Unit 35.2 - The British experience of warfare, c1790-1918
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Summary British War - Crimean War
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Unit 35.2 - The British experience of warfare, c1790-1918
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PEARSON (PEARSON)
Written by a Cambridge Law student with an A* at history A-level.
Outlines the background of the Crimean War, the successes and failures of the British forces. This includes a strategic view in battles such as the siege of Sevastopol, assault on the Great Redan, Battle of Alma and the Battle of...
Unit 35.2 - The British experience of warfare, c1790-1918
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CRIMEAN WAR
Background
Treaty of Vienna 1815 resulted in four decades of peace
But Ottoman Empire struggling by mid 19th century Russia tried to take advantage +
focus on Balkans
Britain worried of Russian control over Constantinople (Istanbul) as it would allow it to
gain access to Straits of the Mediterranean, which Britain controlled
France (under Emperor Napoleon III, Bonaparte’s nephew) wanted to destroy 1815
peace settlement (designed to keep it under control) but Russia principle supporter
of this settlement so France needed to cause trouble
Britain sends fleet into the Dardanelles in June 1853 as gesture of support to Ottomans
War erupts October 1853 between Russia + Ottomans and Ottomans suffer crushing
naval defeat in Nov 1853
France and Britain side with Ottoman Empire in March 1854 (Britain to stop Russian
expansion + France to break free of treaty)
July 1854, Russia removes its troops from Moldovia + Wallachia after Austria threatens
war ends Balkan issue
Austria proposes four points to end war:
- Russia renounces rights to Serbia, Moldavia + Wallachia (who would be protected by
European powers)
- Danube free of all commerce
- 1841 Straits Convention (banned warships going through straits) would be revised in
the ‘interest of the balance of power’ (ending Russian naval domination of the Black
sea)
- Christian subjects of Ottoman Empire would be placed under general European (not
Russian) protection
Accepted by France + Britain but rejected by Russia Sep 1854 + war continues
British + French soldiers landed at Bulgaria to lift siege but Russian troops already
withdrawing
British high command (eg secretary of state) wanted to strike a blow to Russia (worried
about growing power) convinced Lord Raglan (head of British Expeditionary Force +
reserved/weak leader) to attack Crimean port of Sevastopol
, Successes
By spring 1855 conditions had improved
- No longer cold + warm clothes brought in through naval supply
- More troops, horses, guns + ammunition arrived
- Railway linking supply port at balaclava to camps around Sevastopol constructed
Initial allied attack of Sevastopol in June 1855 fairly well organised
- During first offensive in early June, two pronged Allied attack (one British one
French) very successful, with French taking Mamelon fort + British taking Malakoff +
holding gains in face of heavy Russian counterattacks
- Allied troops defeated Russian forces at Battle of Chernaya Aug 1855 (Russians took
nearly five times as many casualties + only a matter of time before Russian army
forced to surrender Sevastopol)
Failures
Strategic
Assumption that Sevastopol would fall quickly after concerted attack resulted in a lack of
preparation for long siege by leadership
- Troops initially forced to wait three weeks outside Sevastopol for siege equipment to
arrive from Varna (~500 km away from Sevastopol) due to lack of coordination and
preparation by leadership to transport them at the same time, in which time sickness
mounted among troops only 16,000 fit men by end of October
Despite Allied troops suffering terribly at hands of incredibly harsh winter (cold,
starvation, disease etc) 1854-55 Raglan refused to retreat to port at Balaclava to
resupply (as it would give Russians chance to resupply Sevastopol) but also refused to
sanction an all out assault, which resulted in prolonged stale mate
During assault on Great Redan early Sep 1855, British forces forced to withdraw due to
low ammunition in face of Russian counterattack, showing disorganisation of those in
command as did not supply troops with enough + also could not properly conserve it
during battle
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