Çanakkale Martyrs' Monument

Çanakkale Şehitler Abidesi is located in Çanakkale, on the Gallipoli Peninsula, at a place called Eskihisarlık Burnu. This monument was erected in memory of the soldiers who lost their lives during the Battle of Çanakkale.

How Was the Monument Created?

A competition was held for the monument’s design, and the proposal by Doğan Erginbaş, İsmail Utkular, and Feridun Kip was selected from 37 entries. Construction began on 17 April 1954 and was inaugurated on 21 August 1960, marking the 45th anniversary of the Second Battle of Anafartalar.

What Does the Monument Represent?

The monument was built to honor the soldiers who died in the Battle of Çanakkale. Its architect, Doğan Erginbaş, stated that the monument symbolizes the ascent of the fallen soldiers toward the sky. At its base, relief sculptures depict scenes from the war.

Symbolic Cemetery Area

Behind the monument lies a symbolic cemetery opened in 2007. Here, the names of 59,408 soldiers who died in the Battle of Çanakkale and whose identities are known are inscribed. In front of the cemetery is a 45-meter-long relief depicting the wartime period. Additionally, there is a tomb of an unknown soldier and a stone plaque bearing the words spoken by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in 1934 for the allied soldiers.

Commemoration Ceremonies

Every year on 18 March, ceremonies are held at the Çanakkale Şehitler Abidesi. People from various parts of Türkiye gather here to honor the soldiers who lost their lives.