SARIKAMIŞ HAKKINDA

HISTORY OF SARIKAMIŞ:

The origin of its name:

According to the 1.rumor: One of Circassian chieftains bought this land in return for a few food and a turban, the place was called SARIĞALMIŞ and later the Scotch pine forests were called SARIKAMIŞ.

According to the 2.rumor: This is due to a Turkish clan's settling in upper Sarıkamış Village from the Sarıkamış Hole region between the Caspian Sea and Aral Lake. History: Alparslan and his armies invaded the Byzantine Castle City of Ani, Kars Castle, Allahü Ekber and Soğanlı Mountains on August,16 1064 in order to spread the Islamic thought of Seljuk-Turk Empire founded in Horasan all over the World and to establish and sustain the Seljuk civilization, Turkish sovereignty over the regions from Middle East to Aegean Coast, Caucasus coast, from Caucasus to Yemen and Sarıkamış has become a Turkish land. After this successful historical event, the region comprising the border for centuries has always been the scene of the Turkish-Russian war. Especially in the XIX. and XX. Centuries there has been bloody events, dark and painful days, the place has been the victim of unjustifiable ambitions, an opportunity for shameless invasions, and a shelter for the feet of the enemies. In 1877-1878 Russians attacked our country with the aim of invasion to impose the thought of Panislavism. The Turkish army commanded by the Great Commander Ghazi Ahmet Muhtar Pacha crushingly defeated Russian armies. However, the Eastern front has fallen down because other fronts have suffered defeat due to the weakness of the Ottoman State. With AYASTEFANOS Treaty on 3rd March 1878, and Berlin Treaty on 13th July 1878, Kars, Batum and Ardahan were ceded to Russia as war compensation. These painful days continued for 40 years. Local people of Sarıkamış region have expressed the pain they suffered in their sad folk songs. During all these hard days of 40 years, on 1st November 1914 Russian armies proceeded to attack from Sarıkamış to Pasinler to invade Anatolia with the endless ambition of disgusting desires. After the Köprü köy battles of 6 days Russian armies were routed and retreated to Sarıkamış. Czar Nicholas established a second headquarters to boost his armies' morale and to prepare for a new attack. Meanwhile, famous Sarıkamış operation begun under the command of Enver Pacha to annihilate the Russian armies gathered between Sarıkamış, Selim and Kars. Because of severe weather conditions of winter, our army, which had to struggle against the nature more than the enemy, was defeated and this had been a disaster for the worldwide Turkish Community. This outcome has been recorded in history as a terrible tragedy and a painful memory. In this way hard days continued becoming harder. In 1917 the Communist Revolution broke out in Russia. While Russia was struggling against the turmoil of his own, Turkish army managed to recover and cornered Russians with the aid of local people. Russian armies had to leave the Anatolian borders by setting the villages, cities on fire and torturing people. With BRESLITOVSK peace on 3rd March 1918, Batum, Kars and Ardahan, which were ceded as war compensation, were surrendered back to their original owners. However, Russians did not stand still. With the aim of carrying out the policy of reaching the high seas, they provoked the Armenians and Tashnaks in Turkish land, which they had to leave, promising to help them found an Armenian state in the east and attacked Turks. Armenians and Tashnaks rebelled and attempted to realize a Turk massacre with the support of Russia. KAZIM KARABEKİR PACHA operation, which resulted in a victory on 5th April 1918 by ousting Armenians from Sarıkamış, started and a large area to Azerbaijan was captured, where local National Turkish sovereignties were established. Unfortunately, because of defeats in other fronts, Mundros Armistice was signed. Kars, Ardahan and Batum had to be ceded and the obligation of retreating backwards to the borders of 1914 appeared. One could not stand still against this heartrending outcome and this bad faith could not be submitted. Turkish nation decided to take care of his own affairs without receiving orders from others and to search for local liberation solutions by being organized. Also Sarıkamış committed to and supported the national council in Kars. Sarıkamış gave his three children for the membership of the establishment and devoted all his children to the service of the organization for defending the country.