Naval Forces & Warfare