The Crimean War
AS History Unit 2
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- Created by: Romily Parker
- Created on: 12-01-11 22:16
Why?
- Russophobia
- Russia's empire expanding east
- Britain worried about Indian influences
- Russia wanted Turkish Empire and Black Sea exits
- France's relationship with Russia poor due to dispute concerning Catholic and Orthodox Monks
- Battle of Sinope Nov. 1853- Russia destroyed a Turkish fleet
- Tsar ordered troops into Moldavia and Wallachia
- 5th April 1854- Brit troops arrived
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How did the war begin?
- By Mid May, C-in-C Lord Raglan ordered Anglo-French troops sail to Varna
- Mid-June Russian troops retreating
- War could have ended here as Russia no longer threat to Turks
- Yet, Britain and France convinced they should take Sebastopol
- War popular amongst public, wanted its continuation
- 23rd June- Brit government ordered Lord Raglan to invade the Crimea
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Battle of Alma
- 19th Sept.- Brit soldiers began to march towards Sebostapol
- Russian Commander decided not to attack until allied forces reach River Alma
- Russian troops had higher ground
- French Commander and Raglan discussed strategy but language differences caused problems
- Despite this, Allies successful
- 6000 Russian casualties, 600 French, 2000 British
- Road to Sebastopol now lay open
- Allied Commanders decided to march around city to secure bases at Balaclava
- This gave time for Russia to build up defences
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Battle of Balaclava
- Russians tried to cut off British supply base at Balaclava
- 25th October- Russian cavalry stopped by 93rd Highlanders
- Campbell had oredered his men to stand in one line, two men deep (thin red line)
- Russians then routed by Lucan's heavy cavalry brigade, driving them back
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Charge of the Light Brigade
- Lord Ragaln ordered Lucan to stop Russians from removing captured cannons
- Commanders confused by Nolan's explanation
- Consequently, Light Brigade sent up wrong valley into hands of Russians
- Resulted in approx 400 Brit deaths
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Battle of Inkerman
- 5th Nov, Russians launched attack at Inkerman
- Very confused battle
- Litttle Command (the soldiers' battle)
- Both sides suffered heavy casualties
- Russian's driven off
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Russian Winter
- Brit and France not prepared for conditions- worst Jan 1855
- Lack of food, clothing and poor accomodation
- Size of army gradually diminishing
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Impact of War Reports
- Russel gave graphic discriptions
- Undermined Government and military leaders such as Raglan
- End of Nov. The Times launched campaign to bring military mismanagement to public attention
- Campaing successful and following a vote of no confidence PM Aberdeen replaced by PM Palmerston
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Troops and their supplies
- Brit army struggles to keep troops with sufficient supplies
- Balaclava so small only few ships could dock at a time
- Road from harbour to camp almost impassable
- Horses stuggled with snow
- Lack of shelter and transport
- Lord Cardigan refused to let camp be moved closer to Balaclava- would be easier
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The Great Storm
- Hit Russia in winter 1854-5
- Britain saw its tents, hospitals and barracks be ripped apart and supplies destroyed
- Many ships sank including Prince holding almost all clothing ordered
- Ships holding horse fodder sank making transport more difficult
- Harbour Master- Captain Chrissie blamed for not allowing more ships in when there was space
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Improvements by Spring
- The Times Crimea fund helped raise finances some from Queen
- Turkish labour employed for construction work
- Railway completed from Balaclava
- Transport borrowed from french and mules from spanish
- Food provided by Malta and France
- Sport organised in the camps
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Sanitation
- Medics had difficulty providing clean water and sanitation
- Caused diseases
- Lead to lice, infection, dysentery and chloera in hospitals
- Brits suffered 18,058 casualties during the war, approx 16,000 from disease
- Winter 1854-5 1/3 of soldiers died
- Men left in corridoors
- Communication poor and supplies lost
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The Sanitary Commission
- Sent out to assess conditions at Scutari
- Made improvements leading to significant reduction in death rates
- Discovered Scutari hospital was positioned above cesspool
- Cesspool dug out and drained
- Death rate reduced from 42 per 1000 in March 1855 to 2 per 1000 in June
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Peace of Paris
- Following bad losses at the Battle of Redan, the French captured Fort Malakov forcing Russians to evacuate Sevastopol
- Peace of Paris signed 30th March 1856
Treaty terms:
- Black Sea neutralised
- Russia forced to scrap Black Sea Fleet and demolish Sevastopol fortifications
- Moldovia and Wallachia gained autonomy within Turkish Empire
- River Danube made international waterway
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Cardwell Army Reforms
- Gladestone made PM 1856
- Military departments accumulated to become war office
- Country divided into local districts with 2 battalions- one overseas
- Overseas service cut from 12 to 6 years
- Purchase of commissions abolished
- C-in-C resonsible to S-F-W and parliament
- Floggings of soldiers in peacetime forbidden
- Soldiers can spend time in reserves as long as they train annually and available in emergencies
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