Akdeniz Municipality, on the 101st anniversary of Mersin's liberation from the enemy occupation, is reorganizing the trenches and positions in Arpatepe in the Nacarlı District of the district, where the first torch of the liberation struggle in the city was lit. The first bullet against the invading French armies was fired in the Arpatepe trenches in Nacarlı.
Akdeniz Municipality has resurfaced and revitalized the trenches dug by the Kuvvai Milliye troops in the Nacarlı Mahallesi Arpa Tepe location against the invading French soldiers, which were of great importance in the liberation of the city from the enemy occupation. It is known that the Kuvayi Nationalists, who took Nacarlı, one of the regions that were the only transit route to Mersin at that time, later removed the invading French soldiers from the city with the support they received.
“A place that reveals how salvation happens…”
Mayor of the Mediterranean, M. Mustafa Gültak, who visited the trenches with his delegation and hoisted the flag, said, “Nacarlı; It is an indication of how our valiants and martyrs expelled the French on January 3, how they captured these places, and how Mersin was liberated afterwards," he said. your words; President Gültak continued as follows: “We came to one of the places that explained how January 3 developed”; “There are excavations and carvings on unnatural rocks in Nacarlı. The French used these places as rooms. Because the space is an area that completely dominates the plain. This is an area that can easily control all the operations between Adana-Mersin, Tarsus-Mersin. This is Arpatepe, there are also Sucular and Musas. The French took control of these regions, led the war and controlled the crossings. By controlling the only bridge connecting Mersin and Tarsus just below, they prevented any logistics or military flow.”
“French people are being disturbed by artillery fire from here”
Noting that Mersin's real liberation struggle started from here, Mayor Gültak said, “We came here to tell about this. We excavated here. First, Arpatepe is captured and a cannon is brought by Sucular. With this ball, the French are being disturbed. Afterwards, the bridge is captured and thus the Kuvayi Milliye troops can easily pass from Adana and Tarsus regions to Mersin. Having difficulty in sheltering here, the French are losing their control with the support coming to Mersin. Then, on January 3, the whole of Mersin was liberated,” he said.
“You need to know Mersin's Liberation story”
President Gültak drew attention to the importance of Nacarlı in the liberation of Mersin and said that Nacarlı had been ignored for years. President Gültak said, “We are celebrating the Liberation of Mersin on January 3, but this story should also be known. Nacarli; It is an indication of how our valiants and martyrs expelled the French on January 3, how they captured these places, and how Mersin was liberated afterwards. The main events, the wars took place here. The French wanted to rule from here. Mersin was liberated after these areas were taken from the invading soldiers. Therefore, when we conduct a historical research, we will see together how important Nacarlı is.”
“We will negotiate with the Ministry”
Noting that they rearranged the hill, Mayor Gültak said, “We carried out excavations here and we also placed a sign telling the history of the region. We also planted our Turkish flag. We will now hold talks with our Ministry of Culture and Tourism and our Directorate for this place. Because this is a site. I am sure that as the excavations continue, different things will emerge.”
“There is a struggle where the youth whose army is scattered are born from the ashes”
Historian and Writer Ömer Çelikarslan from Ankara University, who was in the delegation that visited the region; “After the First World War, there is a struggle where the youth, whose army was disbanded, are reborn from the ashes. After the fall of this place, one of the 3 bridges passes into the hands of the Kuvai Nationalists and the process towards the liberation of Mersin gains speed. At this point, I would like to thank the authorities who climbed this hill again after 101 years and worked to bring the national and spiritual values to the light again.”
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