Gallipoli Wars

These pages were prepared in rememberance of many unknown heroes who lost their lives for this land. Our duty is to carryforth this story of honor to future generations. We, our people, and all the world will never forgot their epics. Galliboli, with its air, forests, and soil, is a living monument.

Here are some words illustrate the magnificence of the Gallipoli Wars.

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)

And, most important are the words for all soldiers who gave their lives for this land. These words were spoken to our enemies by Ataturk, group commander of Anafartalar and the founder of Modern Turkey.

The story started with two huge German warships, Goben and Breslaw. At the time the winds of World War I were blowing and the Ottoman Empire was not involved yet until these two ships, Globen and Breslaw, escaped from the British Navy and stopped in front of Dardenels. The names of these two ships were replaced with Turkish names, Midilli and Yavuz. A few days later, these ships sailed from Istanbul and bombed Russian Harbours on the Black Sea shores. As a result, the Ottaman Empire entered into World War I. Five days later, a huge navy consisting of England, France, and their allies, attacked the straits. This was the beginning of their end but who could know the reality.

Let's go back to the story again. The joining of the Ottoman Empire into World War I wasn't a coincidence. This was a part of a well planned game by both sides of World War I. At the time, Russia wasn't in good condition and the Ottoman Empire had Dardanelles and Bosphoroas. These straits between the Black Sea and the Mediterian Sea were one of the obstacles in reaching Russia for its allies, England and France. On the other hand, Germany needed greatly to change the direction of the war. If the Ottoman Empire entered the war, their load would be decreased. Allies didn't pass from the straits by beating the Ottaman Army , but at the end of the war, the Ottoman Empire was on the losing side. Allies passed from the straits without fighting and occupied Istanbul, and then they started to share the land of the Ottoman Empire under the preplanned treaty.

[(*)Goben (Turkish name Yavuz on the right).Picture source: "The Ottoman Steam Navy 1828 - 1923" , Bernd Langessiepen and Ahmet Güleryüz, Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, Maryland, 1995]. On August 10, 1914, Goben and Breslaw anchored at the entrance of Canakkale Straits. After long conversation, the Ottoman Empire accepted these two ships and announced that they were bought from Germany and included in the Ottoman Navy. At that time, British and French ships came in front of the strait and waited for the return of the German ships. After the announcement, there was nothing to do for them. The names of German ships and the uniforms of soldiers were changed. These war ships came to Istanbul by carrying the flag of the Ottoman Empire.

On October 27, 1914, somehow these two ships sailed to the Black Sea and on October 29, attacked the Russian Harbours of Odesa, Navroski, and Sivastopal for two days. Russia declared a war without waiting for an explanation from the Ottoman Empire. This attack was planned by General Enver who was under the of German pressure. He was the leader of the political party of "Ittihat veTerakki" , the millitary affairs of the Ottoman Empire, and was the person that initiated the end of the Ottoman Empire. Essentially Britain, France, and their allies had blocked the Canakkale strait after the entrance of German ships into the strait. Four days later, Britain and France declared war and a few days later (November 3) they bombed the guns at the entrance of the strait (Sebdulbahir) and caused more damage. The Ottoman Empire replied with  their declaration of war.

Admiral Robeck divided his navy into three parts. first group consisted of Queen Elizabeth, Agamemnon, Lord Nelson, Inflexible, Triumphe (English battleships). The second group of Albion, Irresistable, Wangeance, Switsure, Majestic, Prince George, Ocean, Corn Wallis (English battleships). At the third group consists of Bouvet, Gaulois, Souffren, Charmagne, Canopous (French battleships). The attacks were planned in four phases. The first and second groups would enter the strait and destroy the inside forts and clear the mines in the entrance of the strait. The second phase French battleships would join the first and second groups. In the third phase, French battleships would pass the English battleships, move forward and pass the strait. Fortunately during the last phase, Istanbul would be occupied.

Canakkale strait had a different feature. At the entrance of the strait, there were four main forts; Sebdulbahir fort on the Europe side and Kumkale, Orhaniye and Ertugrul forts on the Asia side. After this the strait widened and in the middle of the straits it norrowed. Here Kilitbahir fort was on the Europe side and Hamidiye on the Asia side. These two step defense lines protect the strait. These forts had many guns along the shore, and between these there were several small forts.

