Battle of Jerusalem

Battle of Jerusalem
Part of the Middle Eastern theatre of World War I
General Allenby enters Jerusalem on foot, 11 December 1917
Date 17 November – 30 December 1917 (1 month, 1 week and 6 days) Location On the coast of the Mediterranean Sea north of Jaffa, into the Judean Hills and around Jerusalem 31°46′35″N 35°13′39″E / 31.77639°N 35.22750°E / 31.77639; 35.22750 Result British Empire victory
Belligerents
British Empire  Australia  India  New Zealand  United Kingdom	Ottoman Empire  German Empire
Commanders and leaders
Edmund Allenby Edward Bulfin Philip Chetwode Harry Chauvel	Djevad Pasha Ali Fuad Pasha Erich von Falkenhayn F. K. von Kressenstein
Units involved
Egyptian Expeditionary Force XX Corps XXI Corps Desert Mounted Corps	Seventh Army Eighth Army
Casualties and losses
18,000 (entire campaign)	25,000 (entire campaign)[1][2][3]

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The Battle 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 Judean 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.^[4]

This series of battles was successfully fought by the British Empire's XX Corps, XXI Corps, and the Desert Mounted Corps against strong opposition from the Yildirim Army Group's Seventh Army in the Judean Hills and the Eighth Army north of Jaffa on the Mediterranean coast. The loss of Jaffa and Jerusalem, together with the loss of 50 mi (80 km) of territory during the Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF) advance from Gaza, after the capture of Beersheba, Gaza, Hareira and Sheria, Tel el Khuweilfe and the Battle of Mughar Ridge, constituted a grave setback for the Ottoman Army and the Ottoman Empire.^[5]

As a result of these victories, British Empire forces captured Jerusalem and established a new strategically strong fortified line. This line ran from well to the north of Jaffa on the maritime plain, across the Judean Hills to Bireh north of Jerusalem, and continued eastwards of the Mount of Olives. With the capture of the road from Beersheba to Jerusalem via Hebron and Bethlehem, together with substantial Ottoman territory south of Jerusalem, the city was secured. On 11 December, General Edmund Allenby entered the Old City on foot through the Jaffa Gate instead of horse or vehicles to show respect for the holy city. He was the first Christian in many centuries to control Jerusalem, a city held holy by three great religions. The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, David Lloyd George, described the capture as "a Christmas present for the British people". The battle was a great morale boost for the British Empire.^[6]