The Topsin Railway Station (Gefyra, Thessaloniki)

The Topsin Railway Station, located in what is today the settlement of Gefyra in Thessaloniki, is one of the most historic sites of the Balkan Wars. It is particularly associated with the outcome of the First Balkan War and the advance of the Greek Army toward the city of Thessaloniki. Following the victorious battles of the Greek Army and the retreat of the Ottoman forces, the Ottoman commander-in-chief Hasan Tahsin Pasha was compelled to surrender Thessaloniki to the commander of the Army of Thessaly, Crown Prince Constantine, at the Topsin station on October 26, 1912. A few hours later, officers Ioannis Metaxas and Viktor Dousmanis signed the protocol of the city's surrender to the Greek Army at the Thessaloniki Headquarters, on behalf of the Greek side. During World War I, the station was also used by the Allied forces of the Entente, serving as a hub for the transport of troops, ammunition, and supplies. Pictured: The Topsin Railway Station (Gefyra, Thessaloniki) during World War I. Soldiers of the Entente can be seen next to the station. ©Municipal Photography Museum of Kalamaria ‘Christos Kalemkeris’.