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“1915 Trench Reenactment” Opened to Visitors.

10 August 2023 Thursday

Çanakkale Governor İlhami Aktaş, our Historical Site Director İsmail Kaşdemir, 2nd Corps Commander Major General Rasim Yaldız, Çanakkale Dardanelles and Garrison Commander 5th Supply Colonel Mustafa Ünal, Eceabat District Governor Mustafa Çiftçiler, Çanakkale protocol, veterans, non-governmental organizations and citizens attended the opening ceremony, which was held with intense participation. The 1915 Trench Reenactment project reveals that victory was not easy at all in these lands, where the spirit of Çanakkale was born, and in the war, where the preface of the Republic was written. Çanakkale is one of the battlefields where the toughest trench warfare had took place in the world. We all know very well how steadfast and courageous the Mehmetçik (Turkish soldiers) were in the trenches of Bomba Sırtı, where Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk gave the order to his soldiers to attack, saying "I order you to die". While describing the Bombs Sırtı incident, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk had said; “The distance between the opposing trenches is eight meters, which means death is inevitable… Those in the first trench fall completely, none surviving, and those in the second go to replace them. But do you know how admirable he is with moderation and trust! He sees his friend fall dead, knows that he will die in three minutes, and does not show even the slightest indifference; No shaking! Those who can read are preparing to enter heaven with the Quran in their hands. Those who do not know are walking by chanting the Kalima Shahadah (Testimony of Faith in Islam). This is an astonishing and congratulatory example that shows the spiritual strength of the Turkish soldier. You must be sure that it is this high spirit that won the Battle of Çanakkale." As the Directorate of Historical Site, we are working to better convey to future generations how this homeland was won and how we achieved our Republic. We aim to better explain to our visitors under what conditions our Mehmetçik made Çanakkale Impassable and under what conditions our Mehmetçik fought that great struggle in these lands where the Çanakkale Spirit was born. In this context, the 1915 Hilal-i Ahmer (Red Crescent) Hospital Exhibition, which describes transportation and subsistence along with health services behind the façade opened by our Directorate on 18 March 2018 in Alçıtepe Village of Eceabat District, has become one of the most important focal points visited by visitors to the Historical Site. In the second stage of this project, the 1915 Trench Reenactment Project, a day in the trenches has been described by selecting the memoirs and diaries of our soldiers who participated in the Çanakkale Land Battles, and photographs of that period. We Invite You to Feel the Spirit of Çanakkale. In the project, which includes sections from the experiences in these trenches, which are the place, homeland, hearth and grave of the Turkish soldiers, the narration has been strengthened by supporting period animations with voice-overs, and thus, the visitors will have a better understanding of the conditions under which our Turkish soldiers made Çanakkale impassable and what a great struggle was given in these trenches by comprehending the spirit of Çanakale. In the 330-meter-long trench animation work, there are 12 sections including Surveillance, Soldiers Waiting, Machine Gun, Soldiers Resting, Surveillance-2, Headquarters, Mine Tunnel Entrance, Soldiers Attacking, Arsenal, Martyrs in the Collapsed Trench, Infantrymen Shooting and Soldiers Drinking Soup in the Caravan.