Battle of Roupel

DATE: 18/05/2025

TIME (GMT): 18:00

ERA: WW2

MAP(S): Greece Pella Region

TYPE: COOP

TEAMSPEAK: ts1.biaarma.com

GAME: Arma 3

EVENT: Official

AUTHOR(S): Sclembi for Brothers in Arms

SLOTS: 59 / 70

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RATING: (5)

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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 Pact 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 the terrain. Construction had begun in 1936; however, by 1941 the line was still incomplete.

At the start of the Second World War Fort Roupel was incorporated into the Metaxas Line, a new defensive line 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.

On the German side, the 125th Infantry Regiment, experienced in the battles of the Maginot Line, was operating in Roupel, together with the 1st Battalion from the 100th Mountain Rifle Regiment, with the task of neutralizing the defense of the forts and capturing the Strymon bridge. The German attack on the forts began at 05:15 on April 6, 1941 with a heavy artillery bombardment with shells of various calibers, and from 06:00 with dive bomber aircraft.

On the 4th day of ongoing struggles (April 9th), the bombardments and attacks were repeated mainly against the Roupel and Paliouriones forts. At 5pm, German messengers - knowing that the capitulation had been signed in Thessaloniki - came to Roupel and demanded the surrender of the fort. Finally, the surrender of Roupel took place the next day at 06:00. The German colonel who took over the fort congratulated the Greek commander and expressed his admiration for the resistance and heroism of the Greek soldiers. Some machine guns continued to fight despite the capitulation that took place.

We will play as a mixed force of fortress troops and a separate infantry company that will mount a limited counterattack against the freshly established German positions below Fort Roupel.