March 18 – The Victory of Çanakkale

Today, March 18, 2019, marks the 106th anniversary of the Victory of Çanakkale — one of the most glorious and unforgettable victories in our history. This date is the most sacred day on which we once again remember, gratefully commemorate, and offer our heartfelt thanks to the noble souls who protected the sacred lands of our homeland at the cost of their lives, attaining the rank of martyrdom. 

The Battle of Çanakkale took place between March 18, 1915, and January 9, 1916. It is an epic of victory that fills the most honorable pages of Turkish history — beginning with the first assault on March 18, 1915, and ending on January 9, 1916, when the enemy fleet completely withdrew from the country. The struggle waged by our heroic army on the Çanakkale Front influenced not only the course of Turkish history, but the course of all world history.

When World War I broke out, Mustafa Kemal was serving as a military attaché in Sofia, Bulgaria. He volunteered to take part in the Battles of Çanakkale. In November 1914, he applied to the Acting Supreme Command requesting an active frontline post, but was told: "There is always a role for you in the army. However, since we consider the Sofia Military Attaché position more important, we are keeping you there." In response, in December 1914, Mustafa Kemal wrote a letter from Sofia to Acting Commander-in-Chief Enver Pasha, reiterating his desire for active frontline duty. In his letter he wrote: "There can be no duty more important or more noble than the active defense of the homeland. While my comrades are on the battlefronts and in the firing lines, I cannot remain in Sofia as a military attaché! If you believe I am unworthy of being a first-class officer, please say so openly." Following this persistence, on January 20, 1915, Mustafa Kemal was appointed commander of the 19th Division, which was to be established in Tekirdağ under the 3rd Corps commanded by Esat Pasha. Mustafa Kemal entered the Battles of Çanakkale holding the rank of lieutenant colonel, but was promoted to colonel five weeks later on June 1, 1915. Arriving in Tekirdağ on February 2, 1915, he began forming the 19th Division; on February 25, 1915, the 19th Division Headquarters was transferred from Tekirdağ to Maydos (Eceabat), and Mustafa Kemal was appointed commander of both the 19th Division and the Maydos Regional Command. In the Battle of Çanakkale, Mustafa Kemal became forever etched in memory as the "Hero of Anafartalar" and emerged as the natural leader of the National Struggle. 



When the Turkish army under the command of the Great Leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk engaged in battle on sea and on land with supreme might, in the hearts of all our martyrs and veterans there burned not only a love of homeland, but also a deep desire to ensure that future generations would not be deprived of the honor of living under the Turkish flag. That desire became an insurmountable wall of strength along the Çanakkale Front, from its very beginning to its very end. 

By Law No. 4768 dated June 27, 2002, March 18 was officially recognized as Martyrs' Day. Every year on March 18, all press and broadcast outlets present our nation with Çanakkale-themed programs and publications. Events highlighting the meaning and significance of the day are organized in all educational institutions. Efforts are made to instill in the younger generations an appreciation of the enduring impact that the struggle on the Çanakkale Front had on the future of our nation.

Some Quotes from Our Great Leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk on the Victory of Çanakkale;

To Our Glorious Turkish Soldiers:

April 25, 1915 – Conkbayırı
"I am not ordering you to attack. I am ordering you to die. In the time that passes until we die, other forces and commanders can come forward to take our place."

May 3, 1915 – Arıburnu 
"The soldiers fighting alongside me here must know with certainty: to fulfill the honorable duty entrusted to us, there is no stepping back by even one step. I remind you all that seeking sleep and rest will cause not only us, but our entire nation, to be deprived of rest forever." 

To the Families of Enemy Soldiers:

"Heroes who shed their blood on the soil of this country! You are now in the land of a friendly nation. Rest in peace and tranquility. You lie side by side with the Mehmets. Mothers who sent their sons to war from distant lands — dry your tears. Your sons are now in our bosom. They are at peace, and they shall rest in peace. Having given their lives in this land, they have become our sons as well."

For the 57th Regiment:

"They gladly gave their lives for the sacred soil of their homeland and changed the fate of the Battles of Çanakkale. Every second spent here, every moment used, every soldier who fell, shaped the destiny of the Turkish homeland and nation. The 57th Regiment — the first unit to join the land battles — showed humanity what the love of one's homeland truly means. I remember this heroic regiment with admiration, gratitude, and mercy." 

After the Victory of Çanakkale;

"The trenches are just 8 meters apart — meaning death is certain. The entire company that arrived 3 minutes earlier has been martyred. The newcomers know this, and advance fully aware that they too will be martyred within 3 minutes. But what an advance! Not a moment of hesitation, stopping, or looking back. Those who can read are reciting the Quran in their hands; those who cannot are repeating the Shahada. Knowing they are about to die, they march toward martyrdom without flinching. It is this noble spirit in our nation and its soldiers that ensured the Battles of Çanakkale ended in victory." 

"The Victory of Çanakkale is a remarkable and praiseworthy example of the spiritual strength of the Turkish soldier. You must be certain that it is this great spirit that won the Battles of Çanakkale." 



On the anniversary of the Victory of Çanakkale, we once again remember with deep respect and gratitude our Çanakkale martyrs — first and foremost our Great Leader Marshal Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk — as well as all of our beloved martyrs who have given their lives to this day. May their souls rest in peace...