Bunker Archaeology: The fortifications of the World Wars in Macedonia, Greece, by Makis Zoumplios – PART 1
Bunker Archaeology, Photo gallery, WW1, WW2, WW2 in Greece, WW2 WrecksBy Pierre Kosmidis
Photos © by Makis Zoumplios, submitted to www.ww2wrecks.com and used by permission
Mr. Makis Zoumplios, presents the fortifications at Nea Peramos, Eleftherai, Symbolo Mountain, in Macedonia, Greece and describes his research in the area.
This is the first instalment, PART 1, of a series of presentations of Mr. Zoumplios’ photographic documentation for www.ww2wrecks.com
All these years I have developed a passion for discovering our local history which I share through my blog with articles.
A part of our history are the fortifications of the World Wars.
Fortifications built either by the Greek Army or by the Bulgarian and to this day they are visible remains and allow us to understand the difficult years of the war and the difficulties, the violence, the death, the displacement that our ancestors experienced during them.
Until today I have located or visited more than 50 sites of fortification works of World War 1 and 2 such as constructions of underground forts with reinforced concrete, cannons, galleries dug into rocks, observatories either rough with stone or concrete, in the Municipality of Pangaion.
The fortified positions that I identified or visited are more or less well known to the residents of the communities where they exist and are located almost throughout the Municipality of Pangaion.
In addition, I include the fortified positions in Amphipolis next to the Strymonas river.
With the help of friends, I hope to in the next period of time I will visit others.
During my search of the fortified positions 3 active shells were located which I informed the authorities about and they were neutralized and they were World War 1 and 2 artillery and naval shells.
I also found a projectile detonator, a projectile warhead, a projectile rear, an exploded projectile and cartridges that were dated 1916 .
Thus along with the investigation perhaps an unpleasant situation that could have been caused by the live ammunition I found was prevented.
In general, the research had risks regarding physical integrity, especially regarding the research in galleries and outside in nature as in many of the cases and it was also my fault, I moved alone.
I would like to thank those friends who participate in the investigations from time to time and the friends who show me the positions of fortifications. Also, I would like to thank Mrs. Dimitra Patronidou (Dr. University of Ioannina Postdoctoral Researcher PA.MA.K.) for all the help, identification and cooperation we have had so far concerning the research.
