Invasion of the Bulgarian Army in Macedonia. Surrender of the Rupel Fortress to the Bulgarians, May 13, 1916
Makedonia Newspaper. Issue: 14/5/1916, Page: 3
On May 13, 1916, the Bulgarian army launched an invasion into Macedonia during World War I, resulting in the Bulgarian occupation of Greek territories (1916–1918). On this day, one of the most sorrowful and controversial episodes in Greek history during the First World War unfolded: the bloodless surrender of the Rupel fortress to the Bulgarians.
That morning, a Bulgarian regiment suddenly appeared in the Belles region and advanced toward the Greek fortress of Rupel, near the Greek-Bulgarian border. The Bulgarian commander demanded the immediate surrender of the fortress from the Greek garrison commander.
Although the Greek commander initially refused, requesting time to communicate with his superiors, he eventually received orders from the Athens government to surrender the fortress without resistance. The Greek soldiers retreated heavy-heartedly, abandoning the important stronghold without firing a single shot.
The surrender without any resistance was seen by many as an act of national humiliation. The so-called "Gerontes" (Elders) government—a provisional government under King Constantine—was fiercely criticized for leaving Macedonian territories exposed to Bulgarian forces in pursuit of neutrality, while the enemy expanded.
The capture of Rupel by the Bulgarians paved the way for a deeper invasion into Eastern Macedonia, followed by the occupation of other fortresses in a similar fashion. These actions intensified the political crisis in Greece, deepened the National Schism, and fueled the ongoing conflict between pro- and anti-Venizelist factions, shaping the era’s political landscape.
For the people of Macedonia and the simple soldiers, that day was never forgotten. It stands as a reminder that in critical historical moments, political decisions can outweigh weapons, and retreat without battle can come at a terrible cost, as the following years were among the darkest in Macedonia's history.
The newspaper Makedonia reported:
THE ELDERS HUMILIATE GREECE
THEY SURRENDER OUR FORTRESSES TO THE BULGARIANS
The criminal tolerance of the "Gerontes" government toward the age-old enemies of the Greek nation, the Bulgarians, has emboldened them to the point where they now commit acts that plunge the patriotic Greek people into despair for their country’s future.
Unpunished, they abducted Greek citizens.
Unpunished, they repeatedly violated agreements.
Unpunished, they attacked Greek populations in Serbia.
Unpunished, they dismantled Greek institutions.
Unpunished, they exercised control over Greek civilians.
Unpunished, they conducted propaganda in the heart of Greece.
The Greek government's stance toward Bulgarian arrogance is unprecedented and disastrous. The coup of the Bulgarians, capturing Greek fortresses and opening the road to our suffering regions, is an act of national betrayal.
We tremble before the dangers this coup poses for Greece, and we are outraged at the miserable state in which our country now finds itself. And we are not outraged at the Bulgarians—they pursue their own interests. We are outraged at those responsible for this great betrayal: the government itself, which now rules Greece.
They equated our allies, the British and French, with the Bulgarians.
They tolerated Bulgarian spies.
They dared to declare to General Sarrail that they would allow the German-Bulgarians to invade Greek territory!
The Greek people of Macedonia, whose voice and hopes the newspaper Makedonia faithfully represents, condemn this government of humiliation and national destruction.
THE COUP
Here are the details of the coup known by nightfall:
A Bulgarian regiment was seen at dawn descending from Mount Belles. By noon, the regiment had lined up across from the Rupel fortress. A little later, the Bulgarian commander appeared before the Greek commander and demanded the fortress’s surrender.
TWO-HOUR DEADLINE
The Greek commander categorically refused, emphasizing that any attempt to seize the fortress would lead to armed conflict. When the Bulgarian insisted, the Greek commander replied he would report the matter to his superiors. The Bulgarian then gave a two-hour ultimatum and withdrew.
WITHDRAWAL IN GLOOM
After communicating with higher command and receiving orders to surrender the fortress, the Greek commander ordered his troops to lower the Greek flag and withdraw. When the Bulgarian returned two hours later, he found the fortress empty, abandoned by Greek soldiers departing in sorrow, their heads bowed and tears in their eyes from the humiliation imposed by their own government.
MORE FORTRESSES FOLLOWED
Thus, the Bulgarians took over the important fortress, raising the Bulgarian flag—the very flag Greek soldiers once proudly tore down. Immediately after, they seized the eastern forts, at Dragotin and Tsiggel, in the same manner.
Thus, the Bulgarians captured all the forts built by Greece to protect the Demir Hisar region in the Serres area.
These are the fruits of the policy of the "Gerontes".
Makedonia Newspaper. Issue: 14/5/1916, Page: 2
Makedonia Newspaper. Issue: 14/5/1916, Page: 4
Greece was unprepared and did not anticipate an invasion. A characteristic example of this lack of preparation was the public tenders announced by the Municipality of Serres just a few days before the invasion, which continued to be published even the day after the invasion.
Empros Newspaper. Issue: 14/5/1916, Page: 4
On the following day (May 14, 1916), Athenian newspapers downplayed the news, placing it in small columns in an effort to support the government and its decision, but also due to lack of awareness of the true scale of the events.
Empros Newspaper. Issue: 15/5/1916, Page: 1
By May 15, 1916, their front pages were dominated by the government's official protests, once again attempting to justify the decision to surrender the Rupel fortress without a fight, completely ignoring the fate of the local population.
The tragic government of Skouloudis, which insisted on maintaining neutrality during World War I, effectively handed over Macedonia to the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Bulgaria), becoming the root cause of the National Schism.
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