Battle of Nazareth
Battle of Nazareth | |||||||
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Part of the Middle Eastern theatre of World War I | |||||||
British Empire cavalry at Mary's Well, Nazareth | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Ottoman Empire German Empire | |||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Fevzi Pasha Otto Liman von Sanders | |||||||
Units involved | |||||||
5th Cavalry Division 13th Cavalry Brigade | Yildirim Army Group |
The Battle of Nazareth began on 20 September 1918, during the
The
The 5th Cavalry Division had been assigned the task of capturing Nazareth, which was the site of the General Headquarters of the
Background
Following the
By the afternoon of 19 September, it was clear that the breakthrough attacks in the Battle of Sharon by the
Deployment
The Desert Mounted Corps, commanded by Chauvel, consisted of the 4th and 5th Cavalry, the Australian Mounted Divisions, less the 5th Light Horse Brigade temporarily attached to the infantry
Each of the three divisions was made up of three brigades, each with three regiments. The 4th and 5th Cavalry Divisions which had transferred from France, consisted of one British yeomanry regiment and two
By 17 September the Desert Mounted Corps's leading division, the 5th Cavalry Division, was deployed north-west of Sarona 8 miles (13 km) from the front line. Ready to follow; the 4th Cavalry Division was located in orange groves to the east of Sarona, 10 miles (16 km) from the front, and the Australian Mounted Division was in reserve near Ramleh and Ludd 17 miles (27 km) from the front line.[9][10] All movement had been restricted to night time culminating in a general move forwards on the night of 18/19 September when the 4th and 5th Cavalry Divisions moved to a position close behind the infantry, while the Australian Mounted Division moved forward to Sarona. The three cavalry divisions concentrated with their supplies carried in massed horse-drawn transport and on long trains of camels.[11][12] The divisions carried one iron ration and two days' special emergency rations for each man, and 21 pounds (9.5 kg) of grain for each horse, all of which were carried on the horses, with an additional day's grain for the horses carried on the first line transport in limbered wagons.[13]
Desert Mounted Corps objectives
The cavalry divisions were to ride northwards up the coastal Plain of Sharon, then eastwards over the Mount Carmel Range and onto the Esdraelon Plain (also known as the Jezreel Valley and the plain of Armageddon), to block the line of retreat of the Ottoman Seventh and Eighth Armies fighting the XX and XXI Corps in the Judean Hills.[14] If the Esdraelon Plain could be quickly captured, while the two Ottoman armies continued fighting the British Empire infantry, the lines of retreat by railway and road could be cut.[15] The success of this plan depended on a rapid advance to simultaneously almost encircle the Seventh and Eighth Armies in the Judean Hills and capture Liman von Sanders and the Yilderim Army Group general headquarters.[3][4][16] Further, in order to consolidate their success, the cavalry would be required to hold these places for some time. Operating many miles from their base, they would be dependent on rations being quickly and efficiently transported forward from base.[15]
Esdraelon Plain
The lines of supply for the two Ottoman armies fighting in the Judean Hills depended on the main road and railway networks which crossed the Esdraelon Plain. (See Falls Map 21 Cavalry advances detail below)[17][18] The plain stretches from Lejjun. in the west, 10 miles (16 km) to the white houses of Nazareth in the foothills of the Galilean Hills in the north, to Afulah in the centre of the plain and on to Beisan on its eastern edge close to the Jordan River, and to Jenin on its south edge at the foot of the Judean Hills.[19]
The main route from the Plain of Sharon to the Esdrealon Plain was across the
Prelude
According to Woodward, "concentration, surprise, and speed were key elements in the blitzkrieg warfare planned by Allenby."[24][Note 2] Success at the Battle of Megiddo depended on an intense British Empire artillery barrage covering a successful attack on the front line by infantry who were required to also drive a gap in the front line. The gap was required for the cavalry to advance quickly to the Esdraelon Plain, 50 miles (80 km) behind the Ottoman front line, during the first day of battle. The Royal Air Force (RAF) and Australian Flying Corps (AFC) were required to win control of the skies by destroying or dominating German aircraft activity and reconnaissances. These two flying arms carried out constant bombing raids on Afulah and the Seventh and Eighth Army headquarters at Tulkarm and Nablus respectively to cut communications with Liman von Sanders at Nazareth.[15][25]
Desert Mounted Corps advance
During the initial cavalry advance up the coastal
5th Cavalry Division
The 5th Cavalry Division consisted of the 13th, 14th and 15th Cavalry Brigades, Essex and Nottinghamshire Batteries, Royal Horse Artillery, 5th Field Squadron,
By 10:00 the rest of the division had passed Nahr el Faliq. Although the division had been ordered to avoid conflict until they reached the entrenched line near
The entrenched Ottoman position at Liktera was garrisoned by the Eighth Army Depot Regiment. It stretched from about Jelameh, through El Mejdel and Liktera, to the sea near the mouth of
The divisions rested here when the men, horses and several hundred Ottoman prisoners were watered and fed.
