Battle of Metaxas Line
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Metaxas Line, also known as Battle of the Forts (Greek
: Μάχη των Οχυρών), or Struggle for the Metaxas Line (German
: Kampf um die Metaxas-Linie), was the first battle during the Greek campaign
of World War II. The Germans succeeded in breaching the Greek fortified Metaxas Line
on the western flank and forced the Greek forces east of the Axios
river to surrender after four days of combat (6–9 April 1941).
For the purpose of the invasion of Greece, Germany tried to bring Greece's northern neighbours, Bulgaria
and Yugoslavia
, to the Tri-partite Pact alliance. Bulgaria agreed to allow passage of German troops for the attack on Greece, although Bulgarian troops would not participate in combat. Yugoslavia also agreed, but a coup overthrew the Yugoslav government. Although the pact was not denounced, Hitler decided to attack Yugoslavia as well as Greece.
signed by Greece, Yugoslavia, Turkey and Romania in 1934 which aimed at maintaining the geopolitical status quo in the region following World War I
. The Metaxas Line was a series of independent forts along the Greek-Bulgarian border, built on possible routes of invasion. Each fort's garrisons belonged to the division or brigade which controlled the respective border sector. The fortifications were built with the meagre resources that Greece could muster, and exploited at fullest the terrain. Construction had begun in 1936; however, by 1941 the line was still incomplete.
XVIII Mountain Corps
(Lt. Gen. Franz Böhme
)
XXX Corps (Lt. Gen. Otto Hartmann
)
and the independent Evros Brigade under Major General Ioannis Zisis:
East Macedonia Army Section (Lt. Gen. Konstantinos Bakopoulos)
West Thrace Zone of operations (Mj. Gen Ioannis Zisis)
The Yugoslav force that contributed directly to the defenece of Metaxas Line was the 20th "Bregalnička" Infantry Division, part of the 3rd Territorial Army of the Yugoslav army. It confronted the German 2nd Panzerdivision, which would attempt to outflank the entire Greek position crossing into Greece from Yugoslav territory.
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
: Μάχη των Οχυρών), or Struggle for the Metaxas Line (German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
: Kampf um die Metaxas-Linie), was the first battle during the Greek campaign
Battle of Greece
The Battle of Greece is the common name for the invasion and conquest of Greece by Nazi Germany in April 1941. Greece was supported by British Commonwealth forces, while the Germans' Axis allies Italy and Bulgaria played secondary roles...
of World War II. The Germans succeeded in breaching the Greek fortified Metaxas Line
Metaxas Line
The Metaxas Line 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, the then Prime Minister of Greece, and chiefly consists of...
on the western flank and forced the Greek forces east of the Axios
Axios
"Axios!" is an acclamation that is made by the faithful at the ordination of bishops, priests and deacons in the Orthodox and Eastern Catholic churches...
river to surrender after four days of combat (6–9 April 1941).
Origins of the campaign
The origins of the battle lie in the Italian invasion of Greece, which took place on 28 October 1940. The failure of the Italian Army to bring a favourable end to this Greek-Italian war, forced the Germans to intervene, with an operation they dubbed Operation Marita.For the purpose of the invasion of Greece, Germany tried to bring Greece's northern neighbours, Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
and Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
, to the Tri-partite Pact alliance. Bulgaria agreed to allow passage of German troops for the attack on Greece, although Bulgarian troops would not participate in combat. Yugoslavia also agreed, but a coup overthrew the Yugoslav government. Although the pact was not denounced, Hitler decided to attack Yugoslavia as well as Greece.
The Metaxas Line
The fortification of the area informally known as the Metaxas Line was conceived as a defensive measure against Bulgaria. Bulgaria had refused to sign the Balkan PactBalkan Pact
The Balkan Pact was a treaty signed by Greece, Turkey, Romania and Yugoslavia on February 9, 1934 in Athens, aimed at maintaining the geopolitical status quo in the region following World War I...
signed by Greece, Yugoslavia, Turkey and Romania in 1934 which aimed at maintaining the geopolitical status quo in the region following World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. The Metaxas Line was a series of independent forts along the Greek-Bulgarian border, built on possible routes of invasion. Each fort's garrisons belonged to the division or brigade which controlled the respective border sector. The fortifications were built with the meagre resources that Greece could muster, and exploited at fullest the terrain. Construction had begun in 1936; however, by 1941 the line was still incomplete.
German
The German unit detailed for the invasion of Greece was the 12th Army under Field-Marshal Wilhelm List, with a total of 15 divisions and other elements. Of those the XVIII and XXX Corps were to be used against Metaxas Line:XVIII Mountain Corps
XVIII Corps (Germany)
-History:XVIII. ArmeekorpsThe XVIII. Armeekorps was formed in Salzburg, Austria, on 1 April 1938, following the Anschluss of Austria into the German Reich. During the life of the XVIII. Armeekorps, they took part in the Polish campaign, Fall Weiss, and performed occupation duties in France. On the...
