2. What is Çanakkale Monument
The Çanakkale Martyrs' Memorial is one of the important Monuments in Çanakkale
commemorating the service of about 253,000 Turkish soldiers who participated at the
Battle of Galippoli from April 1915 to December 1915 during WWI.
The location of the monument is inside of the Galippoli Peninsule Historical National Park
on Hisarlık Hill in Morto Bay at the southern end of the Galippoli peninsula in Çanakkale.
Çanakkale Monument is made to represent the respect to the soldiers who lost their lives
in Çanakkale Wars and also represents Çanakkale Victory.
3. History Of Çanakkale Monument
The monument is officially finished in 1960 due to lack of budget during it’s construction
but still there are some ongoing restorations.
The story of monument starts in 1944 to keep the memory of soldiers and Çanakkale Victory
everlastign. Ministry of National Defence came up with a contest for the erection of monument.
Doğan Erginbaş and İsmail Utkular’s project won the contest but lack of budget did not let the
project to start immediately. It took 10 years to start construction of monument. In 1952
because the construction was still not started some enterprises felt themselves responsible on
this topic and a campaign born with the help of İstanbul Governership. A committee prepared
to finish up the project which was working dependent to ‘Imar Cemiyeti’
4. Committee Members
Emin Nihat Sözeri Muhlis Erdener
Hamdi Mocan Kurmay Yarbay Cemal Yıldırım
Emin Nihat Sözeri Tevfik Demircigil
Mustafa İnan Orhan Safa
Mithat Özdeş
5. History Of Çanakkale Monument
On 19th April of 1954 the ground stone was laid with an official ceremony. Because there
were some deficits and error on the construction of the monument the project passed to
other contractors and it partially stopped developing. As an reflection to this situation Abdi
İpekçi the executive editor of Milliyet Newspaper started up an campaign asking donations
from society to finish up the monument’s construction project. Society and instutitions
were exquisite on this request and the needed budget was gain with the help of this
campaign. With the help of society and government Çanakkale Monument completed in
21 August 1960.
6. Significance Of Çanakkale Monument
In 14 November 1980 Çanakkale Monument has been marked as a Cultural Asset and got
a trade mark by Ministry of Arts and Culture.
Also there is an existing museum of ‘Savaş Eserleri’ under the monument. In this area
weapons, photographs and may other things that were used while the Çanakkale Wars
were happening. This section of the monument was opened in 21 August 1971 by Queen
of England II. Elizabeth on her visit to Turkey.
There is a huge set-up built on the ceremony side of the monument which represents
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk on the first place and his fellow soldiers. This set-up indicates
Mustafa Kemal and his fellow soldiers’ act in Çanakkale Wars. At this area a huge Turkish
Flag smilar to the one in Anıtkabir is located too.
7. Structure Of Çanakkale Monument
The monument sees Morto Bay and it’s height is 41 metres and 70 cantimetres. he
41.70 m (137 ft) high monument is in the form of four square columns 7.5 m (25 ft) wide
with 10 m (33 ft) space between each other, topped by a concrete slab of 25 by 25 m (82
by 82 ft).
In today’s world there are on going constructions, restorations and outlying buildings
around the monument.
8. Sources:
• Ataybay, M., Erat, M., Çobanoğlu, H. (2009). Çanakkale Şehitlikleri. Türkiye İş Bankası Kültür
Yayınları
• Ulubelen, E. (1967). Çanakkale Muharebesi
• Günesen, F. (1986). Çanakkale Savaşları. Kastaş Yayınları
