The Popotlivitsa Fort of the Metaxas Line in Serres

The Popotlivitsa Fort was located on the hill of the same name on Mount Kerkini (also known as Mpeles), at an altitude of 1,637 meters, north of Akritochori in the Serres region. It marked the westernmost end of the Metaxas Line in Northern Greece. As of April 1941, when the German invasion of Greece began, the fort remained incomplete, significantly limiting its defensive capabilities. It consisted of two enclosed complexes with four structures in total, two observation posts and two simple exits. The total length of the underground shelters extended to 270 meters, and the planned network of underground corridors would have reached 520 meters if construction had been completed. The German assault on the fort began on April 6th, 1941. The attack was carried out by the 1st Battalion of the 85th Mountain Infantry Regiment and the 2nd Company of the 95th Mountain Engineer Battalion. Despite repeated assaults, the garrison successfully repelled the attacks. The German division was forced to pause its offensive in order to regroup and plan a renewed attack. Meanwhile, Greek surface units stationed on the nearby Soultanitsa heights began to withdraw under orders, leaving the fort isolated. On April 7th, 1941, Popotlivitsa once again successfully repelled continuous German attacks. However, late that night, German troops climbed onto the fort from external positions and began systematically destroying its defensive structures. On April 8th, 1941, the fort commander, Captain Thelounis, ordered the forced surrender of the position, as all of its defensive installations had by then been destroyed. Pictured: A group of German soldiers in front of a Greek machine-gun or artillery bunker from the Thilakos Subsector, likely part of the Popotlivitsa Fort, April 1941. ©Municipal Photography Museum of Kalamaria ‘Christos Kalemkeris’.