Metaxas Line

The Metaxas Line (Greek: Γραμμή Μεταξά, Grammi Metaxa) was a chain of fortifications constructed along the line of the Greco-Bulgarian border, designed to protect Greece in case of a Bulgarian invasion after the rearmament of Bulgaria. It was named after Ioannis Metaxas, then Prime Minister of Greece, and chiefly consists of tunnels that led to observatories, emplacements and machine gun nests. The constructions are so sturdy that they survive to this day, some of which are still in active service. Some of them are open to the public.

Metaxas Line
Northeastern Greece
Dragon's teeth along the Metaxas line, near the Greek-Bulgarian border.
TypeDefensive line
Site information
Controlled byGreece
Open to
the public		Yes
Site history
Built1936–1941
In use1936–1945
MaterialsConcrete and steel
Battles/warsBattle of Greece in World War II

The Metaxas Line consists of 21 independent fortification complexes, the largest of which is Fort Roupel as it covers 6.1 out of the 155 km of the full line and had been constructed at a height of 322 m. Illumination was initially mostly provided by oil-lamps, although generators were also installed. Currently, the fortifications are supplied with public electricity, but they are also equipped with generators. Ventilation was achieved both naturally and artificially. Water was supplied via water-mains. The fortification works lasted four years and their cost at the time reached 100,400,000 drachmas.

List of fortification complexes

The following 21 forts make up the Metaxas Line, ordered from West to East along the Greco-Bulgarian border.

  1. Popotlivitsa (Ποποτλίβιτσα)
  2. Istibey (Ιστίμπεη)
  3. Kelkagia (Κελκαγιά)
  4. Arpalouki (Αρπαλούκι)
  5. Paliouriones (Παληουριώνες)
  6. Roupel (Ρούπελ)
  7. Karatas (Καρατάς)
  8. Kali (Κάλη)
  9. Persek (Περσέκ)
  10. Babazora (Μπαμπαζώρα)
  11. Maliaga(Μαλιάγκα)
  12. Perithori(Περιθώρι)
  13. Partalouska (Παρταλούσκα)
  14. Ntasavli (Ντάσαβλη)
  15. Lisse (Λίσσε)
  16. Pyramidoeides (Πυραμιδοειδές)
  17. Kastilo (Καστίλο)
  18. Agios Nikolaos (Αγιος Νικόλαος)
  19. Bartiseva (Μπαρτίσεβα)
  20. Echinos (Εχίνος)
  21. Nymfaia (Νυμφαία)

History

Before the outbreak of World War II, the additions made to the Roupel Fortress were considered to be too weak. Thus, it was decided that further fortifications should be constructed, not only in that particular region, but also along the entire northern Greek borderline. The plans were drawn up in 1935 and work began at Kerkini in 1936. The original intention was that the full fortifications' line reach as far along the border as Ormenion. Greece, however, became involved in World War II in 1940, thus preventing completion. At the war's outbreak, the fortification line had only reached Komotini, Thrace and was 155 km long.

German artillery shelling the Metaxas Line.
Istibey fortification, Metaxas Line, machine gun post

Like the Maginot Line on the Franco-German border, the Metaxas Line was outflanked by German forces specifically when the Germans invaded Greece in April 1941 through Yugoslavia. The German XVIII Mountain Corps and XXX Army Corps attacked the Metaxas Line before dawn on 6 April, but they encountered fierce resistance under the leadership of Brig. General Konstantinos Th. Bakopoulos, and after three days of fighting they had only limited successes. The 2nd Panzerdivision XVIII Mountain Corps with an enveloping move crossed the Yugoslavian borders, overcame Yugoslav and Greek resistance and captured Thessaloniki on the 9th of April. The capture of Thessaloniki forced the Greek East Macedonia Army Section to surrender on the 10th of April and the Metaxas Line battle was over.

German General Wilhelm List, who led the attack against the Metaxas Line, admired the bravery and courage of these soldiers. He refrained from taking the Greek soldiers prisoner and declared that the army was free to leave with their war flags, on condition that they surrender their arms and supplies. He also ordered his soldiers and officers to salute the Greek soldiers (Beevor 2005, p. 20). The line was also poorly manned as most of the Greek Army was fighting against the Italians, on the Albanian front.

See also

References
  • Hellenic Army General Staff / Army History Directorate (Γενικό Επιτελείο Στρατού / Διεύθυνση Ιστορίας Στρατού) (1958). The Struggle in Eastern Macedonia and Western Thrace (Αγώνες εις Ανατολικήν Μακεδονίαν και Δυτικήν Θράκην). The Greek Army during World War II (Ο Ελληνικός Στρατός κατά τον Δεύτερο Παγκόσμιο Πόλεμο).
  • Kaufmann, J.E. (1999). Fortress Europe: European Fortifications of World War II. Combined Publishing. ISBN 1-58097-000-1.
  • Beevor, A. (2005). Crete: The Battle and the Resistance. John Murray. ISBN 0-7195-6831-5.
  • Hellenic Army General Staff / Army History Directorate (Γενικό Επιτελείο Στρατού / Διεύθυνση Ιστορίας Στρατού), Period of WW II, F.629/A/1 (1941). Field report of the Army Section of Eastern Macedonia by Lt. General Konstantinos Bakopoulos, from 2/8/1941 to 4/10/1941.

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