'104 years ago, Turkish soldiers defended human values'

By Ismail Ozdemir</p> <p>CANAKKALE, Turkey (AA) – The Turkish nation made history over a century ago in the pivotal battle of Canakkale (Gallipoli), said a top Turkish official on Wednesday.</p> <p> “The defense of Canakkale was not only a struggle in which the Turkish people defended their homeland,” said Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, Turkey’s culture and tourism minister, at a ceremony marking the 104th anniversary of the land portion of the battle in northwestern Turkey.</p> <p> “Turkish soldiers defended, protected, and rescued the values of humanity too on the battlefield with the steadfastness and compassion they had for the sake of their belief.” </p> <p>He added that those soldiers gave “the most meaningful answer to the rapidly spreading racism and Islamophobia in the world today.” </p> <p>Top officials and representatives of countries gathered on Wednesday at the site of one of World War I's bloodiest battles to pay respects to the thousands — Turkish, British, Australian, and New Zealand soldiers — who died fighting in the Gallipoli land campaign over 100 years ago.</p> <p>Ersoy stressed that even with limited weapons and ammunition, Turkish soldiers brought to heel the most advanced militaries of the era during the 1915 battle. <br> <br> “This victory had a major impact on world military and political history and was a turning point in our national history that shaped our future,” he added. <br> <br> Ersoy also paid his respects to the all martyrs and heroes who fell in that landmark campaign that changed the course of the Great War and gave a glimmer of hope for the country’s future war for independence. <br> <br> The battle took place between April 25, 1915 and Jan. 9, 1916. <br> <br> Britain and France wanted to secure their ally Russia, as the Gallipoli peninsula provides a sea route to what was then the Russian Empire. <br> <br> Their aim was to capture the capital of the Ottoman Empire, Istanbul. <br> <br> Turks repelled a naval attack, and there were many casualties on both sides during the eight-month offensive. <br> <br> When the land campaign also failed, the invading forces withdrew.

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