World War 1 .. Çanakkale (Dardanelles) & ANZAC Day on 25th April
A SPECIAL DAY FOR AUSTRALIANS & NEW ZEALANDERS
25th April is Australia’s most important national commemoration day. It marks the anniversary of the first important military action undertaken by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War.
At that time the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps were referred to as ANZAC which stood for “Australian and New Zealand Army Corps”.
AUSTRALIANS AND N. ZEALANDERS LAND AT GALLIPOLI PENINSULA
When war broke out in 1914, Australia had been a federal commonwealth for only 13 years. In 1915 Australian and New Zealand soldiers formed part of the allied expedition that set out to capture the Gallipoli peninsula in order to open the Dardanelles to the allied navies.
The objective was to capture Constantinople (now Istanbul in Turkey), the capital of the Ottoman Empire, an ally of Germany.
The Australian and New Zealand forces landed on Gallipoli on 25 April where they met fierce resistance from the Ottoman Turkish defenders.
Their plans to knock the Ottomans (noe Republic of Turkey) out of the war quickly did not work and on the contrary they suffered heavy casualties and at the end of 1915 the allied forces (to include Australians) had to evacuate the territory.
LEGENDARY BATTLES AND ITS IMPACT ON THE HISTORY AND FUTURE OF AUSTRALIA
Over 8,000 Australian soldiers had been killed in the battles. News of the landing on Gallipoli had made a profound impact on Australians at home, and 25 April soon became the day on which Australians remembered the sacrifice of those who had died in the war.
Although the Gallipoli campaign failed in its military objectives, the Australian and New Zealand actions during the campaign left a powerful legacy and the “ANZAC legend” became an important part of the identity of both nations, shaping both their past and future.
WHAT DOES ANZAC WAR MEAN FOR AUSTRALIANS TODAY?
Australians recognise 25 April as an occasion to remember thie hereos in the Gallipoli battles. Several commemorative services are held across the nation as well as overseas.
In fact the country of Turkey (Ottoman Empire then) receives many visitors from Australia and New Zealand to commemorate their ancestors who lost their lives to fight for their countries in the war.
The good part is both nations Australians and Turks are friends now and sympathize with each other in regards to their strong emotions for all those lost lives. (24.04.2013)
