Mehmetçik the Common Soldier
This site is about the common soldier. It was the gallant Mehmetçik who wrote, in his own blood, this epic tale of war. The heroism and sacrifice of the common soldier is a story which will never be forgotten... Along with him, this site honours all men and women, soldier or civilian, who have given their lives in this bloodiest conflict mankind has ever seen. All gave some, some gave all...
Gallipoli
The Dardanelles were made 'impassible' for the
Allied forces, but this was achieved at a huge cost for the Turks. Soldiers fought on hills and in valleys, under a rain of metal and fire... Gallipoli has not only changed the course of the war.
More importantly, the Turkish nation found its identity during the defense
of "Çanakkale". It was where a great leader was born: Mustafa Kemal,
who became the founder of the modern Turkish Republic after the war.
Enver Paşa - Hero or Villain?
Enver was the Minister of War and the de facto leader of the Ottoman Empire when he was still in his early thirties. The debate is still on whether he was a devoted patriot or a callous dreamer who did not hesitate to send his men to their deaths. He was not a traitor, but he was also not a hero. He was just a man, with all his ideals and mistakes. Ambivalent feelings about Enver Paşa abound, but one thing is clear: He had an extremely interesting life...
Alliance with Germany
The Ottoman Empire entered the war on the side of the Central Powers, opening a new front in what was mainly a European war. Several German commanders took important posts in the Turkish military, although they were not always in perfect harmony with their Turkish counterparts. The World War turned out to be a last nail in the coffin for both empires, with one of the nations sliding into chaos and the other rising back from its ashes.
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