Approach to Nazareth
The 13th and 14th Cavalry Brigades, commanded by Brigadier Generals Kelly and Clarke respectively, successfully rode through the Abu Shusheh Pass during the night of 19/20 September without incident.[38][39] The 18th Lancers, 13th Cavalry Brigade, had taken the vanguard from the 9th Hodson's Horse, advancing north along Napoleon's route to Ez Zerganiya 3.5 miles (5.6 km) north-west of Kerkur to the Wadi Qudrah, which they followed north of Subbarin village. They turned east to enter the Abu Shusheh Pass, moving in single file for most of the way along the rough, narrow track following the Wadi el Fuwar to J'ara on the northern side of the watershed at 01:00 on 20 September. Two squadrons of the 9th Hodson's Horse were deployed at J'ara in a rearguard position to defend the pass from an attack from Haifa. The front of the long column reached Abu Shusheh at 02:15 where they remained until 03:00 while the brigades concentrated. Having entered the Esdrealon Plain they cut a 100 yards (91 m) section of the Haifa to Afulah railway line which was blown up and destroyed.[35]
Desert Mounted Corps plans
Once on the Esdraelon Plain, the objectives of the 5th Cavalry Division were to attack and capture Nazareth, Liman von Sanders and his headquarters 70 miles (110 km) from the Asurf, before clearing the plain to Afulah. Meanwhile, the 4th Cavalry Division's objective after arriving on the Esdraelon Plan through the Musmus Pass was to capture Afulah. Later the same day, this division was to advance eastwards across the plain, to capture Beisan and occupy the road and railway bridges to the north, over the Jordan River. In particular, they were to hold or destroy the
Battle
At daylight a reconnaissance by
The 5th Cavalry Division's remaining brigade; the 13th Cavalry Brigade reached Nazareth at 05:30, having been weakened by diversions and a number of detachments.[38] One squadron of 9th Hodson's Horse had lost touch during the night march. Two troops of lancers were clearing the village of Yafa. The 18th Lancers surrounded and captured 200 sleeping Ottoman soldiers in the village of El Mujeidil at 03:30, which they had mistaken for Nazareth.[42] While the rest of the brigade were collecting prisoners, the only unit available to attack Nazareth, the Gloucester Hussars, was ordered to take over the advanced guard and attack Nazareth, closely followed by one squadron and three troops of the 18th Lancers.[42]
Nazareth
Nazareth had a population of 15,000 living in homes built at the bottom and on the steep sides of a depression in the Galilean Hills. These homes were dominated by buildings on top of the hills to the north-west, while the roads from Afulah and Haifa winding their way up the steep hillside towards the town, joined 0.75 miles (1.21 km) from Nazareth's southern edge. On the left of the main road into the town, the Yildirim Army Group's mess was located in the Hotel Germania, while 500 yards (460 m) further on the General Headquarters and Liman von Sanders offices were in the Monastery of Casa Nuova.[42]
My Cavalry are now in rear of the Turkish Army ... One of my Cavalry Divisions surrounded Liman von Sanders' Headquarters, at Nazareth, at 03:00 today; but Liman had made a bolt, at 19:00 yesterday.
