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Selçuk/Ephesus - Turkey tel +90-(0)232-892-6050 fax +90-(0)232-892-1594 info@anzguesthouse.com |
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Selçuk/Ephesus - Turkey tel +90-(0)232-892-6050 fax +90-(0)232-892-1594 info@anzguesthouse.com |
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| A portion of a US Government map showing the Gallipoli peninsula, north and west of the Dardanelles strait. |
Gallipoli (or Gelibolu in Turkish) is a peninsula in European Turkey, forming the west of the Dardanelles strait. The Black Sea drains into the Aegean sea by passing through the Bosphorus, which divides İstanbul, and into the relatively small Sea of Marmara. From there, the water flows through the Dardanelles into the Aegean. Çanakkale is the largest town in the area, and where you will probably stay overnight, although there are some services across the strait in Eceabat. Getting there by bus:
It became a major emcampment for British and French forces in 1854, during the Crimean War. Then in 1915, World War I came to Gallipoli. The military campaign is known by several names — the Battle of Gallipoli in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Newfoundland; the Dardanelles Campaign in the UK, and the Battle of Çanakkale in Turkey. The Allies were trying to reach and assist Russia via the Black Sea.
On 25 April 1915 the ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) forces landed at Anzac Cove, two kilmeters south of their target (Suvla Bay) at the western end of the Peninsula. The campaign was largely successful for the Turks and the Germans — it was a catastrophe for Russia. It was part of the reason for the civil war and Russian Revolution, overthrowing Imperial Russia and establishing the Soviet Union. And the Ottoman Empire collapsed with the end of World War I, and the modern Turkish Republic was established.
The ANZAC forces evacuated on 19 December 1915. There were many casualties — 180,000 Allied and 220,000 Turkish. It was a major turning point for Australia, New Zealand, and Turkey. And, it nearly ruined the career of Winston Churchill, who was then First Lord of the Admiralty and had set up the Dardanelles invasion plans.
A little-known army commander named Mustafa Kemal disregarded orders so as to halt and drive back the Allied advance. His famous speech from the battle was:
| "I do not command you to fight, I command you to die. In the time it will take us to die we can be replenished by new forces." |
Mustafa Kemal was promoted to Pasha, and he went on to lead the establishment of the Turkish Republic. Now, of course, he is known as Kemal Atatürk.
25 April is now observed as ANZAC Day, with some huge crowds gathering at Gallipoli.
There is much more on the battle at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Gallipoli
These pictures are thumbnails, click on them to see higher resolution versions.
This is a view looking down from the high ground. The Allies were forced to attempt to fight their way up high steep slopes.
The phrase "the horror of trench warfare" is often applied to the First World War. Many trenches are still in place across the Gallipoli battlefields. And they look pretty horrific...
This is the marker above Anzac Cove. The cove itself is surprisingly small.
Many of the guesthouses in Çanakkale show both a documentary on the battle and Mel Gibson's early movie "Gallipoli" every night. The movie is a good introduction to the history! But even after watching both of those, Anzac Cove is surprisingly small.
There was very little room between the waterline and the base of the steep slope. And, of course, an army at the top shooting down...
One of the many cemeteries at Gallipoli.
One of the many cemeteries at Gallipoli.
Another cemetery and the large memorial at Lone Pine.
Atatürk's moving words at the dedication of the Gallipoli memorials are frequently quoted and displayed on memorials:
| Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives... you are now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets 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. Having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well. |
And yes, Troy is just south of Çanakkale, and you might want to visit it. Be warned, though, it's the site of Troy, and if you are not well-informed about archaeology (or a real Troy fanatic!) you may be a little disappointed. Definitely start by seeing the Troy artifacts and the clear description of the site and its exploration in the archaeological museum in İstanbul.
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Selçuk/Ephesus - Turkey tel +90-(0)232-892-6050 fax +90-(0)232-892-1594 info@anzguesthouse.com |
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