Turkish 57th Regiment

Turkish 57th Regiment Memorial: Honoring the Ottoman Heroes of Gallipoli

Location: Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey
Commemorating the bravery and sacrifice of the Turkish 57th Infantry Regiment

The Role of the 57th Regiment in the Battle of Gallipoli

• The Turkish 57th Regiment was the main Anatolian infantry force defending Gallipoli in 1915.
• Led by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the regiment launched a counterattack against the ANZAC troops landing at Anzac Cove on April 25, 1915.
• An ANZAC warcraft still lies submerged near the bay, a silent reminder of the fierce battle.

Ataturk’s Famous Order to the 57th Regiment:

“I am not ordering you to attack, I am ordering you to die. In the time it takes us to die, new forces and commanders will take our place.”

• The 57th Regiment was almost entirely wiped out, becoming a symbol of ultimate sacrifice in Turkish military history.
• 57th Regiment Memorial: A Place of Remembrance
• Built in 1992 on the lower slopes of Baby 700 Hill, where the battle took place.
• Symbolic cemetery with plaques bearing the names of fallen Turkish soldiers.
• Statue of an unnamed Turkish soldier, symbolizing all who fought.
• Statue of Huseyin Kacmaz, Turkey’s oldest Gallipoli veteran (lived to 108, passed in 1994), depicted holding his granddaughter’s hand.

Nearby Memorials

• Lone Pine Australian Memorial – Honoring the fallen Australian soldiers.
• Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial – Commemorating New Zealand’s troops.
• ANZAC Cove – The site of the first landings and intense combat.

Why Visit the Turkish 57th Regiment Memorial?

• Pay tribute to the soldiers who gave their lives for their homeland.
• Understand the battle from both Turkish & ANZAC perspectives.
• Experience one of Gallipoli’s most important historical sites.
• Easily accessible from Eceabat, Gallipoli, Canakkale, and Istanbul.

The 57th Regiment Memorial is a moving tribute to Turkish bravery, sacrifice, and resilience during the Gallipoli Campaign.