Petros SoumilasorSoumilis(Greek:Πέτρος Σουμίλας/Σουμίλης) was aHellenic Armyofficer who reached the rank of lieutenant general.
Petros Soumilas | |
|---|---|
 Petros Soumilas c.1922 | |
| Native name | Πέτρος Σουμίλας/Σουμίλης |
| Born | c. 1861[1] Leukas,United States of the Ionian Islands(nowGreece) |
| Died | c. 1955 Leukas,Ionian Islands,Kingdom of Greece |
| Allegiance |  Kingdom of Greece |
| Service |  Hellenic Army |
| Years of service | 1882–1917 1920–1923 |
| Rank |  Lieutenant General |
| Unit | Hellenic Military Geographical Service |
| Commands | 11th Infantry Division(3rd Battalion) Xanthi Division 10th Infantry Division III Army Corps |
| Battles / wars | |
| Awards |  Order of the Redeemer Commander of theOrder of George I GoldCross of Valour Medal of Military Merit |
Life
editHe was born inLeukas(then underBritish rule) on 1 January 1861. He joined theHellenic Armyon 2 August 1882, and later enrolled in the NCO School, from where he graduated in August 1888 as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry. He served as atopographyinstructor and in the newly establishedHellenic Military Geographical Service,and participated in theGreco-Turkish War of 1897and theBalkan Wars.During the latter he commanded the 3rd Battalion of the11th Infantry Regiment,and occasionally substituted for the regimental commander as well.[2]
As a monarchist, he was dismissed from the Army in 1917–1920 during theNational Schism.He was reinstated with the electoral defeat ofEleftherios Venizelosin November 1920 which brought the royalist opposition to power, and assumed command of theXanthi DivisioninEastern Thrace.In May 1921 he was transferred to command the10th Infantry DivisioninAnatolia,and he led it in theGreek summer offensiveand theadvance towards the Sakarya river.In 1922 he was placed in command of theIII Army Corps,which he commanded during the collapse and retreat of the Greek army from Anatolia in August 1922.[2]
Following the outbreak of theVenizelist-ledSeptember 1922 Revolutionamong the surviving Army units, he was dismissed from service on 17 October 1922.[2]He testified in theTrial of the Six.
References
edit- ^Note: Greece officiallyadoptedtheGregorian calendaron 16 February 1923 (which became 1 March). All dates prior to that, unless specifically denoted, areOld Style.
- ^abcΜεγάλη Στρατιωτικὴ καὶ Ναυτικὴ Ἐγκυκλοπαιδεία. Tόμος Ἔκτος: Σαράντα Ἐκκλησίαι–Ὤχρα[Great Military and Naval Encyclopaedia. Volume VI: Kirk Kilisse–Ochre] (in Greek). Athens: Ἔκδοσις Μεγάλης Στρατιωτικῆς καὶ Ναυτικῆς Ἐγκυκλοπαιδείας. 1930. pp. 120–121.OCLC31255024.