Çanakkale/Dardanelles Victory
... With this intent they arrived at Çanakkale, but there they found out that their entry into the sea passage was blocked. The enemy had to take the first blow on March the 18th, 1915; several enemy ships were sunk in the Dardanelles. Then on April the 25th, they landed their soldiers in the Seddülbahir and Arıburnu regions. However, here the Mehmetçik nailed them down, at the point where the enemy soldiers had landed. The battle lasted for nine months; soldiers were fighting incessantly, night and day, until the January 3rd, 1916. Those nine months were decorated with countless legends and heroic stories.
Canakkale is a glorious legend written by Mehmetcik (=a general name given to all Turkish soldiers). All martyrs’ names are combined in his name. Canakkale legend is a challenge when the whole world came against us with arms power and powerful navies and where greatest bravery was experienced. There was a nation ,defended her honour in Gallipoli against Entente States by losing [many] thousands of her sons to martyrdom.
Dreaming of a great victory, High ranked Turkish officer, Enver Pasha, ordered an attack on ANZAKs. Turkish opposite attack started on May 19 and failed. Unnumbered attacks were stoped each time. Under the heavy enemy fire, Turkish soldiers were dying before reaching enemy treches or a few who were able to reach the trenches, were loosing their lives after the hand to hand fight. Then ANZAKs realized that Turks were brave fighters which were completly different than what was told to them. First time an armitice were accepted and both sides Turks and Anzaks met each other. It was a beginning of close releation with respect. It was significant that Anzakss refused to use gas masks later, believing that Turks were fair soldiers.
"...It is impossible for me without mentioning the fights on the Bomb Hill. Distance between trenches is about eight metres, That's to say, death is certain... The soldiers in the first trench are completely dying and the second group replaces them immediately with such great resignation and coldness that noone can imagine. A Soldier sees those dying soldiers and knows that he will die in a few minutes but doesn't show any hesitation and fear at all. By reading Kuran, some are ready to go Heaven and others are fighting and praying to God. This is one of the instances that shows the astonishing high spirit of Turkish soldiers. This is the high spirit that won Canakkale Wars.."
From the diaries of Ataturk - group commander of Anafartalar
" Those heroes that shed their blood and
lost their lives...! You are now lying in
the soul of a friendly country, therefore
rest in peace. There is no differences between
the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they
lie side by side here in this country of ours...
You, the mothers who sent their sons from far away
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."
ATATURK, (1934).
Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/13809749@N07/3364228465/
Hayal Köksal tarafından gönderildi saat: 13:45:00 0 Yorum
