Snow sculptures commemorating the martyrs of the Sarıkamış Campaign were officially unveiled in the district of Sarıkamış in Turkey’s eastern province of Kars as part of events marking the 111th anniversary of the historic operation.
The sculptures were prepared under the coordination of Kafkas University’s Kazım Karabekir Technical Sciences Vocational School, led by Associate Professor Muhammet Hanifi Zengin, with the support of local authorities. The project, carried out under the supervision of the Governor’s Office and District Governor’s Office, took ten days to complete.
During the opening ceremony, Turkish Aeronautical Association pilots flew paramotors carrying Turkish flags and a banner reading “There Is a Mark on This Land,” the official motto of the Sarıkamış commemorations.
Later in the day, members of the 57th Commando Battalion stationed in Sarıkamış, along with Gendarmerie Search and Rescue (JAK) teams, staged a torch-lit ski descent at Sarıkamış Ski Center. The soldiers carried Turkish flags and portraits of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk as they descended from the summit.
At the end of the descent, the troops ignited a metal installation reading “Sarıkamış 111th Year,” marking the conclusion of the commemorative ceremony.
The Sarıkamış Campaign remains one of the most poignant chapters in Turkish military history, and annual commemorations aim to honor the thousands of soldiers who lost their lives under harsh winter conditions during the operation.
Source: AA
