Georgios Stanotas(Greek:Γεώργιος Στανωτάς;January 1, 1888 – 1965) was aGreekcavalryofficer who rose to the rank oflieutenant general.
Georgios Stanotas | |
|---|---|
 Stanotas (centre) in Asia Minor c. 1919-22 | |
| Native name | Γεώργιος Στανωτάς |
| Born | 1 January 1888[1] Kastanitsa,Kingdom of Greece |
| Died | 27 September 1965 Athens,Kingdom of Greece |
| Allegiance | |
| Service/ |  Hellenic Army |
| Years of service | 1909-1948 |
| Rank |  Lieutenant General |
| Battles/wars | Balkan Wars,Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922),Greco-Italian War,Battle of Greece,Greek Civil War |
| Awards |  Order of the Redeemer Commander of theOrder of George I Commander of theOrder of the Phoenix GoldCross of Valour War Cross(1916-17 variant) Medal of Military Merit |
| Spouse(s) | Aristea Toliopoulou |
| Children | Stamatios Maria |
Early life and career
editHe was born on 1 January 1888 in the village ofKastanitsa,in thePeloponnese.[2]He left his village and went toAthens,where, on 6 December 1909, he joined theHellenic Armyas a simple trooper in the2nd Cavalry Regiment.[2]He was an excellent rider, intelligent and bold, and soon he was promoted to non-commissioned officer.
With the rank of senior sergeant, he participated in theFirst Balkan Warof 1912–1913, fighting in the battles ofSarantaporo,Yenidje,Ostrovo,the capture ofKorytsa,and theBattle of Bizani.[2]During theSecond Balkan Waragainst Bulgaria he was promoted to warrant officer, fighting in the battles ofKilkis–Lachanas,Beles,andKresna.[2]
On 28 February 1914, he entered and graduated from the NCO Academy and was promoted to second lieutenant of cavalry on 25 March.[2]In 1917 he was promoted to captain, but as an avowed monarchist, was suspended from the army for 6 months after the ousting ofKing Constantine Iduring theNational Schism.
In theGreco-Turkish Warof 1919-1922, he commanded the 4th Company of the3rd Cavalry Regimentfrom 21 January 1920. He distinguished himself for his bravery, receiving theWar Cross2nd Class, and nominated for a battlefield promotion. Although this did not materialize, by June 1921, he was given command of a cavalry battalion.[2]He was promoted to major in 1923. Although in the military, in 1924 he enrolled intoAthens Universityin the Pharmaceutics department.
In 1927 he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and was appointed as Cavalry Application School commander, while in August 1929 he took command of the 3rd Cavalry Regiment inLarissa.[2]In the following year, he was promoted to colonel and in 1933 he took command of a cavalry brigade.[2]He was promoted to major general on 20 December 1938 and was appointed as CO of theCavalry DivisioninThessalonikiin 1939.[2]
Second World War and after
editIn theGreco-Italian Warof 1940, the Cavalry Division achieved the first great victory in theBattle of Pindus,being instrumental in the defeat of the elite ItalianJuliaAlpine Division.In the spring of 1941, Stanotas with the Cavalry Division fought against theinvading GermansinWest Macedonia,next to the rest of the Allied Forces. His combat achievements gave him a great reputation among his colleagues.
In 1943, he escaped fromoccupied Greeceand throughTurkeyandLebanon,he arrived inCairo,where he joined theGreek Armed Forces in exile.There he was appointed as Inspector General of the Army. He retired in January 1945, after the liberation of Greece.
In 1947, when Greece was in the middle of theGreek Civil War,he was recalled to duty and was appointed as Commanding General of thePeloponnese.His experience allowed him to organize successful sweep operations and to destroy the main strongholds of the Communist ledDemocratic Army of Greecethere.
He retired on 30 March 1948, and received the honorary rank of lieutenant general.[2]He was recalled to service on 7 October 1949, and finally retired on 28 February 1950.[2]
Personal life
editHe was married to Aristea Toliopoulou and had a son Stamatios and a daughter Maria. After his retirement, he played a pioneering role in the plastics industry in Greece.
He died on 27 September 1965.[2]
References
editSources
edit- (in Greek)Notaridis, Christos "ΕΝΑΣ ΠΙΣΤΟΣ ΚΑΙ ΦΙΛΟΤΙΜΟΣ ΣΤΡΑΤΙΩΤΗΣ" (A Loyal and Dutiful Soldier), Biography of General Stanotas,ISBN978-960-522-335-9,PELASGOS Publ. Athens 2013,http://www.e-shop.gr/show_bks.phtml?id=BKS.0458152
- (in Greek)Papagos, Alexandros "The Battle of Greece 1940–1941" Athens 1949: J.M. Scazikis “Alpha”, editions. ASIN B0007J4DRU.
- (in Greek)Hellenic Army History Directorate,Concise History of Greek-Italian and Greek-German War 1940-1941,Athens 1985.
- (in Greek)Hellenic Army Publications Division,Selected Military History Articles,1981.
- (in Greek)Papyros-Larousse-Britannica Encyclopedia, Greek version, volume 55.
- (in Greek)Pantelis Karykas,The Greek Cavalry stops the Italian Blitzkrieg,article published in theWar and Historymagazine, April 2006.
- (in Greek)Crushing "Julia",article published in theMilitary Historymagazine, October 2004.
- (in Greek)Konstantinos Papadimitriou,The battle of lake Kastoria,article published in theMilitary Historymagazine, July 2008.
- (in Greek)Military record file of General Stanotas, archived in the Greek Military Archives Service (YSA).