Professional Documents
Culture Documents
1.1.
Context:
VS.
A) Fighting between the Russians and the Ottomans started in the southern Danube region of Europe in 1853. B) Britain and France got involved in 1854 after the Russians sunk the Ottoman fleet in the Black Sea at Sinope. C) The British and French fought the Russians in the Crimea, a region of Russia on the Black Sea.
Causes:
Was expanding rapidly - both Britain and France felt threatened by this Wanted control of the mediterranean to have access to the world's seas and trade Wanted ice free ports Tsar Nicholas I wanted to "carve up" the Ottoman Empire, taking most of, if not all, of it for Russia saw the Ottoman Empire as weak and likely to collapse Also wanted to "protect the interests" of Greek Orthodox Christians in the Ottoman Empire - it was predominantly Islamic Felt threatened by Russia's expansion: Felt that their interests in India were threatened by the Russian advance through Afghanistan Were afraid of losing their short, overland trade route to India if the Russians gained control of the med: therefore, wanted to prevent the collapse of the Ottoman Empire/Russia taking control of the black sea
Russian Empire
The Sultan refused the demands of Prince Menshikov The Sultan also refused the comprimise drawn up by Austria to resolve conflict The Sultan declared war on Russia assuming British and French aid
France
There was a dispute over who held the keys to the Church of the Holy Speulchre French backed the Catholic monks, Russians wanted the orthodox christians to hold the power French also afraid of Russian expansionism Eventually the Sultan chose the catholics, which aligned the French and British against the Russians France was desperate for military glory and revenge for its defeat at the hands of Russia in 1812
Religious dispute
Event
The Battle of Sinope The start of the invasion of the Crimea The Battle of Alma The start of the Siege of Sevastopol The Battle of Balaclava The Thin Red Line
Details
Russia sank Ottoman ships at Sinope in the Black Sea 60,000 British and French troops arrived backed by a small Ottoman contingent: the key target was the Russian naval base of Sevastopol The British and French defeated Russian forces at the Alma River near Sevastopol The first British and French bombardment of the city started on 17th October Desperate to break the siege, the Russians advanced on the British supply base at Balaclava with 25K men During the Battle of Balaclava, the 93rd Highlanders held the line against a larger force of advancing Russians A controversial British attack on Russian forces by the Light Brigade during the Battle of Balaclava An unsuccessful Russian attack on British forces near Sevastopol A storm near Balaclava devastated British supplies British troops faces problems of inadequate supplies and shelter The Russians evacuated Sevastopol, the British and French finally attained their target British, French and Ottoman victory Russian regained the land that had been occupied, the Black Sea was neutralised
25 Oct 1854 5 Nov 1854 14 Nov 1854 Jan-Mar 1855 9 Sep 1855 29 Feb 1856 30 Mar 1856
The Charge of the Light Brigade The Battle of Inkerman The Great Storm A harsh winter in the Crimea The end of the siege of Sevastopol Armistice in the Crimea The Treaty of Paris
1.2.
A) The Crimean War was the first war in which newspapers deployed war reporters as eyewitnesses on the ground. B) War reporting had an enormous impact on Britain: new technology such as the telegraph meant that reports could reach Britain rapidly.
C) Following Russells reports on problems with medical supplies in the Crimea, The Times established a Crimea fund in October 1854 to raise money to send supplies to the Crimea. Over 7,000 was raised. D) Russells reports provide valuable information about the conduct of the Crimean War. Not all of his reports are entirely reliable, however: a. After 25 November, 1854, Russell was part of a deliberate campaign ordered by The Times editor, John Delane, to undermine and attack Lord Raglan, Commander-inChief of the British Army. b. Russell did not witness all of the events he described in the Crimea in the winter of 1854-55 as he spent the winter in Constantinople and relied on unnamed informants. c. He was notoriously anti-Turk and anti-French, which could have warped some of his reporting to favour the Britishs involvement.
1.3.
A) Remembered as having brave, heroic soldiers badly led by blundering aristocratic officers. B) Events such as the Thin Red Line and The Charge of the Light Brigade became very famous, being painted extensively.
Lord Raglan
Commander-in-Chief of the British Army during the Crimean War. He died in the Crimea in June 1855 Commander of the Cavalry Division which included the Heavy Brigade and the Light Brigade Commander of the Light Brigade
The Earl of Lucan (Lord Lucan) The Earl of Cardigan (Lord Cardigan)
The Charge of the Light Brigade
A) Lord Raglan issued a hurried and poorly explained order to Lord Lucan to charge at the Russian guns. B) Lord Raglan intended Lucan to focus on retaking British guns that the Russians had taken on Causeway Heights. C) His orders were vague, however, and Captain Nolan was not able to clarify the order properly to Lucan. D) Lucan charged and mistakenly led the Brigade down a valley where they were surrounded by Russian forces that attacked from high ground. E) The event has gone down as a disastrous military blunder as well as an example of heroism: a. 113/661 killed, 134/661 wounded, 45/661 imprisoned b. Russian statistic similar c. Only saved from complete destruction by French charge
d. Russells accounts depicted it as a tragedy and example of incompetency of aristocratic officers e. Tennysons poem reinforced it as an example of British heroism of soldiers
1.4.
C) She bought supplies using the Crimea Fund independently from military authorities. D) In the 19th C., she was idolised a Lady with the Lamp/ministering angel. E) In the 20th C., Historians questioned her reputation and she was criticised for the treatment of her nurses and for not doing more to improve sanitation at Scutari.
C) The Commission arrived in March 1855 and identified key problems with ventilation and sanitation. D) They recognised what Nightingale had not, that the entire sanitation system was inadequate and ordered structural works to rectify this. E) Mortality rates dropped after this and were as low as 5.2% in May 1855. F) They also moved on to improve sanitary conditions in Balaclava.
1.5.
Lord Cardigan
Initially perceived as a hero as he charged ahead of his troops at TCOTLB He was late accused of deserting the Brigade And incompetence in distributing provisions in Balaclava He unsuccessfully sued an author who said he performed badly in the Charge
Lord Lucan
Received mostt blame for TCOTLB, accused of implementing and order which was obviously senseless or failing to get proper clarification for it
Lord Raglan
Died in the Crimea in June 1855, was held responsibile for many of teh problems with leadership and organisation during the Crimean campaign
1.6.
Army Reforms
A) The Victoria Cross established in 1856: a. 111 Crimean War soldiers awarded the cross in 1857 b. It embodied the new, more meritocratic approach to the British Army as any rank could receive it. B) 1855, Sir John McNeill and Col. Alexander Tulloch went to the Crimea to investigate the provision and distribution of supplies. The exposed civilian and military mismanagement. C) Partly as a result of the McNeill-Tulloch report, Lord Cardwell, War Minister 1868-71, introduced a set of army reforms.
The country was divided into local regimental districts and each area had two batallions. One stayed at home to train, one to be sent overseas
Conditions for ordinary soldiers improved: overseas service reduced from 12 years to 6, pay increased and glogging abolished in peacetime
Structure of army was simplified and united under one office: the War Office
D) These reforms were a serious attack on inefficiency and aristocratic privileged in the army. E) They had limitations, however: a. b. c. d. Entrenched interests in the army resisted these reforms No General Staff engaged into military planning Artillery not modernised 35K reserve forces not adequate for fighting a European war