Another Section of the Çakmak Line of Defense in Çatalca Surfaced
03.02.2020
Another section of the Çakmak Line of Defense, which was built against the German Army by Marshal Fevzi Çakmak in the World War II, was unearthed in Çatalca. Çatalca Culture and Tourism Association President Ahmet Rasim Yücel explained the line of defense, some of which came to the surface with the receding of the water level in Büyükçekmece Lake.
Çatalca Culture and Tourism Association President Yücel stated that Çatalca had always been a line of defense for Istanbul as from its foundation and therefore our country against the enemies coming from the west, and said, "In the Roman period, Anastasian Defensive Wall was built with length of 56 km stretching from Silivri, Sea of Marmara to the Black Sea, Çatalca and Evcik Beach. In the Balkan Wars that took place in 1912-1913, with the arrival of the Bulgarian forces up to Çatalca, we are at a point where 657 martyrs lie in our Alaiye Martyrdom. He pointed out the historical importance of the region where the line is located and said, "It is a region including tunnels and bunkers of Çakmak Line of Defense, which was built by Marshal Fevzi Çakmak before World War II in the 1940s.
Although the exact number of Çakmak Line bunkers, which are seen especially on the shores of Çatalca and Büyükçekmece Lake, are not known, the number of structures on the surface increased due to receding of water level. With receding of the lake water level in Büyükçekmece Dam, it was also discovered that iron rails laid on ground, which were intended to prevent military tanks crossing, on the line from Marmara, Mimar Sinan and Büyükçekmece.
Çatalca Culture and Tourism Association President Ahmet Rasim Yücel
"It is known that approximately 350 Thousand Tons of Cement was used in the Construction of the Line"
Stating that a large amount of cement and steel is required to complete the bunkers, the construction of which was started, Yücel said, "During the World War II, while Germans were invading in Europe in 1938-1940s and marching towards Turkey, Marshal Fevzi Çakmak thought a defensive line similar to the Maginot Line in France needed to be built in Turkey too and took initiatives in this regard. Marshal Fevzi Çakmak created this system by building military bunkers and tunnels in the region from the Marmara Sea to the Black Sea. Cement production of 1 year of our country at that time was used here. It is known that approximately 350 thousand tons of cement was used in the construction of the line."
Providing information about the condition of the bunkers and the tunnels, Yücel said, "After the Germans turned back from Greece, the Çakmak Line along with its tunnels and military bunkers appeared to be built in vain and left to its fate. Since then, these bunkers and tunnels are empty. The military bunkers which were used as haylofts or barns by the villagers around at times are still there." And he wanted this historical line and its structures could be used for touristic purpose.
