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Hey there it has been a while since I posted anything so I decided it was time that I returned with a new timeline. I hope to create a rich narrative that combines history book style and narrative to create a fun, plausible and exciting timeline that is an enjoyable read. The POD is the Death of Mustafa Ataturk at Gallipoli which has far reaching consequences that extend far beyond Turkey and Balkans. I hope you enjoy the timeline and please comment.


MacTavish
Gallipoli August 22, 1915

It was a calm day across the barren stretch of land called Gallipoli. The wind was soft and lustful providing a nice cooling feeling as it brushed across his face. The midday sun lay overhead in the sky on that gentile August day. It was perfect day for sniping, something that William was quite good at. He crawled slowly through the dirt, evidence of the Ottoman offensive days before lay everywhere around him. Broken barbed wire, and bodies of both Turk and Englishman a like laid scattered across the blood covered soil. Will had been there since the beginning of the invasion, which as of then about a year ago. He missed his sleepy home deep in Scottish lowlands. But for the past year the sands and dirt of Gallipoli had been his home. Will slowly creped up to a large hole of rubble and dirt caused by Turkish artillery fire. He found a patch of earth in which he was well hidden and brought up his rifle up to his shoulder and gazed through scope. Will searched across the trenches looking for anything, but his prime target of choice was for an officer of any kind. He scanned the heads until he saw a man peer over the edge of the trench. His uniform was simple enough but he could see what appeared to be binoculars and several badges resting on his chest. The man was clearly and officer of some importance. Will had found his target, quickly adjusting his sights on his rifle. He began to aim at the man chest, the medals providing a perfect spot to aim for. Will closed his eyes and a calmness overcame his body as he imagined home. Standing in the fields with the air flowing through his hair, his hand gently brushing over the thin blades of grass and pedals of the flowers. Slowly he began to open his eyes and with a deep soothing breath fired. The shoot pierce through peaceful silence, as the officer collapsed to the ground. [1]
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The European War [2] by Robert F. Bowen
Ch. 12 The Final Days at Gallipoli

The news of Mustafa Pasha death spread quickly across the battlefield. In the Turkish trenches the soldiers despaired as Mustafa had brought them many victories and seem ready to push the British and their Australian and New Zealander brethren into the sea. In the Allied trenches the soldiers rejoiced glad to see the death of the man that had brought them much pain and suffering. The British field marshal Sir Ian Hamilton hopping to capitalize on Mustafa death order the Australian 4th infantry Brigade under General John Monash to attack the Turkish position known as Hill 971. The attack was a disaster as Turkish forces well aware of the impeding attack reinforced that position and the Turkish general Cevat Pasha was able to repulse the assault. This assault proved to be the breaking point for Ian Hamilton as damaging stories by journalists such as Keith Murdoch, and Ellis Ashmead-Bartlett revealed the true nature of the campaign and ineffectiveness of Hamilton as a commander soon became to well known to public in Britain. Hamilton was soon dismissed by the British government and replaced by General Charles Munro. Munro came to quick realization that British positions at Gallipoli were untenable and with Bulgaria entry into the war and Germany could easily sends supplies to Ottoman troops. So with that in mind Munro made the fateful decision to evacuate. The evacuation of 14 divisions in winter in proximity to the enemy would be difficult and heavy losses were expected. The untenable nature of the Allied position was made apparent when a heavy rainstorm struck on 27 November 1915 and lasted for three days, followed by a blizzard in early December. The rain flooded trenches, drowning soldiers and washing unburied corpses into the lines.
Ironically the evacuation was the greatest Allied success of the Gallipoli campaign. The allied troops were evacuated in late December with the last troops leaving before dawn on 20 December 1915. Troop numbers had been progressively reduced since 7 December 1915 and cunning ruses, such as William Scurry’s self-firing rifle [3], were used to fool the Ottomans and prevent them discovering that they were evacuating. Troops would maintain utter silence for an hour or more until the curious Ottomans would venture out to inspect the trenches, whereupon they would open fire. As the numbers in the trenches were thinned, rifles were rigged to fire by water dripped into a pan attached to the trigger. The entire Allied force was evacuated, but large quantities of supplies and stores fell into Ottoman hands.



Mustafa Pasha shortly before his death
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[1] This is the POD. Mustafa Kemel Ataturk is killed during the Gallipoli and is therefore never able to unite the Turkish people and create the Turkish Republic
[2] Is the ATL named for World War I. It is called the European due to the vast majority of the combat taking place in Europe.
[3] Were rifles that were rigged to fire by using to cans and as the water from one can dripped into the other. As water filled up in the second tin it applied pressure to trigger that it was attached to. Thus when it reach a certain weight the rifle fired. This weapon allowed the allies time to evacuate as the Turks thought that there were still troops in the trench
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