Fort Roupel ( el, Οχυρό Ρούπελ) is a fortress at the north border of Central Macedonia, Greece, built-in 1914. It became part of the fortifications of the Metaxas Line in the 1930s and became famous for its defence during the German invasion of Greece in April 1941. The Rupel fortifications are not far from the Serres- Promachonas national road, which leads to the Greek-Bulgarian border. They are just a short distance from the border in the narrow

Rupel Gorge The Rupel () is a tidal river in northern Belgium, right tributary of the Scheldt. It is about long. It flows through the Belgian province of Antwerp. It is formed by the confluence of the rivers Dijle and Nete, in Rumst. It flows into the Sch ...

, through which the Strymon River flows. This place is strategically important for entry to Greek or Bulgarian territory and was fortified in 1914. During World War I, on 25 May 1916, the royal Greek government of Athens permitted the surrender of the fortress to the Germans and their Bulgarian allies as a counterbalance to the Allied forces that had been established in Thessaloniki. The German-Bulgarian troops then proceeded to occupy most of eastern

Macedonia Macedonia most commonly refers to: * North Macedonia, a country in southeastern Europe, known until 2019 as the Republic of Macedonia * Macedonia (ancient kingdom), a kingdom in Greek antiquity * Macedonia (Greece), a traditional geographic reg ...

without resistance. This act led to the outbreak of a revolt of Venizelist Army officers in Thessaloniki and the establishment of the

Provisional Government of National Defence The Provisional Government of National Defence (), also known as the State of Thessaloniki (Κράτος της Θεσσαλονίκης), was a parallel administration, set up in the city of Thessaloniki by former Prime Minister Eleftherios Ve ...

under

Entente Entente, meaning a diplomatic "understanding", may refer to a number of agreements: History * Entente (alliance), a type of treaty or military alliance where the signatories promise to consult each other or to cooperate with each other in case o ...

auspices there, opposed to the official government of Athens and King

Constantine I Constantine I ( , ; la, Flavius Valerius Constantinus, ; ; 27 February 22 May 337), also known as Constantine the Great, was Roman emperor from AD 306 to 337, the first one to convert to Christianity. Born in Naissus, Dacia Mediterranea ...

, cementing the so-called " National Schism". The fort also became famous during World War II, when the advance of the German armies on that front sector was halted here. On the eve of World War II, Fort Roupel was incorporated into the Metaxas Line, a new line of defence that was built to repel an invasion of Greece from Bulgaria. For three days, the fort held out against German attack and was only abandoned by its men after the surrender of the Greek army in Thessaloniki. Today one of the fortification's galleries is open to visitors, as is a small museum and the pavilion the visitors, the observatory and the memorial of fallen soldiers. In the gallery, the visitor has the opportunity to feel the moments of the battle. Walking the wards and in the side aisles, some dioramas depict the Greek fighters battle forts (gunner, doctor to doctor caring for injured, the sergeant in his office and the office of captain and more

File:Macedonian_Museums-95-Ohiro_Roupel-434.jpg, Model of a sergeant File:Macedonian_Museums-95-Ohiro_Roupel-435.jpg, Entrance of visitable tunnel File:Macedonian_Museums-95-Ohiro_Roupel-436.jpg, Map of the battle for the fort in April 1941

References

Sources

* ''The original version of this article was taken from th
corresponding article
at th
''Museum of Roupel''
'' {{Authority control World War II museums in Greece Roupel Buildings and structures completed in 1914 Museums in Central Macedonia Buildings and structures in Serres (regional unit)