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Fort Roupel (Greek:Οχυρό Ρούπελ) is a fortress at the north border ofCentral Macedonia,Greece, built-in 1914. It became part of the fortifications of theMetaxas Line in the 1930s and became famous for its defence during theGerman invasion of Greece in April 1941.
The Roupel fortifications are not far from theSerres-Promachonas national road, which leads to the Greek-Bulgarian border. They are just a short distance from the border in the narrowRoupel Gorge, through which theStrymon River flows. This place is strategically important for entry to Greek or Bulgarian territory and was fortified in 1914.
DuringWorld War I, on 23 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.[1] The German-Bulgarian troops then proceeded tooccupy most of easternMacedonia without resistance. This act led to the outbreak of a revolt ofVenizelistArmy officers inThessaloniki and the establishment of theProvisional Government of National Defence underEntente auspices there, opposed to the official government of Athens and KingConstantine I, cementing the so-called "National Schism". The Entente regarded the unconditional surrender of the fort as a violation of Greek neutrality, contrary to what the king advocated. They pressured him to supply war materials equal in value to what had been lost through the surrender. However, the king's refusal to comply led to brief skirmish in Athens, known as theNoemvriana, followed by a food embargo on the city that continued until his abdication.
The fort also became famous duringWorld War II, when the advance of the German armies on that front sector was halted here. On the eve ofWorld War II, Fort Roupel was incorporated into theMetaxas 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 inThessaloniki.
Today one of the fortification's galleries is open to visitors, as is a small museum and pavilion for 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, doctors caring for the injured, the sergeant in his office and the office of the captain, and more.
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41°20′46″N23°22′16″E / 41.346°N 23.371°E /41.346; 23.371
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