İndex:
An introduction: About Çanakkale
Be sure to see: Gallipoli Historical Area of the Gallipoli Campaign
Note to history: Çanakkale inscriptions
A memoir from a folk song: “Aynalı Çarşı (Bazaar with Mirror)”
An introduction: About Çanakkale
The Battle of Çanakkale, in which the Turkish people resisted the most powerful states in the world under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, lasted eight and a half months. Nearly half a million lives were lost in the conflict.
It was a hellish time for both sides. The Dardanelles War is engraved in history with blood, and finally ended with one of the world’s greatest victories.
More than 250,000 memories of our martyrs exist in Çanakkale, as well as those of the over 250,000 soldiers from Britain, France, Australia and New Zealand. At the entrance of the Çanakkale Martyrs’ Monument are inscribed the poignant words of Mustafa Kemal, addressed dedicated in 1934 to the foreign soldiers:
“You, the mothers who sent their sons from faraway countries, wipe away your tears; your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace. After having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well.”
The evocative Çanakkale Martyrs’ Monument, the most-visited site in a city replete with monuments, inscriptions and martyrdoms, continues to proclaim to the world the preciousness and value of peace.
Be sure to see: Gallipoli Historical Area of the Gallipoli Campaign
Declared as a Historical National Park in 1973, the Gallipoli Peninsula was reclassified as the Gallipoli Campaign Gallipoli Historical Site in 2014. Let us begin at the Çanakkale Martyrs Monument, an iconic structure, and take a short tour of Çanakkale’s historical places:
Çanakkale Martyrs’ Memorial
The Çanakkale Martyrs’ Memorial is on Hisarlık Hill, rising behind Morto Bay on the Gallipoli Peninsula. The stately memorial is dedicated to the martyrs of Çanakkale and was opened to visitors on August 21, 1960, the 45th anniversary of the Second Anafartalar Victory. Minor changes were made to the Çanakkale Martyrs’ Memorial from time to time and the structure took its final form in 2007.
A note: The Çanakkale Martyrs’ Memorial is 41.70 meters high and covers an area of 625 square meters. It is a sobering and imposing structure that is visited by almost everyone who comes to Çanakkale. On the ceiling of the memorial is a mosaic of the Turkish flag.
57th Infantry Regiment War Cemetery
Before moving on to the 57th Infantry Regiment War Cemetery, one of the city’s most important sites, it is necessary to tell the Regiment’s story. The 57th Infantry Regiment of the Ottoman Empire made history with the Anzac Landing, considered the start of the Çanakkale land battles. The 57th Regiment, which was trained by the Commander of the 19th Division, Lieutenant Colonel Mustafa Kemal and Major Hüseyin Avni, set out for Çanakkale in March 1915. On April 25, 1915, at the beginning of the Çanakkale campaign, the 57th Regiment was sent to Conkbayırı on the personal initiative of Mustafa Kemal. Again, on the order of Mustafa Kemal, the 57th Infantry Regiment counterattacked the Allied troops landing at Anzac Cove and successfully defended the region until the end of the war.
In 1992, a symbolic martyrdom was built on the Gallipoli Peninsula for the 628 soldiers of the 57th Regiment who lost their lives during the campaign. The 57th Regiment Martyrdom and Monument, designed by architect Nejat Dinçel and built at the south end of Kılıçbayırı, is deeply moving and a structure that deserves to be seen and felt among Çanakkale’s historical sites.
Chunuk Bair (Conkbayırı) Atatürk Victory Monument
The highest point north of the Chunuk Bair is called Chunuk Hill. At this location is a bronze sculpture of Atatürk. Built by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in 1993, the statue and monument are called Chunuk Bair (Conkbayırı) Atatürk Victory, in memory of the Chunuk Bair Battle led by Colonel Mustafa Kemal, Commander of the Anafartalar Group, on August 10, 1915. This memorial has the distinction of being the newest monument built in the region.
Where Atatürk’s watch saved his life
Another story from Chunuk Bair: When Mustafa Kemal was leading the Chunuk Bair bayonet offensive on August 10, 1915, he was hit in the chest by shrapnel. Thanks to the watch he had in his right breast pocket, he survived. The event is commemorated at the location by a monument composed of four cannonballs and a plaque. This monument is undoubtedly an essential historical site in Çanakkale.
Namazgâh Bastion Museum
The Namazgâh Bastion was the first and largest bastion, built at the narrowest point of the Dardanelles Strait. (“Bastion” refers to a military structure built to defend a region and strengthened with weapons). As the headquarters for the Ottoman forces, Namazgâh Bastion was a key target for the Allied Navy. The name of the bastion, namazgâh, means ‘open masjid’ and refers to the large courtyard where soldiers prayed.
Çanakkale Epic Promotion Center
Opened to visitors in 2012, the Çanakkale Epic Promotion Center was established to remember the heroism displayed during the Dardanelles campaign and pass these memories to future generations. Set in a closed area of 8,600 square meters, the presentation center has 11 interactive exhibition halls and a library with works related to the Gallipoli Campaign. Narration is offered in seven languages, including English, German, French, Russian, Japanese, Italian and Arabic.
