Stuka attack on Metaxas line, Greece 1941

[byron-]

There is a very good link about the Metaxas line and the battle in April 1941

http://www.festungsbauten.de/metaxas3.htm

[biltongbru]

Originally Posted by byron-

There is a very good link about the Metaxas line and the battle in April 1941

http://www.festungsbauten.de/metaxas3.htm

That site seems to contain a very detailed and accurate account of the battle: thanks very much!

[byron-]

I have a nice document (letter) of a german soldier of the "Gebirgsjäger" troops who fought at the Metaxas-line, the original and a translation in english, here is it:

This small flag was swivelled by the defender of a bunker of the fortress " Istibei" of the Metaxas-line after each of the innumerable bomb attacks by the StuKa on 6 and 7 April 1941 from its “loop-hole”
Herewith he signalled that the bombs did no harm, neither to him nor to the bunker and he warned that he would defeat each approach with well aimed machine gun fire.
Only after by evasion of the fortress a ventilation tunnel and an armored entrance door were blown up the Greek brigade " Nestos", the defenders of the fortress " Istibei" , were ordered by General Papagos to surrender.
Thus I became acquainted with my direct, courageous and clever opponent. Since no prisoners were made, “my” Greek bunker-defender joined me, in order to come home again as fast as possible.
He drove with me in my sidecar motorcycle towards Southand after a good two experience-rich weeks, we separated on 24 April 1941 at the small place called Tithorea at the foot of the Parnass. We became good friends and for the occasion of the parting he gave me his small flag, which I kept myself until today as a sanctuary.
Now my friend Dimitrios, Major of Atsipopoulo on Crete, receives this flag and the “Edelweiss” that I carried eight years at my uniform cap, as indication of the friendship, the attention and the gratitude.