A SchoolsHistory.org.uk project. Online for testing and editing by participating students. Please excuse any typographical errors, inaccuracies or broken links: or better still, e-mail me and let me know where they are!

The Capture of Baghdad - The First World War - 1917

The operations in the Middle East. A brief background. The British Empire at the outset of the war covered approximately one quarter of the world. The British had a huge interest in the Persian Gulf and Arabia, from where much of the oil used by the British navy came from. The Turks (Ottomans) were allied to the Germans. Their insurgence into Iraq posed a major threat to British supplies and so military operations were necessary to protect access to these important oilfields.

The Capture of Baghdad itself was somewhat of an anticlimax. The British troops had feared fierce resistance and had worried that the defending commander, Khalid, may flood the plains in front of the city. Instead the Turkish commander was indecisive and moved initially to meet the British troops head on and then changed his mind and opted to defend the railway station. This allowed the British to take major defensive positions close to Baghdad quickly without suffering heavy losses. These mistakes led to the defence of Baghdad becoming almost impossible and so Khalid ordered a general retreat. By the time the British entered the city there were only 9000 Turkish troops remaining. They surrendered rather than put up a fight.

The Capture of Baghdad - Links - Firstworldwar.com, 1914-18.net, Royal Regiment of Wales

Read about other events in the Middle East.