On March 18, Turkey honors the memory of the fallen soldiers in the Battle of Canakkale, which began on March 18, 1915. This day is known as Memorial Day or Victory Day under Chanakkal.
During the First World War, the Ottoman Empire was part of the military bloc of the Central Powers. The geographical location of the Ottoman Empire allowed it to control the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits connecting the Mediterranean and Black Seas. This situation significantly complicated trade, economic and military ties between Russia and its partners in the Entente bloc.
In general, the struggle for these straits has always been a stumbling block in relations between Russia and Turkey. And the reasons for this struggle, of course, were primarily economic factors.
With the outbreak of the First World War and the strengthening of the Turkish fleet in the Black Sea, as a result of the breakthrough of German warships there, the balance of naval forces in the Black Sea Theater of Operations changed temporarily. The possibility of these ships entering the Allied Mediterranean communications created an additional threat to the Entente.
Already by the beginning of the war in England, there was a plan to land Allied troops on the Gallipoli Peninsula in order to capture and control the straits. The success of the operation simultaneously led to the disruption of communication between the Ottoman Empire and its allies in the Central Powers bloc. Turkey, if successful, found itself isolated, and the captured bridgehead made it possible to launch an offensive on the capital of the Ottoman Empire.
The offensive in the northern direction in the Balkans also put Austria-Hungary, which was waging a difficult confrontation with Russia in the East, in a difficult situation. Wobbling Bulgaria in such a situation simply could not join the bloc of Central Powers. The plan was interesting, not unfounded and promised great advantages if the operation to land and capture the straits was successful. One of the initiators and developers of the operation was Winston Churchill.
The first trial actions against Turkish coastal fortifications in the Dardanelles were carried out by the English fleet in November 1914. They did not produce serious results. But different conclusions were drawn from the warring parties. The Allies decided to make a breakthrough through the straits and capture Istanbul by naval forces without significantly involving ground forces, which turned out to be wrong. The Turks strengthened coastal artillery with new positions, and also carried out additional mining of the straits.
Intelligence received from the spy network confirmed the fears of the leadership of the Turkish army and navy that the allies were preparing for a military operation in the Dardanelles.
The Battle of Canakkala, known as the Dardanelles Operation or the Battle of Gallipoli, began in February 1915 and was among the largest battles of the First World War. Different countries use different names, but they are all geographically linked to the place where the events took place.
The Dardanelles operation began with the concentration of the allied squadron in the area of the Dardanelles Strait and the shelling of the coastal forts of the Ottoman Empire. On March 18, 1915, Entente forces attempted a general assault with the aim of breaking through the Dardanelles, which, despite superiority in forces, failed with heavy losses for the Allies, and the operation itself dragged on for six months.
The Allied command was forced to involve the army forces in joint actions with the fleet and carry out an amphibious operation. For the Ottoman Empire, this battle became one of the most important in history, and the realization by the authorities and command of the Turkish army of the seriousness of the possible consequences in the event of an Entente victory caused a decisive impulse of heroism and perseverance among the soldiers. All this saved the Ottoman Empire from defeat in 1915.
The victory at Canakkala is indeed very symbolic and important for Turkey. The severity of the confrontation is evidenced by a fact indicating losses in the Dardanelles operation on both sides. The Ottoman Empire lost over 180,000 people killed, wounded and missing. Allied losses amounted to over 160,000 people.
Today, memorials to fallen soldiers, including soldiers from among the Entente troops, have been erected at the site of the battles. In 2015, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the battle, the Turkish President and other senior officials of this state visited military graves and memorials. Representatives of the highest circles of countries that were part of the Entente bloc were also present at the memorial ceremony. Similar ceremonies with the participation of Turkish authorities are held in the country every year. In addition to the wreath-laying ceremony, prayer services are held in all mosques in the country in memory of the soldiers who died in the battle for their Motherland.