On March 18, 1915 at 11:10 am, the attack started. The first and second English battleships entered the strait and started to bomb the forts inside of the strait. Before this, mine-search ships had entered the strait but three of them were destroyed by the shore guns, others escaped. It was risky for the battleships to continue the fight. The Ottaman's fort guns returned their fires. This attack wasn't effective. Allies were confused because of the fires from the forts that were thought completely destroyed. Powerful English and French battleships decided to go forward without searching for mines. Then French battleships entered the strait and stopped five mile away from the English battleships. Mesudiye, Dardanos, and Kepez forts were at the range of their guns. The day was hell. Many guns were firing at each other.The surface of the strait was covered with water fountains. Many places on land and over the battleships were on fire.

Then French battleships began moving to take place infront of the navy. Everything happened at that moment; Bouvet hit one of the mines, and it sunk immediately. The shock spread over allies, because all mines had been cleaned before at this area. But who would know that Nusret, the Turkish mine ship, had mined the same area after their cleaning operation. Irresistible and Ocean wanted to help Bouvet but because of the mines and heavy fire from the shore, they were wounded. After a few minutes these two enormous battleships were lost in the cold water of the strait. On the other hand, Gaulois, Souffren, Agamemnon, Albion, Inflexible, and Charlmange were in a very bad situation and getting worse. At the receding maneuver, Gaulois and Souffren hit the mines. Enemies lost half of their navy. Turkish forces lost 3 guns, 44 martyrs, and had 70 wounded soldiers. Passing from the strait with battleships was impossible for the allies. They finally realized the fact that Canakkale strait can not be crossed through. After that the land fights would begin.

From March 18 to April 25, the allies prepared to land at Gallipolli pennisula. Three landings were done at Kumkale, Saros Gulf, and Besige Harbour. These were made to mislead Turkish forces and to hide the main target. Liman Von Sanders, genaral of the strait forces, had a different plan. he thought the target was Bolayir -the most narrow neck of the pennisula respectively, and he believed that Turkish forces couldn't stop the enemy at the shore. They could be stopped at the upper side of the shores. This thought was completely wrong. Therefore, the battle was too bloody and long.

The allies had three targets: Seddulbahir, the first point of the pennisula, Ariburnu and Kabatepe ( known today as Anzak Cove ), and Sugla ( Suvla ) Bay. The first two landings were done on April 25, 1915. The last one was on August 8, 1915.

When they were close to the shores 3 hundred yards, there was still no sound. Then suddenly, a fire was increased from the cliffs to the sky. Everbody knew what this means. The men jumped from the boats and began to reach to the shores. Under heavy fire, some were shot, some drowned because of their heavy packs, and a few of them could reach the shores. The Anzac legend had began. Unexpecttedly this wasn't a beach, cliffs were standing infront of them as an obstacle. The fire came from the hills to down yard like a rain. Their situation were hopeless. Shots and cries had filled the air.

When the sun raised, they understood where they were. The sunrise showed that they were not on the Kabatepe beach. The current last night had swept them a mile north of the main target. Now they stuck in a norrow beach between the sea and the sharp cliffs. The trops had spread over the beach. Some groups of Australian had panetrated in land for a mile or more, but most of them were still on the beach among the rocks and the scrub of the ravines. The situation of the Turkish trops on the hills were the same as much as the Dominions.

By 7 am. one officer with his two scouts had succeeded to reach first three ridges on the coast. They could see the calm water of straits. The other group was very close to peak of Chunuk Bair as much as a half mile and there was no defense seen on the hills. The fair and hopelessness were gone and instead a string belief took place on Anzac trops. In a few minutes, officer gathered their trops and began to march through the hills.

