 The Metaxas Line was defended by the Eastern Macedonia Army Section ( Lieutenant General Konstantinos Bakopoulos ) , comprising the 7th , 14th and 18th Infantry divisions . The line ran for about 170 km ( 110 mi ) along the river Nestos to the east and then further east , following the Bulgarian border as far as Mount Beles near the Yugoslav border . The fortifications were designed to garrison over 200 @,@ 000 troops but there were only about 70 @,@ 000 and the infantry garrison was thinly spread . Some 950 men under the command of Major George Douratsos of the14th Division ( Major @-@ General Konstantinos Papakonstantinou ) defended Fort Rupel . 
