Views
60
Downloands
25
I. Dünya Savaşı’nın Türkiye açısından askeri tarihi incelendiğinde İtilaf güçlerinin, İzmir ve çevresini, hem savaş gemileri hem de savaş uçakları ile birçok kez bombardımana tabii tuttukları görülecektir. Bu bombalamaların ilki 5 Mart 1915 tarihinde, Çanakkale Deniz Harekâtı’nın hemen öncesinde, çoğunluğu İngiliz savaş gemilerince gerçekleştirilmiştir. İngiliz Amirallik Dairesi tarafından planlanan bu harekâtı yürütmek için, Suriye kıyılarında bulunan, Euryalus adlı sancak gemisi komodoru Amiral Peirse, 2 Mart 1915’de görevlendirilmiştir. Bu görev için Çanakkale açıklarından İzmir kıyılarına gelecek olan iki adet İngiliz savaş gemisi ile birlikte üç savaş gemisi ile hareket etmesi söz konusu olacak olan Amiral Peirse’ın hedefleri İzmir Limanı ve çevresidir. İngiliz donanmasının İzmir Bombardımanı Harekâtını gerçekleştirilmesinde üç amacı olduğu söylenebilir. Bunların ilki İzmir Limanı’nı, Osmanlı deniz gücü (özellikle denizaltıları) için kullanılmaz hale getirmektir. Bu sayede Çanakkale Boğazı harekâtından önce cephenin arka tarafından gelebilecek bir saldırıya karşı önlem alınmış olacaktır. İkinci amaç ise XIX. yüzyılın ortalarından beri Doğu Akdeniz’in önemli ticari merkezlerinin başında gelen, özellikle ihracat limanı olarak Osmanlı ekonomisine artı değer üreten bir merkez olan İzmir’in ekonomisine darbe vurmaktır. Üçüncü amaç ise psikolojik harekâttır. Bombardımanın yoğunluğuna bakıldığında burada İngilizlerin asıl amacının İzmir’i işgal etmek değil, İzmirlileri aynı zamanda psikolojik olarak olumsuz şekilde etkilenmelerini sağlamaktır. Bombardıman 9 Mart gününe kadar sürmüştür. Harekâtın sonunda Amiral Pierse, İzmir Valiliği ile temasa geçerek İzmir’deki Osmanlı askeri savunma tesislerin tamamen tahribini ve limanın kendilerine teslim edilmesini talep etmişlerse de dönemin İzmir Valisi Rahmi Bey bu istekleri reddetmiştir. Bu reddedişe rağmen İngilizler bu taleplerde çok da ısrarcı olmadan çekilmişler ve asıl hedefleri olan Çanakkale harekâtına ağırlık vermişlerdir.
When the military history of Turkey in World War I is studied it can be seen that Izmir and its surroundings were subjected to bombings many times by both battleships and warplanes of Allied forces. The first bombing had been done just before Dardanelles Campaign by the majority of English Battleships on March 5th, 1915. On March 2nd 1915 Admiral Peirse, the Commodore of the flagship Euryalus that was located on the shores of Syria, was assigned to carry out this mission planned by the British Admiralty Office. For this task two other British Battleships coming to Izmir shores from Gallipoli would join Admiral Peirse's command. These three battleships' target were Port of Izmir and its surroundings. It can be stated that the British Navy's bombing of Izmir had three objectives. First was to make sure the port of Izmir becomes nonfunctioning for the Ottoman Naval Forces, especially for submarines. By doing so any attacks coming from the rear of the front before the Dardanelles Operation would be prevented. The second goal was to strike a blow to the economy of Izmir which had been one of the most important commercial centers in the Eastern Mediterranean producing surplus for the Ottoman economy as an export port since the mid-19th century. The third objective is in the form of psychological operations. Considering the intensity of the bombardment the main purpose of the British was not to occupy Izmir but to lower the morality of its residents. The Bombardment lasted until March 9th. At the end of the operation Admiral Peirse contacted Governor of Izmir, Mr. Rahmi, and requested for Ottoman military defense facilities to be destroyed and Port of Izmir to be handed over. Even though all these requests were rejected by Governor Rahmi Mr the British retreated without being too persistent on their demands and concentrated on their main objective which was the Dardanelles campaign.
When military history of Turkey in World War I is studied it can be seen that Izmir and its surroundings were subjected to bombings many times by both battleships and warplanes of Allied forces. The first bombing had been done just before Dardanelles Campaign by the majority of English Battleships on March 5th, 1915. On March 2nd 1915 Admiral Peirse, the Commodore of the flagship Euryalus that was located on the shores of Syria, was assigned to carry out this mission planned by the British Admiralty Office. For this task two other British Battleships coming to Izmir shores from Gallipoli would join Admiral Peirse’s command. These three battleships’ target were Port of Izmir and its surroundings. It can be stated that The British Navy’s bombardment of Izmir had three objectives. First was to make sure the port of Izmir becomes nonfunctioning for Ottoman Naval Forces, especially for submarines. By doing so any attacks coming from the rear of the front before the Dardanelles Operation would be prevented. The second objective was to strike a blow to the economy of Izmir which had been one of the most important commercial centers in the Eastern Mediterranean producing surplus for the Ottoman economy as an export port since the mid-19th century. The third objective is in the form of psychological operations. Considering the intensity of the bombardment the main purpose of the British was not to occupy Izmir but to lower the morale of its residents. The Bombardment lasted until March 9th. At the end of the operation Admiral Peirse contacted Governor of Izmir, Rahmi Bey, and requested for Ottoman military defense facilities to be destroyed and Port of Izmir to be handed over. Even though all these requests were rejected by Governor Rahmi Bey the British retreated without being too persistent on their demands and concentrated on their main objective which was the Dardanelles campaign.
Field : Sosyal, Beşeri ve İdari Bilimler
Journal Type : Ulusal
Article Detail 
Similar Articles
Download PDF
Journal Information
Listen Paper
Cite
Print This Page
Share
Mendeley
