Çakmak Line

Çakmak Line
Çakmak Hattı
Eastern Thrace
TypeDefensive line
Site information
Controlled byTurkey
Open to
the public		Yes
ConditionAbandoned
Site history
Built1936–1941
In use1936–1945
MaterialsConcrete and steel

The Çakmak Line (Turkish: Çakmak Hattı) is a defense line established by Turkey, first on the Kırklareli-Edirne line and then in Çatalca in order to deter and counter any attack by the Germans on the Eastern Thrace border. It was built in anticipation of the outbreak of World War II. It stretched from the Sea of Marmara to the Black Sea.[1]

History

The Chief of the General Staff, Marshal Fevzi Çakmak, used the French Maginot Line as an example,[2][3] and prepared plans for a fixed defensive line constructed of concrete and steel in Thrace. Fevzi Çakmak wanted to give this line of defense his last name. However, President Mustafa Kemal Atatürk opposed his plan and said:

War is always fought on the ground and it is won or lost on the ground. No matter how powerful the Çakmak Line is, its lifespan is as short as that of a battle. I do not bury my people's money under the ground for a whim.[4]

After the death of Atatürk on November 10, 1938, İsmet İnönü became the president.[5] During his presidency, and in anticipation of the outbreak of World War II, the General Staff established the Çakmak Line, as proposed by Çakmak, in the north of Kırklareli in order to resist any attack that might come from the Balkans on the Thrace border.[6] In February 1941, the Germans invaded Bulgaria and reached the Turkish border.[5] Thereupon, it was decided to draw the line to Çatalca.[6] It was considered doubtful that this plan would be successful in the face of modern tactics used by the Germans.[5]

The Çakmak Line was built in two lines starting from Terkos Lake (Durusu) to Büyükçekmece. On these lines, there are military bunkers, some of which are large and some of which are small. This position is connected to each other with wall wire and iron barriers.[1] Çakmak Line Construction could not progress due to lack of cement and iron. Only 380,000 tons of cement could be produced annually, and it was found in these factories in places that could be easily destroyed.[7]

After Nazi Germany invaded Greece, the Çakmak Line lost its defensive function, as it was arranged against attacks from Bulgaria, whereas Germany could now invade Turkey via Western Thrace.[8] If the enemy forces attacked directly from the lower part of the Meriç river, İsmet İnönü had the Çakmak Line evacuated and pulled the army to the Çatalca line, since the Çakmak Line, which stretched along the northern border of Thrace, would cease to meet with the back part.[9] Many soldiers lost their lives in the Cakmak Line due to the cold.[2] In Çatalca, on the other hand, the people in the villages suffered and some of them even migrated to Anatolia.[1] Today, the bunkers belonging to the Çakmak Line can still be seen in Eastern Thrace.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Tarihçe-Cumhuriyet Döneminde" (in Turkish). Çatalca Belediyesi. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
  2. ^ a b "Hazan ve yıkım yılları" (in Turkish). Radikal gazetesi. Archived from the original on 13 November 2004.
  3. ^ "80. Yılında 2003 Penceresinden Lozan Sempozyumu". Türk Tarih Kurumu. 2005. pp. s. 159.
  4. ^ "Nâzım Hikmet'in gerçek yaşamı". Yalçın Yayınları. 1987. pp. s. 57.
  5. ^ a b c "Dünya Tarihi Ansiklopedisi". Milliyet gazetesi. 1991. pp. s. 311.
  6. ^ a b "Mihri Belli'nin anıları". Milliyet Yayınları. 1989. pp. s. 200.
  7. ^ "İkinci Dünya Savaşı" (in Turkish). Hacettepe Üniversitesi. Archived from the original on 6 March 2011.
  8. ^ "İsmet İnönü". Burhanettin Erenler Matbaası. 1952. pp. s. 210.
  9. ^ "Başın öne eğilmesin". Remzi Kitabevi. 2006. pp. s. 103.
  10. ^ "Anılar ve düşünceler". İdea. 1996. pp. s. 139.