Dear Members of the Turkish American Community,
March 18, 2026 | Today, the Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA) respectfully commemorates the 111th anniversary of the Battle of Çanakkale/Gallipoli. We honor this great national victory—the day allied warships were repelled by the courage and sacrifice of Turkish gunners and foot soldiers at the Çanakkale fortifications. The battle lasted two years claiming the lives of over 70 thousand British, Australian, French, New Zealand and Indian troops on one side, and over 60,000 Ottoman soldiers on the other side.
The invasion of Çanakkale at the westernmost point of the Ottoman Empire occurred concurrently with the Russian invasion of Eastern Anatolia. Between 1915 and 1922, over three million Ottoman Muslims were killed or displaced during the Greek, French, and Italian invasions of Western and Southeastern Anatolia. Furthermore, over 1.1 million Ottoman Muslims were massacred or displaced during the Armenian revolts that facilitated the Russian invasion.
Under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk—then a brilliant young army officer—Çanakkale is considered by many to be the spark of the Turkish War of Independence. It marked a national awakening that changed the course of world history.
This victory was more than a defense against foreign occupation; it provided the Anatolian people with the confidence to begin the struggle for independence. This movement ultimately marked the end of the imperial dynasty and theocratic order of the 700-year Ottoman Era, leading to the birth of the Turkish Republic in 1923—a nation founded on secular democracy, a pluralistic society, gender equality, and universal human rights.
On this special day, let us take a moment to honor the martyrs and veterans who fought for Türkiye’s independence so valiantly and selflessly, ensuring the freedoms we treasure today.
Canakkale Martyrs Monument
The Çanakkale Martyrs Memorial is a war memorial commemorating the service of 253,000 Turkish soldiers who participated at the Battle of Gallipoli, which took place from April 1915 to December 1915 during the First World War.
