Battle of Jerusalem

Overview

The Battle of Jerusalem also known as the Fall of Jerusalem occurred during the British Empire's "Jerusalem Operations" against the Ottoman Empire, in World War I, when fighting for the city developed from 17 November, continuing after the surrender until 30 December 1917, to secure the final objective of the Southern Palestine Offensive during the Sinai and Palestine Campaign of World War I. Before Jerusalem could be secured, two battles were recognised by the British as being fought in the Hebron Hills to the north and east of the Hebron–Junction Station line. These were the Battle of Nebi Samwill from 17 to 24 November and the Defence of Jerusalem from 26 to 30 December 1917. They also recognised within these Jerusalem Operations, the successful second attempt on 21 and 22 December 1917 to advance across the Nahr el Auja, as the Battle of Jaffa, although Jaffa had been occupied as a consequence of the Battle of Mughar Ridge on 16 November.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Significance

The Battle of Jerusalem, encompassing operations from 17 November through 30 December 1917, marked the final objective of the Southern Palestine Offensive within the broader Sinai and Palestine Campaign. The fall of the city to British Empire forces represented the culmination of a sustained drive against Ottoman positions in southern Palestine, requiring the reduction of Ottoman resistance not only at Jerusalem itself but across a sequence of subsidiary engagements in the surrounding Hebron Hills. The British formally recognized three component battles within these Jerusalem Operations: the Battle of Nebi Samwill, the Defence of Jerusalem, and the Battle of Jaffa. The capture of Jaffa, a consequence of the earlier Battle of Mughar Ridge, and the crossing of the Nahr el Auja consolidated the operational perimeter around the city. Combined casualties of some 43,000 across both sides indicate the scale of resistance encountered before Ottoman forces yielded the final objective. The operations secured British dominance over a strategically and symbolically significant city, concluding the immediate campaign phase under commanders including Allenby, Bulfin, Chetwode, and Chauvel against an Ottoman command that included Djemal Pasha and Erich von Falkenhayn.

Forces & casualties

Commanders (9)