Ankara: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday marked the 110th anniversary of the Victory at Canakkale (Gallipoli) and Martyrs’ Day, a significant milestone in World War I history. Erdogan expressed his wishes for the anniversary to be a “blessed occasion” for Trkiye, its people, and allied nations through a message on social media.
According to Anadolu Agency, Erdogan emphasized the importance of remembering the martyrs with respect and honor. He described the Gallipoli campaign as one of the “brightest chapters” in Turkey’s history. The campaign, known for its intense and brutal battles, resulted in the loss of tens of thousands of soldiers in the Ottoman Empire during World War I.
The Gallipoli campaign occurred from April 25, 1915, to January 9, 1916. Britain and France aimed to open a sea route to the Russian Empire by capturing the Gallipoli Peninsula, with the ultimate goal of taking Istanbul, the capital of the Ottoman Empire. Despite numerous casualties on both sides, Turkish forces successfully repelled the naval attack. The subsequent land campaign by the Allied forces also failed, leading to their withdrawal.
The victory against the Allied forces significantly boosted Turkish morale, paving the way for Trkiye’s War of Independence from 1919 to 1922. This struggle culminated in the establishment of the Republic of Turkey in 1923, emerging from the remnants of the Ottoman Empire.