86 – Episode 86 Middle East Campaign
When the British Empire withdrew, Rome started talking about ‘honorable peace’. Italy, with internal discontent rising, wanted to end the war immediately.
“Our imperial government also wants the war to end quickly. “Unless you can enter London and plant your flag, isn’t compromise an inevitable choice?”
Austria-Hungary, whose centrality had been weakened by the ascension of Franz Joseph I, also wanted a speedy end to the war.
Both Romania and Bulgaria had enough to fill their bellies, so they sent signals asking if they could end the war soon.
“Kostantiniye also wants to compromise.”
The Ottoman Empire government, which had recently come under intensive attack by the British army, also wanted a compromise.
Everyone except us seemed tired of the war or wanted to take a step back.
Do we still have to compromise?
I couldn’t completely ignore the alliance’s opinions.
Then Falkenhein expressed his opinion.
“How about starting negotiations, but putting out the urgent fire first?”
“If it’s an urgent fire, do you mean Ottoman?”
“Yes. In any case, to maintain bargaining power, the Ottomans must maintain the ability to threaten the Suez and Abadan oil fields.”
It wasn’t wrong.
“In that case, we would have to send quite a few troops, but will the logistics be able to be maintained due to the situation in the Middle East?”
“Is it really necessary to send a ‘big army’?”
“The enemy is a small army. Then the commander must be important.”
I didn’t think there was a suitable candidate, so I asked Falkenhayn.
“Is there any good talent who can play a delayed game?”
“I would recommend General Alexander von Kluck.”
Kluk.
Ah. General of East Prussia twice in a row.
But, that person is your enemy.
“Do you mean to send Marshal Kluck to the Middle East?”
“That’s effective. “A high-ranking commander with the rank of Marshal has arrived, so that in itself will create pressure.”
After hearing it, it was like that.
A marshal has more weight than a captain or superior commander.
“Even so, Commander, how many troops are you going to send? Even if there is deception, shouldn’t there be at least some reinforcements?”
“Two divisions are enough.”
Two? Falkenhayn, is this guy crazy?
Even including the troops previously dispatched, the German Middle East Army barely has more than four divisions.
It feels exactly like the German Afrika Korps during World War II. Considering how Rommel died, I couldn’t understand what he was going to do with an army the size of a chick’s eye.
“Isn’t that a bit harsh?”
“If you keep your opponent in check, this is a sufficient force.”
After hearing it, I realized that it wasn’t wrong.
“Then, please do so.”
I’m not fighting anyway.
Kluk will take care of the frying and frying.
If that fails, speed up the peace negotiations with the UK.
That’s it then.
The stakes were not high, so the burden was less.
“Still, I guess I’ll have to send some squadrons.”
I felt guilty and ordered the Middle East Expeditionary Force to increase its squadron.
*
On April 5, 1917, information was received that a new German commander would appear in the Middle East. MI6 sent this information to Marshal Douglas Haig in Suez.
“The commander of Germany’s Middle East forces is changing?”
“Yes. “I don’t know his name, but the Germans call him General K.”
“Immediately find out who General K is.”
The British immediately activated their entire intelligence network.
Meanwhile, crucial information was obtained from the Turkish capital.
“This information was discovered by our agent working at the Austrian Embassy in Kostantinye. “This is information I found in a trash can, and it says that General K is Alexander von Kluck.”
Hague, who knew the personal details of German generals in his own way, was surprised.
Marshal Kluck was the number one contributor to defeating Russia.
A big man like that went on a business trip to the Middle East?
‘You’re scolded. ‘What kind of whim has this idiot suddenly decided to throw in a large army in the Middle East?’
The Hague requested detailed information from MI6.
Not long after, MI6 released new information.
“German troops will soon arrive in Syria. The size of the reinforcements is unknown, but according to the information received, it does not seem to be that large.”
“Anyway, it’s coming.”
“Your Excellency. If the German army is scheduled to be reinforced, it would be better to start the Arabian operation before that.”
“Our military hasn’t even finished reorganizing yet, so are you going to go on the offensive?”
“If the enemy gets stronger while we take our time, isn’t there any point in regrouping? “Your Excellency, make a decision.”
The Hague hesitated to carry out the operation, but a reminder came from London.
“It would be better to move before the German troops are reinforced.”
“Why do noblemen sitting thousands of kilometers away like interference so much?”
Although Hague felt annoyed, he decided to hasten the offensive.
The elite Anzak Corps, the Thai and Japanese expeditionary forces that had maintained their organization were mobilized for the attack.
The attacking force consisted of 7 divisions in total.
On April 20, 1917, the British Middle East Army departed the Sinai Peninsula and moved south to the Arabian Peninsula. In line with this, Abdul Aziz ibn Saud of the Emirate of Riyadh raised an army and advanced toward Mecca and Medina.
The initial offensive of the Negotiation Army was successful.