They would be succesfull, they could be. One of the Turkish commander just received the information that the Anzac trops had landed on Ariburnu beach. He was standing with his division at the behind of defence line as a reserve unit. At 6.30 he received an order to stop the Anzack attack. Immediately he moved to stop this attack. The march was slow and the time was flowing. The area was also unknown for Turkish. The two quides were lost, Turkish officer found his way with his own ability. Because of long walk, he left his division for rest. When he reached the hills, he saw the battle ships and the transports in the sea. The worse thing was there was no defense infront of the Anzak trops. When he reached the slope of Chunuk Bair, he met a party of Turkish soldiers. They were running back and the enemy was close to the hills. He sent his officers to bring his division to the battle field. He stoped the Turkish soldiers and asked them why they were running. The answer was quite simple: "Sir the enemy" pointing down the hill. He ordered them to fight but they protested because they had no ammunition.

This was the most critical situation of the Galipoli war. He ordered again and forced them to fix their bayonets and lie down in a line. When the enemy saw their defence motion, they also stoped. In his report, the moment that they gained and changed the destiny of the war. He knew that his division and the other support groups could not stop more than 6 thousand soldiers. With his division and other units he started the fire. He immediately realized the situation of the war and arranged his units against this. He also ordered other officer to attend the war to stop the Anzak trops. His words are well know in our history because these words are missunderstood:" I don't order you to attack, I order you to die. In the time which passes until we die other trops and commanders can take our place." This young commander was the founder of modern Turkiye (Turkey) and his name is Mustafa Kemal. This was the epic of 57th Turkish Regiment. There was nobody left from this unit after the fight.They all died for Turkish land.

At the same time there was another fight on Seddulbahir beach and they were not lucky as much as Anzak trops. This was the second story of the landing. Battles at Cape Helles: Under General Hamilton, 5 separete landing were done to toe of penisula. This place was proper for landing and a perfect target for the naval guns. The right of the 300 yard wide cove, there were a ruined fortress and a village. Both two were a natural shelter for landers. This area had been searched many times.

At early morning, the village and the landing areas were bombed by the tramendeus naval warships. There was no reply from the shore. At night, River Clyde - a midsize soldier ship with twenty small boats had began to travel through the shore. The current of strait was giving more trouble to these foreigner. According to plan of General Hamilton, River Clyde would be landed to the shore and the soldiers would go shore. When the River Clyde grounded the shore, the first boat was a few yards far from the shore. There was unnatural silent around the shore. Suddenly a fire burst from the shore. It was unexpected for Allies. After many times bombardment, deah or demorilezed Turks came back their trenches and firing as a rain to Allies. This was the beach the Marines had walked safety two months before.

The men were strugling in the boats. Some of them had jumped into the water and reached the shelter of a little bank on the beach. They weren't moving under the storm of bullets. Men were tired immediately died. A sailor had landed his boad to the shore, realized that the passengers all were death in his boat. Everybody had the same situation. The others died in the boats shoulder to shoulder. Almost all died from the boats, only the men in the River Clyde were secure. Many times the soldiers had tried to get out from the bridges both side of the ship to land on the beach, but each attempt was more blody than the previous one. Their situation were hopeless. Air commander Samson were flying over Seddulbahir at that moment. He saw that the sea was absulately red with blood intead of blue. This was horrible sight to see for everybody.

General Hunter - Weston knew nothing about what was happening on the beach at cruiser Euryalus all this time. He sent the main body of the trops in the great misunderstanding. This was the massacre for them. At the other landing places, four landing had been going forward. they got much better success. Under the heavy fighting near the Tekke Point, about 1 mile far from the Cape Helles, considerable numbers of soldiers were on two landing place at "Eski Hisarlik"and "Tekke Point". What could be thought about the men on the western side of penisula for fifth landing place. This landing had been prepared for a trap. However nobody had reliazed that there were 2000 men there even Turks. They had their morning breakfast and tea without any defence. They knew nothing about what was going on at the Cape Helles beaches. The commander of this trop had no order to go forward. This pleasure time continued until they were relized. If they have moved forward, they would have changed the destiny of the war by encircling the equal Turks with themselves in numbers. If they did, they might have turned a masacre into a brilliant victory.

