The historical memory and the greatness of the Greek soul were revived today at noon in the sacred area of ​​the Rupel Forts, near the Greek-Bulgarian border, during a special anniversary event organized by the Municipality of Sintiki, in collaboration with the union “Stenopos”, in the presence of the minister of National Defense, Nikos Dendias.

On the verdant slope of Rupel and under the shadow of the marble monument to the heroic fallen soldiers, hundreds of people, the political and military leadership, had the opportunity to closely watch the reenactment of the Battle of Rupel Forts and their surrender to the German invaders, since brilliant pages of Greek history had previously been written there.

Mr. Dendias made a review of the important historical events of the time stressing: “I am here today to remember and remember a historical moment in the history of our country. In a place where the Greek army once again defended our dignity. Defend the inviolability of our borders.”

He also stated that the ministry accepted the request of the Municipality of Sintiki for the concession of the forts to the municipality, underlining that the forts belong to the Greek society and their exploitation can be done in cooperation with the Greek army.

Using impressive fire effects, explosions and flight simulations, visitors experienced minute by minute the German invaders’ frantic attempt to capture the impregnable ruble and the heroic resistance of its Greek defenders.

Re-enactors from Greece, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Romania and the Czech Republic wearing authentic World War II uniforms with full equipment gave a dramatized portrayal of the final hours of the Battle of the Forts and their emotional surrender by the Greeks to the German occupiers after the occupation of Thessaloniki by the German troops and the capitulation that had been achieved.

The aim of the event is the preservation of historical memory, the promotion of peace and the cooperation of peoples and states – so that humanity does not relive the horrors of war – as well as the promotion of historical tourism or memory tourism in the northern part of Serres.

The numerous visitors had the opportunity to be transported even mentally through the descriptions, audio documents and dramatized images to the battle of the Forts. They relived the heroic colonel and commander of the Forts, Georgios Duratsos, declaring to the Germans when they demanded their surrender that “the Forts are not surrendered but occupied”.

The person honored at this year’s event was second lieutenant Anastasios Porphyris (1908-2000), commander of the 9th Company of the Rupel Fort and head of the liquidation department during the German attack, while the event was also attended by the granddaughter of the hero Pavlos Melas, Natalia Ioannidis.

The narrator of the central revival scene was the presenter Alexis Kostala. The event, which is a leading institution, was started in 2016 by the Municipality of Sintiki and the union “Stenopos-Fortifications Belles & Agistrou”. It is under the auspices of the Ministry of National Defense and has the support of the Region of Central Macedonia, the Central Union of Municipalities of Greece, the Regional Union of Municipalities of Central Macedonia and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serres.