This website has been prepared by
the first "hotel de charme" on the Gallipoli peninsula
From his youth he (*) is used to sleeping on the hard floor. The Turks do not
know the bed at all, at most they use carpets or mattresses which are taken
from the cupboard at night and placed somewhere on the floor ...
Rice and meat are a luxury for him. The emergency ration, if there is one at
all, consists of a slice of bread and some olives, the latter wrapped in the
corner of a rather dubious looking handkerchief. In the morning he has gruel,
late in the afternoon he has another soup, sometimes with meat, but always
prepared with oil. His basic dish is Bulgur ... Squashed wheat cooked mostly
in rancid oil and served cold.
(*) the Turkish Soldier
The greatest
passion of the Turks is “tütün” (tobacco). Sometimes I received from the
Marshall (*) packs of tobacco and cigarettes which I distributed
at the front. It was always a great joy for me when I was going to the front
line to see the men –with “one eye on the enemy” through the loopholes- extent
their left hand backwards. I’d put two cigarettes in each. Only on rare
occasions did one hear a “teschekürderim” (thank you) but nevertheless I felt
how happy these brave soldiers were.
(*) Liman Von Sanders
Although we were only at the beginning of the war, the outfit of the soldiers was unbelievable. Their clothes where made of both winter and summer fabric, were in a range of different shades and above all thorn. One could see all kind shoes, but most of all footwear would consist of a simple piece of leather, held in place by strings … Later in the campaign it was not uncommon to see British uniforms.
All above extracts have been reproduced and translated from “Gallipoli - Significance and course of the campaign”, (Berlin 1927), Colonel Hans Kannengieser, pages 136 till 145
The (Turkish) soldier’s connection with his home was not, as otherwise usual, made by letter through the postal system, but mostly through an older man, who decided to visit the troops in the field. He would travel around in his area to collect letters and oral messages from parents and relatives. Then he would visit the troops in the field. After many months he would find them, and would exchange letters and messages with the soldiers in the area. Only after some months would he return home.