ANZAC Day (April 25) is when Australia and New Zealand honour members of their World War I soldiers. ANZAC means Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. These brave soldiers fought half way across the world in Turkey, where they landed in Gallipoli on April 25, 1915. It was the first major fighting by Australian and New Zealand forces during the Great War. ANZAC Day is one of the most important holidays in the two countries. Schools and government offices close. The day is also celebrated in some of the Pacific islands, including Tonga and Samoa. Church services are held in almost every town in Australia and New Zealand. There are also ANZAC Day parades in state capitals, which are televised live.

April 25 is perhaps the most important day in the military histories of Australia and New Zealand. Their soldiers formed the man part of a plan to capture the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey and then Istanbul. Winston Churchill created the plan to help British soldiers defeat the German Army. His idea was that victory in Gallipoli would open up the Black Sea to the British Navy. Churchill said the attack would provide a knockout blow to Turkish troops. He was wrong. The bitter fighting lasted eight months. At the end of 1915, ANZAC forces were evacuated. Over 8,000 Australian and 2,700 New Zealand soldiers died. Their soldiers were welcomed home as heroes and he first ANZAC Day was named in 1916.

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