Doxato

Doxato Δοξάτο
Location
Doxato
Coordinates	41°6′N 24°14′E / 41.1°N 24.233°E / 41.1; 24.233Coordinates: 41°6′N 24°14′E / 41.1°N 24.233°E / 41.1; 24.233
Location within the region
Government
Country:	Greece
Region:	East Macedonia and Thrace
Regional unit:	Drama
Population statistics (as of 2001)
Municipality
- Population:	17,481
- Area:	244.1 km2 (94 sq mi)
- Density:	72 /km2 (185 /sq mi)
Municipal unit
- Population:	11,000
Community
- Population:	3,739
Other
Time zone:	EET/EEST (UTC+2/3)
Auto:	ΡΜ

Doxato (Greek: Δοξάτο, formerly Δοξάτον) is a town and municipality in the Drama peripheral unit, in East Macedonia and Thrace, Greece. The seat of the municipality is the town Kalampaki.^[1]

Municipality

The municipality Doxato was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following 2 former municipalities, that became municipal units:^[1]

• Doxato
• Kalampaki

The formner municipality of Doxato was founded as a result of law 2539/1997 ("Plan Kapodistria"), by merging the former municipalities of Doxato and Megalou Alexandrou, and the former communities of Agios Athanasios and Kefalarion. According to the 2001 census, the former municipality had a population of 11,000 and the town 3,739.^[2]

History (Doxato Massacres)

The cultural center of Doxato.

Doxato was the scene of two major massacres in recent history.

The first massacre occurred during the Second Balkan War, fought between Greece and Serbia on one hand and Bulgaria on the other. According to Greek sources, on June 30, 1913, a Bulgarian cavalry unit surrounded Doxato and proceeded to massacre between 500 and 600 inhabitants (depending on source), including women and children, burning the town to the ground in the process^[3]. However, according to a report by a international commission, organized by the Carnegie endowment, the massacre had been actually committed by local Muslims armed by the Bulgarian army ^[4]

The second massacre took place on 29 September 1941 during the Second World War, when Doxato was again (together with the Eastern Macedonia and Thrace) under Bulgarian occupation. During the night of 28–29 September 1941, an insurrection against the Bulgarian occupation troops was led by the Communist party of Greece (KKE). The local police station in Doxato was attacked, leading to the death of 6-7 Bulgarian policemen. Although those who participated in the insurrection were killed or fled to the mountains, reprisals were harsh. The next day, Bulgarian forces rounded up all the men in town aged 14 and over, and after dividing them into groups of ten, executed them on the night of 29. September 1941. After the revolt, a period of state terror began, involving arrests, house searches and physical violence against citizens^[5].

Distinctions

The Greek government has awarded the town the title of Hero and Martyr City (Ηρωική και Μαρτυρική Πόλη)^[6] in recognition for the massacres it has suffered.

Sports

Doxato has two sports clubs, Flilippoi Doxatou, a football club, and AED (a basketball club).

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Kallikratis law Greece Ministry of Interior (Greek)
2. ^ [1].(Greek) Data from the 2001 census, at the National Statistical Service of Greece (ΕΣΥΕ), www.statistics.gr
3. ^ Cassavetti, John, Hellas and the Balkan Wars, p.341-43,
4. ^ Report of the International Commission to Inquire into the Causes and Conduct of the Balkan Wars, published by the Endowment Washington, D.C. 1914, p. 81-83
5. ^ Mazower M., After the War was Over. Princeton University Press, 2000. p. 292. (GoogleBooks)
6. ^ Δοξάτο Δράμας. Επίσημη Δημοτική Πύλη. - Δοξάτο

External links

• Doxato at GEOnet Names Server
• Cassavetti, John, Hellas and the Balkan Wars, p.341-43, London: T. F. Unwin, http://hdl.handle.net/10111/UIUCBB:cassade0001helbal