2 ноя 1917 г. - Third Battle of Gaza

Описание:

The Third Battle of Gaza, which occurred on the night of 1–2 November 1917, marked a significant turning point in the Sinai and Palestine Campaign of World War I. This battle was part of a broader offensive strategy by the British Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF) under General Edmund Allenby, aimed at breaking the deadlock that had been established following earlier defeats at Gaza.

Strategic Background and Prelude to the Battle:
Prior to the battle, the town of Gaza had been fortified by the Ottoman forces into a strong defensive position with extensive trenches, wire entanglements, and artillery placements. This made a direct daytime attack nearly impossible. The British forces, having reorganized under Allenby and received reinforcements, began with a series of feints and heavy bombardments to mislead and weaken the Ottoman defenses.

Execution of the Battle:
The actual fighting involved meticulously timed night assaults by the British forces. These attacks began with intense bombardments followed by infantry advances under the cover of darkness. The objective was not to capture Gaza immediately but to pin down the Ottoman forces there while the main British efforts focused on breaking through at Beersheba and other points along the line. Despite the strength of the Ottoman defenses, the preliminary British attacks made significant inroads.

Ottoman Response and Subsequent Actions:
The Ottoman forces, under the command of Kress von Kressenstein and later Erich von Falkenhayn, were well-prepared but ultimately could not withstand the sustained pressure from renewed British attacks and the loss of Beersheba. As British forces continued to apply pressure, including more feints and bombardments, the Ottoman lines began to falter.

Aftermath and Impact:
The capture of Gaza on 7 November followed the successful British advances elsewhere along the front, leading to a full Ottoman retreat. This victory was pivotal in shifting the balance of power in the region, allowing the British to eventually capture Jerusalem and reshape the Middle Eastern theatre of the war.

This battle demonstrated the effectiveness of combined arms tactics and psychological warfare, including the use of feints and heavy artillery. It also highlighted the challenges of static trench warfare and the importance of mobility and surprise in overcoming entrenched positions. The Third Battle of Gaza thus stands out as a crucial episode in the broader context of World War I, showcasing the strategic shift from attrition to maneuver warfare that characterized the later stages of the campaign.

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