After the first landing on April 28, 1915 Org. Hamiltan ordered to attack to Kirte Hill (Alcitepe) at Capa Helles (Sebdulbahir). English trops under the navy guns attacked the right side of penisula but they were stoped and pushed back. Then Turkish attackes started on May 1, and continue until May 2, to push the enemy to the sea. In spite of heavy lost, Turks didn't move them. The power of navy guns was the reason for this failure. Having reinforcement from Egypt, Hamiltan ordered another attack towards the Turks on May 6 and continued two days until May 8. English and France trops strengthed by Indian trops and 2 ANZAK trops were taken back from Ariburnu landing, tried to break Turkish defense infront of the penisula. They didn't succeed very much but they were able to occupy a piece of land at Krithia (Kerevizdere). Both sides lost many lives during these attacks.

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 ANZAKs refused to use gas masks later, believing that Turks were fair soldiers. Yes they were ..

During June, Hamilton ordered three attacks to Turkish line at Capa Helles (Sebdulbahir) (infront of the penisula) on June 4, 21, and 28. Both sides lost many lives but got nothing. This was the end of Hamilton's dreams at Sebdulbahir landing. These failures caused consideration of third landing at Sulva bay.

Hamilton realized that as far as Turks control the hill, they would not be succesful. The plan was attacking and occupying the two strategical hills : "Kirich tepe" (Kirectepe) and "Tekke Tepe"(Teke Tepe) and joining to ANZAK trops and reaching to Chunuk Bair (Conbayir) then take" Kocacimen Tepe" at Anzak Cove (Ariburnu) after following landings at Sulva Bay. The landing started on August 5. At the beginning, they got successfull and occupied Kirectepe in spite of strong defense of Turks. But they weren't quick enough to change the destiny of the war at that moment, but they were still superior. Some of the trops reached the Chunk Bair and they were so close to occupy Chunk Bair. Additional Turkish trops were immediatly sent to the Sulva front and Chunk Bair but there were disorders among trops. This reinforcement stoped the enemy advance in Chunk Bair, but situation was very critical. This was the moment to take responsibility for Mustafa Kemal (the heart of Turkish defense). When L.V. Senders asked for his oppinion ; He relied "A unified command" and added "The only solution is to give all the trops under my command". "Won't that be too many" asked Liman. His answer was quick and finally "It will be too few".Limon Van Sander assigned Mustafa Kemal as a group commander of Anafartalar.

There was no time to wait for reinforcement. it was crucial to stop the enemy advance (move forward). On August 10, there was an hour to sunset, Turkish trops already took place to attack. Mustafa Kemal was infront of their trops, time was critical. If enemy naval bombartments start, the attack can turn to mascare for Turks. With his order, Turkish attack was started in the quiteness of the dark. After a second, there was shouting at the emeny trenches nothing else more. First trences were already occupied and the attack was continued down from hills driving the enemy back (known as First Anafarta Victory). "Kirectepe" was taken back after several counter attacks. With the sunset naval bombartment has started but it was imposible to determine exact targets, because all trops were already mixed and fighting then bombardment was stopped. The last Alied attempts were broken at Second Anafarta fights on 16-21 August 1915 and ended with "Kayacik Agili" fight on August 27, 1915. Now there was no way for Hamilton to reach Istanbul. It was the end for allied forces and Istanbul became a dream.

The trops were evacuated from Sulva and Ariburnu (Anzak Cove) fronts on December 19-20, 1915. They left "Sebdul Bayir" fronts without any lost on September 9,1915. It seemed like it was their succsess ,but infact it was wrong decision which was made by Turks not to fight back during their evacuation.Our next generation will always remember those unknown heros with their incredible epics.

1. "Adim Adim Canakkale Savas Alanlari",Ekrem Boz, Ata Ofset Ltd. 1994 Istanbul (Turkish). (topic can be translated as "Foot by Foot Canakkale Battle fields").
2. "Ottoman Steam Navy 1828 - 1923", Bernd Langessiepen and Ahmet Güleryüz, Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, Maryland, 1995.
3. " ATATURK A Biography of Mustafa Kemal, Father of Modern Turkey", Lord Kinross, Quill - William Morror an Company, Inc., New York, 1992

• The Pursuit of the Goeben and the Breslau
• British and Australian Submarines in the Dardanelles, 1915