İkinci Dünya Savaşı’nda Kıyı ve İç Hat Savunması: Çakmak Hattı (Büyükçekmece-Çatalca) Koruganları
Coastal and Internal Defence during World War Two: Blockhouses of Çakmak Line (Büyükçekmece - Çatalca)

Summary/Abstract: Blockhouses are defensive structures that are built to protect the region thereof particularly against the bombardments of tanks and planes during a raid. The blockhouses were actually a result of the war strategy and technology that had been ongoing for centuries. The basic components of these durable strongholds were iron and concrete. Following the Industrial Revolution, the remarkable development in technology and the extensive use of warplanes and tanks prior to World War II had noticeably increased the significance of blockhouses. These structures were first used in the world in 1904 by Russians during the Russian-Japanese War. The blockhouses are known as pillboxes, bunkers, etc. in Europe and Korugans in Turkey. In Europe, especially in France, blockhouses began to be constructed as part of the defense strategy before World War II, which mentioned defense strategy of Europe was implemented, particularly, by Turkey. With the instructions of the then Chief of General Staff, Fevzi Çakmak, blockhouses were erected on those points of strategic importance in the Region of Marmara as well as on certain coastal spots of the Western Anatolia. The place where the blockhouses, known as Çakmak Line, were most intensively built was in the same region with the Çatalca Line, which was formed during the last period of the Ottoman State in order to protect Istanbul. The “Çakmak Line” covers the area on the east of Büyükçekmece Lake and Terkos (Durusu) Lake and the area between the mentioned two places. About ten different types of blockhouses have been determined along the Çakmak Line by the sizes and intended uses thereof. Upon the termination of the peril of World War II in Turkey, the blockhouses were left to their fate. To summarize, this article deals with the mentioned blockhouses that have been left to their fate and suggests what could be done to conserve this historical heritage.

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