Although the campaign in the Dardanelles region during the 1915-16 caused ca. 500.000 casualties (dead, wounded and missing), in Poland it still remains an obscure episode of the Great War. From the perspective of Turkey and the British Commonwealth countries, however, it had crictical importance. On one hand, it marked the beginning of a brilliant military career for the future founder and first president of the Turkish Republic, Kemal Atatürk, on the other hand it became a temporary obstacle in political career of the man who designed its plan, Sir Winston Churchill. The fighting on the Gallipoli Peninsula played a crucial role in shaping of the national identity of Australians, New Zealanders and contemporary Turks. Some historians who voice a opinion that the defeat of the Entente troops at the Dardanelles precipitated the outbreak of the Russian revolution.

The main goal of the "Gallipoli – 100 years after the battle" exhibition, created by Piotr Nykiel Phd from the JU Chair of Turkology, is to encourage visitors to visit the Dardanelles region, which makes unique combination of relatively well preserved battlefields and fortifications with charming scenery. The exhibition features thirty display boards which present a general information (in Polish and Turkish) about the genesis, course and aftermath of naval operations in the Dardanelles, and of the Gallipoli campaign. The iconographic material is represented by ca. 100 contemporary photographs, majority of them illustrating the present condition of battlefields and cemeteries. Visitors will also find archival photos and information about Poles who fought in that theatre of operations.

The exhibition will be available until 7th April 2015, daily from 9:00 to nightfall. Free entry.

Sponsor of the exhibition: Yunus Emre Enstitüsü – Turkish Culture Centre in Warsaw, and Gülermak – Heavy Industries Construction and Contracting Company.