Martyrs frozen to death 93 years ago commemorated
Turkey commemorated the 93rd death anniversary of thousands of Turkish martyrs frozen to death on the Allahüekber Mountains during World War I, 93 years ago, with a ceremony held in the Kars' Upper Sarıkamış village yesterday.


Due to inclement weather conditions and a lack of necessary equipment to deal with cold weather, the Ottomans suffered a heavy defeat at the Battle of Sarıkamış during World War I. The Russians came out victorious over the Ottomans in the Caucasus Campaign during the war.

The war aimed to recapture the eastern city of Kars and the port of Batum, which were lost to the Russian during the Russo-Turkish War in 1877. However, Ottoman forces suffered as many casualties from the winter as from the Russians on the Allahüekber Mountains.

The Ottoman Army, headed by Enver Pasha, began its march on Dec. 22, 1914. Enver Pasha decided to put into effect a grand plan to destroy the Russians at Sarıkamış. The Germans supported the plan with the hopes of diverting the Russian forces to the Caucasian front, but some senior Turkish commanders opposed it. The decisive battle took place on Dec. 29 and final fighting ended on Jan. 17, 1915. As a result of the battle, both sides suffered heavy casualties. The Ottoman 3rd Army was reduced to 20,000 from 95,000 while the Russians lost 16,000 soldiers and another group of 12,000 due to illnesses and frostbite.

Hill of Martyrs is not empty
There is someone who still guarding
And a chest, to breathe
Is waiting for wind.
His tomb is gone together with this holly hill
The ground he lied is certain
The flag he held is sure
Who said he is an unknown soldier.
He made his epic, satisfied for encomuim
A hand that's been reached out from the great beyond
For mortals to kiss it with decency one by one
Let's kiss it if our lips are clean
But our feet must not touch the ground
if they are not clear
Bodies should not break its wind
Speechs should not be louder than his voice
There must be declined the acclamations
There must be refused the fake flowers from unknowns
Enough for him only wishes from mothers and sons
Flowers which yellow in summer and white in winter is
ample for him
Tellers told just now
Come you manful with bayonet , to be applauded
Now you tell, it is your turn
Hill of Martyrs is not empty
Its ground is being watched by heroes
And a flag to wave
Is waiting for wind
Saga is alone, silence is deep for unknown soldier
His tomb is gone together with this holly hill
The ground he lied is certain
The flag he held is sure
Who said he is an unknown soldier.