The Metaxas Line (, ''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
The prime minister of the Hellenic Republic ( el, Πρωθυπουργός της Ελληνικής Δημοκρατίας, Prothypourgós tis Ellinikís Dimokratías), colloquially referred to as the prime minister of Greece ( el, Πρωθυ ...
, 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.
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.
# Popotlivitsa (Ποποτλίβιτσα)
#
Istibey (Ιστίμπεη)
# Kelkagia (Κελκαγιά)
# Arpalouki (Αρπαλούκι)
# Paliouriones (Παληουριώνες)
#
Roupel (Ρούπελ)
# Karatas (Καρατάς)
# Kali (Κάλη)
# Persek (Περσέκ)
# Babazora (Μπαμπαζώρα)
# Maliaga(Μαλιάγκα)
# Perithori(Περιθώρι)
# Partalouska (Παρταλούσκα)
# Ntasavli (Ντάσαβλη)
#
Lisse (Λίσσε)
# Pyramidoeides (Πυραμιδοειδές)
# Kastilo (Καστίλο)
# Agios Nikolaos (Αγιος Νικόλαος)
# Bartiseva (Μπαρτίσεβα)
# Echinos (Εχίνος)
# 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.
Like the
Maginot Line
The Maginot Line (french: Ligne Maginot, ), named after the French Minister of War André Maginot, is a line of concrete fortifications, obstacles and weapon installations built by France in the 1930s to deter invasion by Germany and force the ...
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). There were few troops to defend the line as most of the Greek Army was fighting against the
Italians on the
Albanian front.
See also
*
Greco-Italian War
*
4th of August Regime
The 4th of August Regime ( el, Καθεστώς της 4ης Αυγούστου, Kathestós tis tetártis Avgoústou), commonly also known as the Metaxas regime (, ''Kathestós Metaxá''), was a totalitarian regime under the leadership of Gener ...
References
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External links
About the German invasion of GreeceBunkermuzeum, maps and ww2 fortificationsWorld War II Fortifications in Greece
{{Use dmy dates, date=April 2017
4th of August Regime
Battle of Greece
World War II defensive lines
1936 establishments in Greece
Ioannis Metaxas