— Allenby letter to his wife 20 September 1918[44]
Between 05:00 and 05:30 on 20 September, the leading troop of the Gloucester Hussars, after riding more than 80 kilometres (50 mi), arrived at Nazareth with swords drawn. They captured many prisoners at the Hotel Germania and a mass of documents were found in houses nearby. Meanwhile, the bulk of Yilderim Army Group's records were being burned at the Monastery of Casa Nuova.[45][46] The commander of 13th Cavalry Brigade requested the assistance of the 14th Cavalry Brigade through 5th Cavalry Division's headquarters at 06:50. He reported the 13th Cavalry Brigade had captured many prisoners and material but that Liman von Sanders had left the evening before.[47] The 14th Cavalry Brigade (5th Cavalry Division) was unable to assist the attack on Nazareth. The brigade had captured 1,200 prisoners during their advance southwards to capture Afulah where they joined the leading troops of the 10th Cavalry Brigade (4th Cavalry Division).[34][48]
At Nazareth, the initial attack by the Gloucester Hussars was strongly opposed during street fighting.[49] The Congestion created by prisoners was increased by numerous German lorries parked along the narrow streets. As they were continuing their attack, the Gloucester Hussars were fired on by machine guns from the buildings on the high ground to the north-west and from balconies and windows. At 08:00 the Gloucester Hussars were reinforced by two squadrons and three troops of the 18th Lancers followed by a squadron of the 9th Hodson's Horse. They were subsequently counter-attack by German office workers who, despite being almost annihilated by the 13th Cavalry Brigade's machine guns, held off the British cavalry attack.[50]
At 10:55 divisional headquarters replied to the 13th Brigade's request for assistance that the 14th Cavalry Brigade could not be sent to Nazareth because of "the state of the horses." The 13th Cavalry Brigade was ordered to withdraw to the north of Afulah, taking with them 1,250 prisoners, having ridden 50 miles (80 km) in 22 hours.[51] The Gloucester Hussars suffered 13 men killed and 28 horses and the 9th Hodgson's Horse suffered 9 men killed.[47] Kelly, the commander of 13th Cavalry Brigade, had failed to capture Nazareth; failed to force a way through the town to cut the road from Nazareth to Tiberias and failed to capture Liman von Sanders. He was held responsible and lost his command as a result.[48][50][52]
Aftermath
The 13th Cavalry Brigade moved to cut the Nazareth to Tiberias road to the north of the town, before being ordered to return and occupy the town the next morning.[53][54] By then the German and Ottoman forces had retired towards Tiberias from Nazareth which was occupied without opposition.[31]
The 4th Cavalry Division, which had advanced to
During the first 36 hours of the Battle of Sharon; between 04:30 on 19 September and 17:00 on 20 September, the German and Ottoman front line had been cut by infantry and the cavalry had passed through the gap to reach their objectives at Afulah, Nazareth and Beisan. The continuing infantry attack from the south forced the Ottoman Seventh and Eighth armies in the Judean Hills to withdraw northwards.[57]
By the end of 20 September, the main achievements of the British infantry during the
By this time the Desert Mounted Corps blocked the Seventh Army and what remained of the Eighth Army's main lines of retreat north from the Judean Hills. A large proportion of a retreating column seen withdrawing from Nablus in the direction of Beisan, would be captured at Jenin after the 3rd Light Horse Brigade's Capture of Jenin.
Liman von Sanders and his headquarters' staff escaped by motor vehicle along the road from Nazareth to Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee. From there they drove on to Samakh in the afternoon, where Liman von Sanders organised a strong rearguard which would be attacked by Australian light horse on 25 September during the Battle of Samakh.[34][61] Liman von Sanders ordered the Samkh garrison, under German command and supported by German machine guns, to prepare for an attack; they were to fight "to the last man".[61][62][63][64] During early stages of his journey, Liman von Sanders could not communicate with his armies, leaving the Fourth, Seventh and Eighth Armies without orders or direction.[65]
Notes
- ^ The only available German and Ottoman sources are Liman von Sanders' memoir and the Asia Corps' war diary. Ottoman army and corps records seem to have disappeared during their retreat. [Falls 1930 Vol. 2 pp. 494–5]
- ^ The issue of whether or not it was Allenby's plan has been raised in the literature. [Erickson 2007 pp. 141–2] According to Chauvel, Allenby had already decided on his plan before the Second Transjordan attack in April/May which had confirmed the Ottoman determination to defend the Deraa railway junction and the difficulties for mounted operations in the area. [Hill 1978 p. 161]
- ^ See Falls Map 21 which shows the journey of the Seventh Army and the Asia Corps.