(Lt. Gen. Franz Böhme
Franz Böhme
Franz Friedrich Böhme was an Austrian who later went on to become a military officer...
)
- 2nd Panzerdivision (Lt. Gen. Rudolf VeielRudolf VeielRudolf Veiel was a German General of the Panzertruppe during World War II.Veiel's first army service was noted as a Fahnenjunker in the Ulanen-Regiment 19 in April 1904. On 18 August 1905, he became a leutnant.At the beginning of World War I, Veiel was a commander of the Squadron in the...
) - 5th Mountain Division (Mj. Gen. Julius RingelJulius RingelJulius Alfred "Papa" Ringel was an Austrian-born German General of Mountain Troops . He commanded the 3. Gebirgs-Division, 5. Gebirgs-Division, LXIX Armeekorps, Wehrkreis XI and the Korps Ringel...
) - 6th Mountain Division (Mj. Gen. Ferdinand SchörnerFerdinand SchörnerFerdinand Schörner was a General and later Field Marshal in the German Army during World War II.-Early life:Schörner was born in Munich, Bavaria...
) - 72nd Infantry Division72nd Infantry Division (Germany)The 72nd Infantry Division was created on 19 September 1939 in Trier from Grenz-Division Trier, which was a border security unit. It was destroyed on the Eastern front 25 March 1944 and reformed June 1944.-Commanding officers:...
(Mj. Gen. Philipp Müller-GebhardPhilipp Müller-GebhardPhilipp Müller-Gebhard was a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership...
) - independent 125th Infantry Regiment (Col. Erich PetersenErich PetersenErich Karl Alexander Petersen was a German general during the Second World War. Petersen served as Commander of the 7. Flieger-Division, until being tapped for promotion to Commanding General of the IV. Luftwaffe-Field-Corps...
)
XXX Corps (Lt. Gen. Otto Hartmann
Otto Hartmann (general)
Otto Hartmann was a highly decorated General der Artillerie in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership...
)
- 50th Infantry Division50th Infantry Division (Germany)The 50th Infantry Division was a German division in World War II. It was formed on 26 August 1939 from the Grenzkommandantur Küstrin.-50. Infanterie-Division 1939:*Infanterie-Regiment 121*Infanterie-Regiment 122...
(Mj. Gen. Karl Adolf HollidtKarl-Adolf HollidtKarl-Adolf Hollidt was a German commander during the Second World War.-Early life:His father was a local secondary school teacher and he was educated in his hometown of Speyer...
) - 164th Infantry Division (Mj. Gen. Josef Folttmann)
Greek and Yugoslav
The Greek units responsible for the Metaxas Line were the East Macedonia Army Section under Lieutenant General Konstantinos BakopoulosKonstantinos Bakopoulos
Konstantinos Bakopoulos was a Greek Army officer who rose to the rank of Lieutenant General. He fought in the Balkan Wars , played a crucial conciliatory role in Greek military politics during the 1930s and distinguished himself in the fight against the Nazis during World War II...
and the independent Evros Brigade under Major General Ioannis Zisis:
East Macedonia Army Section (Lt. Gen. Konstantinos Bakopoulos)
- Group of Divisions (Lt. Gen. Panagiotis Dedes)
- XVIII Infantry Division (Mj. Gen. Leonidas Stergiopoulos)
- 70 & 81 & 91 Inf.Reg.; (total: six battalions, five forts, 52 guns)
- XIV Infantry Division (Mj. Gen. Konstantinos Papakonstantinou)
- 41 & 73 Inf.Reg. (total: seven battalions, eight forts, 90 guns)
- XVIII Infantry Division (Mj. Gen. Leonidas Stergiopoulos)
- VII Infantry Division (Mj. Gen. Christos Zoiopoulos)
- 26 & 71 & 92 Inf. Reg. (10 battalions, six forts, 76 guns)
- Nestos Infantry Brigade (Col. Anastasios Kalis)
- 37 & 93 Inf.Reg.; (total: five battalions, one fort, 16 guns)
- 19th Motorised Division (Mj. Gen. Nikolaos Lioumbas)
- 191 & 192 & 193 Mot.Reg., Krousia Detachment; (total: three tankette battalions, three motorised battalions, two infantry battalions, 36 guns)
West Thrace Zone of operations (Mj. Gen Ioannis Zisis)
- Evros Infantry Brigade (Mj. Gen. Ioannis Zisis)
- Soufli & Komotini & Pythio border battalions; (total: three battalions, one fort, no guns)
The Yugoslav force that contributed directly to the defenece of Metaxas Line was the 20th "Bregalnička" Infantry Division, part of the 3rd Territorial Army of the Yugoslav army. It confronted the German 2nd Panzerdivision, which would attempt to outflank the entire Greek position crossing into Greece from Yugoslav territory.
- 20th "Bregalnička" Infantry Division (Lt. Gen. Dragutin Zivanovic)
- 23 & 28 & 49 Inf. Reg., 20 Art. Reg.