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'HISTORY OF THE GREAT WAR BASED ON OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS. THE CAMPAIGN IN MESOPOTAMIA 1914-1918. VOLUME I.' [‎185v] (375/454)

The record is made up of 1 volume (223 folios). It was created in 1923. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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344
HISTORY OF THE WAR : MESOPOTAMIA
APPENDIX I.
Extracts from the diary of Dr. Zugmayer {one of the German
emissaries) which was captured in Persia.
14/9/14.—"Telegraphic summons to appear at the Foreign Office, Berlin.
16/9/14 to 19/9/14.—Consultations at the Foreign Office. Zimmerman
Langvorth, Wesendank, Oppenheim, Heger, Neuhofer, Mueller, 3 Indians’
Tafel, Niedermayer.
29/9/14.—Arrive at Constantinople.
30/9/14.—During the day made the acquaintance of my future colleagues.
Dr. Consten, Fischer, Bischoffshausen, also Major von Bessert and others
.... we approach the Great Perso-Afghan plan. Schuneman (Urmia
1904) is still expected. Others have already left and wait for us at Aleppo.
Several members are already at Damascus. Special plans with Niedermayer
Enver Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. confident of the Amir of Afghanistan. Idea of parallel columns
etc ... .
8/10/14.—If all one hears here from Turkish sources about Persia and
Afghanistan is only half true, our mission will not be needed any more. In
any case, we’re two months too late .... Our Ambassador here is an
incapable ass and Enver can do with him what he likes. The only strong
German is Liman. Turkey is to receive a large loan from Germany. One
reckons therefore at the moment on an immediate declaration of war. Persia
is to make an alliance with Turkey in order that the Turks may work there
undisturbed against British and Russians.
9/10/14.—Inspect at Begsians a dagger and two fancy daggers which we
ought to take to the Amir.
, 26/J0/14. Arrive Aleppo .... where the whole expedition is assem
bled.
(The next entries in the diary show much disagreement and discussion as to
the relations between the German and Turkish members of the expedition.)
1/14. Order Turkish uniform. Military official with rank of Major.
Wassmuss returns after a quarrel with the Turkish leader, he too is now
convinced that we must not deliver ourselves into the hands of the Turks
.... but he still insists on the South Persia route.
8/12/14. 12 men of the Hapag steamer Ekbatana arrive, which ship with
our others was sunk in the Shatt al Arab to bar the passage to Basra to the
British. °
18/12/14. Wassmuss intends to separate himself from the expedition for
some time, work alone in South Persia .... He and Niedermayer want
to leave soon for Baghdad, the rest of us first to Mosul, then to await further
orders.
21/12/14. Wassmuss and Niedermayer leave. One of the three Indians
having been imprisoned has to be released.
22/12/14.—Cannot leave before Xmas. Our new Chief Turk, Khalil Bey
is reported to be in Tarsus. British cruiser Doris partially destroys railway,
Tarsus-Alexandretta.
28/12/14.—Khalil arrives. We receive order to go direct to Baghdad.
8/1/15. Arrive Jerablus. Wagner is here. Winchelman, Dietrich and
bpiegelmann arrive in the afternoon with the boats from Birejik.

About this item

Content

The volume is the first volume of an official government publication compiled at the request of the Government of India, and under the direction of the Historical Section of the Committee of Imperial Defence, by Brigadier-General Frederick James Moberly. The volume was printed and published at His Majesty's Stationery Office, London.

The contents provide a narrative of the operations of 1914-1918 in Mesopotamia, based mainly on official documents.

The volume is divided into two parts. The first part, entitled, 'Part I. Before the Outbreak of Hostilities', consists of the following five chapters:

  • General Description of the Country
  • The Turks in Mesopotamia
  • British Pre-War Policy
  • The Army in India and Pre-War Military Policy
  • Inception of the Operations

The second part, entitled, 'Part II. The Campaign in Lower Mesopotamia', consists of the following seven chapters:

  • The Landing in Mesopotamia of Force "D" and the Operations Leading to the Occupation of Basra
  • The Occupation of Basra and the Capture of Qurna
  • Commencement of the Turkish Counter-Offensive
  • Development and Defeat of the Turkish Counter-Offensive
  • Operations in Arabistan and the Capture of Amara
  • Operations on the Euphrates and the Occupation of Nasiriya
  • The battle of Kut and Occupation of Aziziya

The volume also includes nine maps, entitled:

  • The Middle East
  • Lower Mesopotamia
  • Map 1 - To illustrate operations described in Chapter VI
  • Map 2 - To illustrate fighting near Qurna
  • Map 3 - To illustrate fighting round Shaiba
  • Map 4 - To illustrate operations in Persian Arabistan
  • Map 5 - To illustrate operations in the Akaika Channel 27th June to 5th July 1915
  • Map 6 - To illustrate operations near Nasiriya 6th to 24th July 1915
  • Map 7 - To illustrate the Battle of Kut 28th September 1915
Extent and format
1 volume (223 folios)
Arrangement

The volume contains a page of errata (folio 5), a list of contents (folios 6-8), a list of maps and illustrations (folio 9), appendices (folios 185v-192), an index (folios 192v-214v), and eight maps in a pocket attached to the inside back cover (folios 217-224).

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the inside front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 225; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.

Pagination: the volume also contains an original printed pagination sequence.

Written in
English in Latin script
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'HISTORY OF THE GREAT WAR BASED ON OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS. THE CAMPAIGN IN MESOPOTAMIA 1914-1918. VOLUME I.' [‎185v] (375/454), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/MIL/17/15/66/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100048172214.0x0000b0> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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