Citations
- ^ Falls 1930 Vol. 2 pp. 302–446
- ^ Falls 1930 Vol. 2 pp. 447–555
- ^ a b c Maunsell 1926 p.213
- ^ a b c d Carver 2003 p. 232
- ^ Falls 1930 Vol. 2 pp. 484, 673
- ^ a b DiMarco 2008 p. 328
- ^ Hill 1978 p. 162
- ^ a b Hanafin, James. "Order of Battle of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force, September 1918" (PDF). orbat.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 January 2015. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
- ^ Falls 1930 Vol. 2 p. 463
- ^ Paget 1994 p. 257
- ^ Gullett 1919 p. 28
- ^ Wavell 1968 p. 208
- ^ Maunsell 1926 p. 238
- ^ Powles 1922 p. 239
- ^ a b c Gullett 1919 pp. 25–6
- ^ a b Blenkinsop 1925 p. 236
- ^ Wavell 1968 p. 205
- ^ Keogh 1955 pp. 242–4
- ^ Falls 1930 Vol. 2 p. 516
- ^ Hill 1978 pp. 162–3
- ^ Powles 1922 p. 233
- ^ Dinning 1920 p. 81
- ^ Falls 1930 Vol. 2 p. 495
- ^ Woodward 2006 p. 191
- ^ Falls 1930 Vol. 2 pp. 487–8
- ^ Wavell 1968 p. 199
- ^ a b c d e Preston 1921 pp. 200–1
- ^ a b Bruce 2002 pp. 227–8
- ^ Falls 1930 Vol. 2 p. 522
- ^ Falls 1930 Vol. 2 pp. 522–3, note
- ^ a b c d Falls 1930 Vol. 2 p. 523
- ^ a b c Wavell 1968 pp. 199, 208
- ^ Falls 1930 Vol. 2 pp. 514–5
- ^ a b c d Carver 2003 p. 235
- ^ a b Falls 1930 Vol. 2 p. 524
- ^ a b c Bruce 2002 p. 228
- ^ Wavell 1968 pp. 208–9
- ^ a b c d Wavell 1968 p. 209
- ^ a b Falls 1930 Vol. 2 pp. 524, 667
- ^ a b Falls 1930 Vol. 2 pp. 528–9
- ^ Cutlack 1941 p. 155
- ^ a b c d Falls 1930 Vol. 2 p. 525
- ^ a b c Bruce 2002 p. 231
- ^ in Hughes 2004 p. 179
- ^ Bou 2009 p. 194
- ^ Falls 1930 Vol. 2 pp. 525–6
- ^ a b Falls 1930 Vol. 2 p. 527
- ^ a b DiMarco 2008 p. 330
- ^ Bruce 2002 pp. 228–9
- ^ a b Falls 1930 Vol. 2 p. 526
- ^ Blenkinsop 1925 p. 242
- ^ Hill 1978 p. 169
- ^ Wavell 1968 p. 214
- ^ Carver 2003 p. 238
- ^ a b Maunsell 1926 p. 221
- ^ Downes 1938 p. 719
- ^ Blenkinsop 1925 p. 241
- ^ a b Cutlack 1941 p. 157
- ^ a b Bruce 2002 p. 232
- ^ Gullett 1918 p. 10
- ^ a b Keogh 1955 p. 251
- ^ Grainger 2006 p. 235
- ^ Bruce 2004, p. 240
- ^ Hill 1978 p. 172
- ^ Falls 1930 Vol. 2 p. 511
References
- Blenkinsop, Layton John; Rainey, John Wakefield, eds. (1925). History of the Great War Based on Official Documents Veterinary Services. London: HM Stationers. OCLC 460717714.
- Bou, Jean (2009). Light Horse: A History of Australia's Mounted Arm. Australian Army History. Port Melbourne: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-19708-3.
- Bruce, Anthony (2002). The Last Crusade: The Palestine Campaign in the First World War. London: John Murray. ISBN 978-0-7195-5432-2.
- ISBN 978-0-283-07347-2.)
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link - DiMarco, Louis A. (2008). War Horse: A History of the Military Horse and Rider. Yardley, Pennsylvania: Westholme Publishing. OCLC 226378925.
- Downes, Rupert M. (1938). "The Campaign in Sinai and Palestine". In Butler, Arthur Graham (ed.). Gallipoli, Palestine and New Guinea. Official History of the Australian Army Medical Services, 1914–1918. Vol. 1 Part II (2nd ed.). Canberra: Australian War Memorial. pp. 547–780. OCLC 220879097.
- Dinning, Hector W.; James McBey (1920). Nile to Aleppo. New York: MacMillan. OCLC 2093206.
- OCLC 256950972.
- Grainger, John D. (2006). The Battle for Palestine, 1917. Woodbridge: Boydell Press. ISBN 978-1-84383-263-8.
- OCLC 224023558.
- Gullett, Henry S. (1941). The Australian Imperial Force in Sinai and Palestine, 1914–1918. Official History of Australia in the War of 1914–1918. Vol. VII (11th ed.). Canberra: Australian War Memorial. OCLC 220900153.
- OCLC 5003626.
- Hughes, Matthew, ed. (2004). Allenby in Palestine: The Middle East Correspondence of Field Marshal Viscount Allenby June 1917 – October 1919. Army Records Society. Vol. 22. Phoenix Mill, Thrupp, Stroud, Gloucestershire: Sutton Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7509-3841-9.
- OCLC 220029983.
- Maunsell, E. B. (1926). Prince of Wales' Own, the Seinde Horse, 1839–1922. Regimental Committee. OCLC 221077029.
- ISBN 978-0-85052-395-9.
- OCLC 2959465.
- Preston, R. M. P. (1921). The Desert Mounted Corps: An Account of the Cavalry Operations in Palestine and Syria 1917–1918. London: Constable & Co. OCLC 3900439.
- OCLC 35621223.
Further reading
- Chappell, Mike (2002). British Cavalry Equipment 1800–1941. Men–at–Arms No. 138 (revised ed.). Oxford: Osprey Publishing. OCLC 48783714.