THE COMMANDER TOWER - Bodrum

In World War I Turkey entered the war against Austria, Bulgaria and their allies

England, France, Russia, Greece and later Italy. The allied forces decided to

investigate Bodrum Harbour and the boats in Bodrum. On 25 May 1915 a French battle

cruiser anchored near Bodrum. The Commander of the Gendarmerie Lieutenant Rıfat Bey gave

Ibrahim Nezihi Bey the duty of protecting Bodrum against any attempts of the French

dublex battle ship at sending troops to the town to investigate it. The French tried

three times to send troops to the harbour but they were unsuccessful each time. The

French after leaving many casualties and prisoners behind, left Bodrum after bombarding

the Castle and the Turkish Neighbourhood.

The tower at the southwestern end of the castle was restored and dedicated to the

memories of İbrahim Nezihi Bey, who defended Bodrum with Lieutenant Rıfat Önal and the

head of the district of Bodrum Faik Üstün on the 77th anniversary of the martyrdom of

İbrahim Nezihi Bey in battle. The upper floor of the Commander Tower is arranged as the

Commander’s room and the lower floor as his bedroom.

All the exhibitions at Bodrum Underwater Archaeology Museum are carried out in

accordance with modern museumship.