"but some reading of WWI history has opened my eyes to what a close run thing the Gallipoli campaign actually was for the British and what a narrow escape from disaster for the Turks. If things had gone only a little differently at the beginning of the operation, it would be seen today as a daring, bold attack worthy of Alexander or Napoleon." - Only initially, problem lay with Enver's earlier decisions which was quickly rectified. Furthermore you also have realised officers of the Ottoman military weren't backward yokels but were trained according to Prussian standards, officers like Mustapha Kemal and Mukhtar attended the Prussian war academy and this is also bearing in mind the Ottomans were fighting a war on 5 different fronts. There's an excellent book on the Ottoman military during World War called 'Ordered to Die' by Erick. J. Erickson. For me what was so peculiar about the Ottoman military is that by 1917 the Turks had outlasted the Russians, were more effective then the Austrians and had brilliantly outmanoevred the British army in Kut.
"but some reading of WWI history has opened my eyes to what a close run thing the Gallipoli campaign actually was for the British and what a narrow escape from disaster for the Turks. If things had gone only a little differently at the beginning of the operation, it would be seen today as a daring, bold attack worthy of Alexander or Napoleon." - Only initially, problem lay with Enver's earlier decisions which was quickly rectified. Furthermore you also have realised officers of the Ottoman military weren't backward yokels but were trained according to Prussian standards, officers like Mustapha Kemal and Mukhtar attended the Prussian war academy and this is also bearing in mind the Ottomans were fighting a war on 5 different fronts. There's an excellent book on the Ottoman military during World War called 'Ordered to Die' by Erick. J. Erickson. For me what was so peculiar about the Ottoman military is that by 1917 the Turks had outlasted the Russians, were more effective then the Austrians and had brilliantly outmanoevred the British army in Kut.