Ahmed Izzet Pasha, commanding the Ottoman army, did not correctly understand the intentions of the negotiating forces.
“What they are aiming for is the Holy Land. “We will strengthen the defenses of the Holy Land.”
“Do you mean to protect Medina?”
“No, Mecca is also surrounded. “If traitor Hussein joins the negotiating forces, it will be even more troublesome.”
Hussein of Mecca had an army of 50,000 men and was an opponent that could not be ignored. His drawback was that he had only 10,000 rifles, but he was quickly able to make up for that weakness once he joined the British.
Once the Ottoman army was dispersed to Mecca and Medina, the negotiating forces moved on to the next step.
“Make sure to cut off their supply lines.”
Instead of choosing a direct offensive, Marshal Haig had the Ottoman army cut off its supplies.
The two Ottoman field armies needed up to 500 tons of supplies every day, and it was impossible to transport these supplies by camel.
A railway was needed to maintain logistics, and the British army attacked this railway. As the railway was frequently cut off due to attacks by the cavalry of the Negotiation Army, the Ottoman army began to feel what it was like to wither away on its own soil.
“Pasha. This cannot be done. “We must withdraw from the Holy Land.”
“Nonsense. Don’t you know that if we give up the Holy Land, we Ottomans will no longer be able to represent Islam?”
Nevertheless, Izet Pasha did not back down.
It was obvious that Kostantiniye’s imperial government would not allow a retreat either.
‘If we step back from here, all the Arabs who were paying attention to the empire will rise up. In that case, flying to Syria will be an instant.’
Considering his political reasons, Izet Pasha decided to hold out until the end.
“We also disrupt their supply lines.”
The cavalry was a useless class on the Western Front, but it was different in the desert.
It was impossible to create a ‘front line’ in the endless wasteland, so there was a lot of room for cavalry to operate.
The Ottoman Army had a large number of camel cavalry infiltrate the enemy’s rear.
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“Your Excellency! “The supply convoy was attacked again.”
“Troublesome guys. Transport it by boat.”
The difference between Britain and the Ottomans was their naval power.
When the Ottoman cavalry disturbed their rear, the British army solved the problem with the ignorant method of just dumping supplies onto the sandy coast.
Of course, this also required a lot of effort and material consumption, but this was more certain than not receiving it.
“Pasha. “I don’t think they will back down.”
Even Izet Pasha, who had tenaciously held on even when his soldiers collapsed because they could not drink water, could no longer say a word about holding on any longer. Even though water, food, and ammunition were provided, the serious problem was that there was no hay to feed the camels. Without camels, the field army could not move.
“Retreat.”
Izet Pasha’s Ottoman army quickly began to withdraw.
But the negotiation army had no intention of letting them go gracefully.
Major General Bingham’s British 1st Cavalry Division took the lead in the attack.
“Gentlemen, victory awaits us! Long live His Majesty the King!”
The British cavalry gallantly charged towards the enemy, just like their predecessors during the Crimean War.
As thousands of cavalry rushed in with the sound of horses’ hooves, the Ottoman soldiers, who were exhausted and demoralized, were taken aback.
“Fight back. The opponent is a lowly cavalryman.”
“Ha, but.”
It was not an era where cavalry was invincible like in the past, but the soldiers were overwhelmed by the earth-shattering majesty of cavalry. Some brave soldiers attacked and defeated the British cavalry, but it was not enough to stop the British army’s momentum. With no water to cool the machine guns, the Ottoman infantry was helpless.
The British cavalry instantly crushed the rear of the Ottoman army.
Next to the British cavalry was the Wahhabite Saud army, known for its fanaticism. With the advent of the ruthless Saud Army, the Ottoman army could no longer maintain its organization.
“They are crazy Wahhabis!”
“Send heretics to hell!”
The negotiating army continued to trample on the rear of the Ottoman army, and the soldiers were busy disorganizing their ranks and running away for their lives.
After a terrible chase that lasted about a week, the Ottoman army lost close to 100,000 soldiers.
It was truly a terrible loss, but the damage did not stop there.
“I thought Germany would win and held out, but the Turks are no big deal, right?”
“Hussein’s insight was right.”
“There’s nothing to see. Let’s get up.”
A major rebellion broke out in Syria and the Levant. The Arab enthusiasm that the German Eastern Intelligence Service had worked so hard to calm exploded in an instant.
The uprising army quickly overwhelmed major cities and railways, inflicting damage not only on the retreating Ottoman 2nd and 3rd armies, but also on the 6th army operating in Mesopotamia.
“If we do this well, we can overthrow Osman?”
The British people could not hide their joy at the long-awaited news of victory.
If Osman was defeated, an honorable Ganghwa was not a dream.
“Well, that’s right. “It is impossible for the British Empire to kneel.”
The British people let their hopes run freely.
At the very moment when the Ottomans screamed and were about to collapse, a man arrived in Syria with German troops.
“This is a warmer place than Russia.”
He was the man who brought down Russia.