Victory at Gallipoli, 1915 by Klaus Wolf

Author:Klaus Wolf
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: History / Military / World war I
Publisher: Pen and Sword Military
Published: 2020-04-29T00:00:00+00:00

The ADC to von Sanders, Mühlmann, described the subsequent measures:

At 06.00 hrs on the 28th, I was hastily summoned to S [von Sanders], who, in contrast to the previous day’s intelligence, had just received a new communication that the enemy had been greatly reinforced at Arı Burnu & Seddulbahr, [and] reinforcements were therefore necessary. As a result, not only the 7th but also the 5th Div were to be brought up via Maidos. I should immediately go to Sodenstern & provide practical assistance to the troops to be shipped via Gelibolu, as well as the appropriate occupation of the Bulair position.’363

The units of the Turkish 5th and 7th Divisions, which had arrived by boat in Maidos, had been ordered by Essad Paşa, on the morning of 26 April, to join the Southern Group near Seddulbahr, where they were incorporated as reinforcements. Of the remaining units of the 5th Division, some smaller elements had to be transferred to Ari Burnu to reinforce the 19th Division there. Of course, given the fragmentation of forces, operations such as counter-attacks or relieving larger formations were difficult to carry out. Within only a few days four divisions had been merged, as was the 11th Division later, which had been brought over from the Asiatic side: this was a situation that was also heavily criticised by Mühlmann:

‘Unfortunately, the operation against Seddulbahr came out of the fear that the enemy would daily reinforce himself at Seddulbahr and increasingly gain a firm foothold. All possible troop units hastily rushed from different divisions arrived here, usually without kit, to be led into battle, despite several days of transportation & tiring marches, and lacking knowledge of the terrain.’364

Von Sanders now saw the need to reinforce the forces of the Fifth Army as a whole and reported this to Istanbul. Along with his request for reinforcements, he also asked Enver to send him German officers; among others, he urgently asked for the assignment of Colonel Kannengiesser: ‘To Enver Pasha. Please send Colonel Kannengiesser immediately to take over command of the southern portion of the Gallipoli Peninsula. Signed, Liman von Sanders, 26.4.15.’365

At first Kannengiesser was to take command of the newly formed Southern Group; but then von Sanders obviously decided differently. Kannengiesser described the moment when he reported to von Sanders on 29 April and his disappointment is more than clear:

‘Events always happen, however, quite differently to what one has anticipated. I was almost immediately to experience this again. Directly after we had made fast before the town of Gallipoli I reported to the Marshal, who explained that I had to take over the 5th Division in place of Col. von Sodenstern, who had already taken the position allotted to me as commander of the South Front. It had taken me longer than G.H.Q. had expected to come from Constantinople, although I had lost no time.’366

The surprises continued for Kannengiesser. When he wanted to take over his intended 5th Division, units of which had meanwhile been relocated from Bulair to the Ari

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