ΣΙΔΗΡΟΚΑΣΤΡΟ

Χάρτης με τα χωριά του 1916 http://lazarus.elte.hu/hun/digkonyv/topo/200e/41-41.jpg

After the entry of the Ottoman Empire into the war on the side of the Central Powers, Bulgaria became of vital importance to the Allies. Bulgaria occupied a strategic position on the Serbian flank, and its intervention on either side would influence the course of the war. There was a widespread feeling among the Bulgarian government and people, that Serbia had stolen land during previous wars which was rightfully Bulgarian. The Allies could only offer small territorial concessions from Serbia and (as yet neutral) Greece, buth the Central Powers' promises were far more enticing, as they offered to give most of the land Bulgaria claimed. The Bulgarians therefore joined the German side. Bulgaria attacked Serbia in October 1915. Serbia appealed to the British and French governments for military assistance. At the same time Greece asked the Allies for help with their treaty obligations to Serbia. The British and French sent a small force (2 Brigades) which began landing at the Greek ...

At the beginning of January 1916, 10th Division including the 6th and 7th Dublins had withdrawn from the mountains to Salonika. The first 4 months of 1916 were taken up with fortifying the city of Salonika. Reinforcements — British, French, and French Colonials — arrived in a steady stream. By the end of the winter there were some 300,000 men on the Salonika front. Meanwhile there was little to be done but train and await the possibilities of a spring offensive. The lines stretched along the Vardar for some fifteen miles from its mouth. All this sector was held by French troops. Towards the mouth the country is marshy and not many men were needed to guard this part of the line. Further north the lines were held more strongly, and Sarrail also threw a covering force across the river and held an advanced front some six miles to the west of it. Some distance to the north of Topshin the line turned at right angles east and ran almost direct across the neck of the peninsula to the Gu...

Σχεδιάγραμμα περιπόλου, 1916

Belashitza Range from Grand Poray on left to Rupet Pass. Butkova Dzuma middle distance. Σκίτσο με το όρος Κερκίνη και την στενωπό του Ρούπελ, 1916 

Χάρτης ακριβείας της Ηράκλειας, 31 Οκτωβρίου 1916 October 31, a new Bulgarian defensive position in the large village of Barakli-Djuma, on the low ground near Butkova Lake, was successfully carried and 350 prisoners were taken. The whole country was waterlogged and the streams inordinately swollen. On the Strumna front during the same period successful laids were carried through by the Welsh and 12th Cheshire Regiments ; Kumli and Barakli villages were taken ; the Dublin Fusiliers captured the whole garrison at Prosenik. Prosenik was an important town on the railway, boasting some very fine houses, to say nothing of two large churches and a school. The Dublins captured it . In the hills beyond, the Bulgars were engaged in digging a regular maze of defences. November 1 we captured Barakli Djuma, six miles south-west of Demir Hissar, taking over three hundred prisoners, and strengthened our hold on the railway north of Seres.

Χάρτης ακριβείας της Ηράκλειας (Barakli Dzuma), 16 Οκτωβρίου 1917