HISTORY OF THE BATTLE


After the signing of the London peace treaty between the Balkan states and Turkey (May 17th, 1913), the allied Balkan countries felt that the time had come for them to settle their differences regarding the conquered territories.
Bulgarian demands at the time included its desire to expand over Macedonia. Serbia and Bulgaria had already signed an agreement and settled their territorial disputes, but Serbia at the end did not recognise the agreement since, at first it believed that Albania would finally be part of Serbia, thus gaining access to the Adriatic sea. The treaty provided for an independent Albanian state and Serbia's gains to the west were reduced. Bulgaria, however, insisted to annex all the agreed territories. While Serbia recognised as a Hellenic right the annexation of all the liberated territories, Bulgaria sought to drive Greece out from those territories and create the Great Bulgaria of the 1878 Saint Stephan Treaty.
Greece and Serbia, since May 19, 1913, had signed a defensive alliance. Bulgaria had already made a decision for a surprise attack against the Hellenic and Serbian army.
During the night of 16-17 June, 1913, the Bulgarians without any official declaration of war surpassingly attacked the Greeks and the Serbs, thus achieving to occupy Gevgeli, cutting off communication between the Greeks and the Serbs. However, they halted their advance towards Thessaloniki because they failed to drive the Serbs away from Axios river.
As a result, the Bulgarian army settled defensively in the Kilkis-Lachana Line and the surrounding heights. The area offered many defence advantages because the ground is totally uncovered and offers perfect observation and fire fields. Holding this line, the Bulgarians, were able to secure Serres, Sidirocastro, Doiran and Gevgeli, to control the Strimonas river bridges, which were important for their re-supply, while they secured their withdrawal in case of an emergency.
The Bulgarians deployed 32 Infantry Battalions, 1 Cavalry Regiment and 62 guns. The overall forces of the Hellenic Army were 73 Infantry Battalions, 33 Field Artillery Battalions, 9 Mountain Artillery Battalions, 8 Cavalry Companies and 8 Cavalry Platoons.
During the night of June 19th, 1913, 4 Hellenic Divisions (2nd-3rd-4th-5th) and the Cavalry Brigade moved to occupy Kilkis City. They met the Bulgarian outposts force which are fought obstinate. An obstinate and tough fight was conducted and our forces gained the land foot by foot. The 1st Infantry Regiment was in the Mandres village heights and east of Pikrolimni was the 16th Infantry Regiment.
While the day went by, the attack was generalised. The Divisions faced severe casualties but in the end the Bulgarians were forced to withdraw towards the Lipsidriou-Mavroneri Height-Ginekocastro Line. The dark is coming. During the day that followed the Bulgarians withdrew but the war was not over yet.




Early in the morning of June 20, 1913, the courageous Regiments of the 5th Division (16th-22nd-23rd) after a tough and bloody fight occupied the Kristoni rail station, the southern part of the Kristoni village and the surrounding heights. However, despite their courageous efforts they could not march towards Kilkis because the Bulgarians were constantly bombing the ground. The 4th Division fought courageously and by mid-day occupied the eastern parts of the Kristoni heights and made contact with the main line of defence of the enemy. The casualties were tremendous. The 2nd Division marched under the fire of the Bulgarians, overrided the enemy and occupied the eastern parts of the Potamia village heights. The 3rd Division, after a tough fight, overrided the Bulgarians and occupies the Levedochori, Baptistis and Megali Vrisi villages.
The Cavalry Brigade marched towards the Megali Vrisi and Kastanies villages but due to arrival of enemy re-enforcement's was forced to retreat.
Despite the victories of the Hellenic Army, Kilkis City was still under Bulgarian hands. However it had to be occupied at all cost. Full of agony, the Field Marshal sent to all Divisions his historic order, which showed the depth of his agony, but also showed his unbending will for victory "TOMORROW I DEMAND THE FALL OF KILKIS".
Early in the morning of June 21, 1913, at 03:30 the attack towards Kilkis started. The heroic Regiments of the 2nd Division (1st and 7th) advanced against the Bulgarians. Within 15 minutes they approach the first enemy defence line. The Bulgarian fired against the advancing Greeks. At 04:10 early in the morning the enemy defence line was occupied after a tough fight. Behind the first line however was the second enemy defence line, against which the Hellenic army attacked. At 05:00 in the morning the second line fell too and the Hellenic forces moved against the third and most important defence line. An unequal fight is conducted. The Greeks were marching dauntless under enemy fires. The Bulgarians defended their position obstinate.
The 3rd Regiment was also engaged in battle. The Bulgarians conducted strong counter-attacks. Due to the activities of the remaining officers of the 1st and 7th Regiments and the incomparable heroism of our soldiers the counter-attacks were driven back. New attacks followed by the Greeks. The Regiments were constantly gaining ground, occupied the third line positions and drove out the Bulgarians.
The other Divisions (4th, 5th and 3rd) deployed around Kilkis and continued from the early ours of the day their fight against the Bulgarians. The Bulgarians provided for strong resistance and with cannons engaged the Greeks. The fight however, continued. At 11:00 Kilkis was occupied and at 11:15 the Hellenic flag was proudly hoisted on Saint George height. The Bulgarians withdrew all over the front.
The three day battle of Kilkis was over. The victory proved important and prejudged the outcome of the 2nd Balkan War. From Kilkis, the Hellenic Army marched towards Doiran, Kerkini, Stromnitsa, Deli Risar and Kresna straits. The victory was great, so were the casualties: 5.652 men. With such sacrifices, Greece decisively resisted efforts to redraw its borderline and the demands of its neighbour over its territories. Contributed decisively to the consolidation of the Balkan map and showed that the respect over those border settlements and peaceful co-existence are the only ways for the countries in the region.

Comments

lornion said…
θεώρησα καθήκον προς τον πατέρα μου να βρώ την σελίδα της ιστορικής μάχης στην οποία σαλπιγκτής όντας τραυματίστηκε όρθιος ακριβώς την στιγμή που ο λοχαγός του φώναζε πέσε κάτω γκιαούρη θα σε φάνε. Η σφέρα τον βρήκε πάνω από το γόνατο .Εζησε 93 χρόνια και την αγριάδα αυτής της μάχης την θυμότουνα συχνά.

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