Statue of Corporal Seyit
The Corporal Seyit Statue is dedicated to Corporal Seyit, also known as “Koca Seyit” and the “Mehmetçik”, the Turkish soldiers who fought against the Allied Navy attempting to cross the Dardanelles and reach İstanbul. The monument is in the Rumeli Mecidiye Bastion and is one of the first places to visit in Çanakkale, in our opinion.
The story of the hero artilleryman Corporal Seyit
Corporal Seyit Ali Çabuk, born into a poor family in Balıkesir, joined the army in 1914 as a gunner. When a bullet fired by an enemy ship hit the arsenal, fourteen of Corporal Seyit’s comrades lost their lives. Corporal Seyit, faced with a gun that had a damaged shell crane, loaded the artillery shells into the gun himself – the shells are said to have weighed more than 250 kilograms apiece. Corporal Seyit managed to hit and damage the HMS Ocean, one of the largest warships of the Allied Navy; as she leaned, the battleship drifted and hit a mine, capsizing shortly thereafter and disabling the Allied Navy. This confrontation occurred opposite the site of the Çanakkale Martyrs’ Monument is located today.
Çanakkale 1915 Hilal-i Ahmer Hospital Resuscitation Area
The mobile hospitals established by the Hilâl-i Ahmer (Red Crescent) Society played a key role in the Victory of Çanakkale. Soldiers wounded at the front were initially treated with the materials in their ‘war packs’, which were sewn into their bags. Wounded soldiers were then moved to hospitals behind the front lines for additional treatment. The Hilâl-i Ahmer Hospital Resuscitation Area, prepared in Çanakkale Alçıtepe, demonstrates the operation of hospitals behind the front lines during the Çanakkale campaign.
A note to history: Çanakkale inscriptions
Büyük Kemikli Inscription
In Çanakkale, there are several important inscriptions. The first, the Büyük Kemikli Inscription, is at the northwest end of Suvla Bay at Büyük Kemikli Point, called “Suvla Point” by the British. In this stone-covered inscription placed in Suvla Bay, where the last British forces evacuated in December 1915 were located, we come across the following words:
“The enemy forces, carried out landings to Arıburnu in the morning of 25th April of 1915 and to Anafartalar Port at the night of August 6th – 7th. After battles which lasted for months, they retreated and left their positions on 20th of December seeing that the Turkish defense is insurmountable.”
Chunuk Bair Mehmetçik Inscriptions
The Chunuk Bair Mehmetçik Inscriptions, consisting of five separate inscriptions symbolizing the fingers of a hand, are dedicated to the soldiers martyred during the Gallipoli Campaign. The poignant inscriptions were registered as ‘cultural assets to be protected’ in 1980 by the Ministry of Culture.
Kanlısırt (Bloody Ridge) Inscription
The Kanlısırt Inscription, located on the Kabatepe-Conkbayırı road, describes the battles on August 6-7, 1915 and ends with the following statement:
“The units of the 16thDivision heroically defended the Kanlısırt (Bloody Ridge) despite losing 1520 soldiers and 4750 wounded soldiers after a bloody battle.”
Kemalyeri Inscription
The Kemalyeri Inscription is located south of Conkbayırı, at Kemalyeri point, which follows Suyatağı and Gun Ridge. The Kemalyeri Inscription, designed by architect Ahmet Gülgören, was the fifth of the orders given by Lieutenant Colonel Mustafa Kemal to his forces on May 3, 1915, at 19:00. The paragraph includes:
“All the soldiers who fought here with me must know for sure that there is no going back a step to do the duty of honor given to us completely. I remind you all that the search for sleep and rest will lead to the fact that not only we, but the whole nation, will be deprived of this rest forever.”
Yusufçuk Hill Inscriptions
The Yusufçuk Hill Inscriptions consist of three stone-plated inscriptions with information about the first and second Battles of Anafartalar. The inscriptions end with the following sentences:
At the end of the second Battle of Anafartalar held on August 21, 1915, the enemy’s offensive force was broken on the Sivritepe and Mestantepe lines. In these battles, the Turks lost 8,155 martyrs, and the enemy lost 19,850.”
A memoir from a folk song: “Aynalı Çarşı (Bazaar with Mirror)”
There are still more than 50 shops in Çanakkale Aynalı Bazaar today, some of which sold fruits and vegetables in the past. The Aynalı Bazaar is a must-see for both local and foreign visitors as it is mentioned in a heartful Çanakkale folk song. The Bazaar was built by Illo Halyo, an elder in the Jewish community of the period, in 1889 and started operation with 14 shops. Although the building was damaged by cannon fire during the Dardanelles campaign, it was renovated after the war and is still active today.
Resources:
Gallipoli Campaign and Gallipoli Historical Area Presidency
Kulturportali.gov.tr
Anadolu Agency
