The12th Mechanized Infantry Division "Evros"(Greek:ΧΙΙ Μηχανοκίνητη Μεραρχία Πεζικού «ΕΒΡΟΣ»Dodekati Mihanokiniti Merarhia Pezikou «EVROS») is a military formation of theHellenic Army,based atAlexandroupoli,Thrace.
| 12th Mechanized Infantry Division "EVROS" | |
|---|---|
| ΧΙΙ Μηχανοκίνητη Μεραρχία Πεζικού "ΕΒΡΟΣ" | |
 Camp flag of the 12th Mechanized Infantry Division | |
| Active | 1913–1916 1920–1941 1964–today |
| Country |  Greece |
| Branch |  Hellenic Army |
| Type | Mechanized infantry |
| Role | Anti-tank warfare Armoured warfare Artillery observer Bomb disposal Close-quarters combat Combined arms Counter-battery fire Demining Desert warfare Fire support Force protection Indirect fire Maneuver warfare Military engineering Patrolling Raiding Reconnaissance Tactical communications Urban warfare |
| Size | Division |
| Part of | IV Army Corps |
| Garrison/HQ | Alexandroupoli,Thrace |
| Motto(s) | Until one of them falls Έως αν τον ετέρον προπεσείν Eos an ton eteron propesin |
| Engagements | |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Konstantinos Mazarakis-Ainian Periklis Kallidopoulos |
History
editThe division was formed in the reorganization and expansion of theHellenic Armyfollowing theBalkan Warsof 1912–13. It was activated on 23 December (O.S.) 1913 atKozani,comprising the31st,32nd,33rdInfantry Regiments and the XII Mountain Artillery Battalion. It formed part ofIII Army Corps.[1]The original formation was disbanded during theNational Schismand did not take part in any engagements duringWorld War I.
In February 1920, theXanthi Division(Μεραρχία Ξάνθης;Merarkhia Xanthis) was formed atThessalonikifromThracianrecruits, whence its naming after the city ofXanthi.Commanded by Major GeneralKonstantinos Mazarakis-Ainian,it comprised the13th,14th,15thInfantry Regiments, the XII Mountain Artillery Regiment and other divisional units. In May 1920, the division took part in the Greek takeover ofWestern Thrace,after which it was shipped toAnatoliawhere it took part in theGreek offensive operationsagainst theTurkish nationalist forces.In July it was withdrawn from the Anatolian front and re-shipped to take part in the operations for the capture ofEastern Thrace.[1]
Following the1920 electionsand the victory of the anti-Venizelistroyalistcoalition, the Xanthi Division was renamed as the 12th Infantry Division.
In early 1921, it was reformed under the command ofPrince Andrewand, comprising the 14th,41stand46thRegiments, was transferred once again to the Anatolian front, landing inSmyrnabetween 29 May and 6 June 1921. The division took part in theBattle of Kütahya–Eskişehirand the Greek advance toAnkara,which ended in theBattle of Sakarya.The division was commanded from 15 July by ColonelPeriklis Kallidopoulos.[1]The division remained in Anatolia underI Army Corpsuntil the great Turkish offensive in August 1922. The division was practically destroyed as a fighting force after theBattle of Dumlupınar;its remnants—155 officers, 2,240 men, 1,010 animals, 18 guns and 15 machine-guns—embarked atÇeşmeforChioson 31 August.[1]
In Greece, its remnants were merged with theIndependent Divisionto form the new 12th Division atFeresas part of theArmy of the Evros(October 1922). It remained inWestern Thraceafter the signature of theTreaty of Lausanne,based at Komotini.[1]Upon the outbreak of theGreco-Italian Warin October 1940, the division remained in Thrace, and provided the cadre for several reserve regiments, which were transferred to other divisions. On 6 March 1941, with the expectedGerman invasion of Greecelooming, the division was transferred to theCentral Macedonia Army Section,and was placed under theBritish Commonwealthtroops holding theVermion–Aliakmonline. Coming under German attack at theBattle of Siatista Pass,the division retreated to the southwest and lost much of its force to desertion; finally, with the Greek capitulation on 24 April, the division, by now reduced to some 1,000 men, was disbanded.[1]
12th Infantry Division was reformed on 26 August 1964 atAlexandroupoli,with the29th,30thand31stRegiments and other divisional units.[1]In June 1996 it was converted into amechanized infantrydivision, and in 2009 it received the honorific title "Evros".[1]
Organization
edit
- HQ Company (ΛΣ/ΧΙΙ Μ/Κ ΜΠ)
- 3rd Armoured Cavalry Squadron (Γ'ΕΑΝ)
- 12th Support Battalion
- 12th Signal Company (12ο ΤΔΒ)
- 966th Military Police Company
- Tactical Command/41st Infantry Regiment (ΤΔ/41οΣΠ), based atSamothraki
- Division Artillery Command(ΔΠΒ/ΧΙΙ Μ/Κ ΜΠ)
- HQ Company
- 156th Self Propelled Artillery Battalion (156 Α/K ΜΜΠ pzh 2000Gr)
- 187th Observation Battery (187 ΠΠΑΠ)
- 7th Mechanized Infantry Brigade(7η M/K ΤΑΞ Σαραντάπορος), based atLykofos.
- HQ Company (ΙΣΤ)
- 7th Armoured Battalion (7 ΕΜΑ)
- 640th Mechanized Infantry Battalion (640 M/K ΤΠ)
- Mechanized Infantry Battalion (M/K ΤΠ)
- Self Propelled Artillery Battalion (131 Μ Α/K ΠΒ)
- 7th Antitank Company (7 ΛΑΤ)
- 7th Engineer Company (7 ΛΜΧ)
- 7th Signal Company (7 ΛΔΒ)
- 7th Support Battalion (7 ΤΥΠ)
- 31st Mechanized Infantry Brigade(31η M/K ΤΑΞ Κάμια), based atFeres
- HQ Company (ΙΣΤ)
- 12th Armored Battalion (12 ΕΜΑ)
- 526th Mechanized Infantry Battalion (526 M/K ΤΠ)
- 561st Mechanized Infantry Battalion (561 M/K ΤΠ)
- 535th Mechanized Infantry Battalion (535 M/K ΤΠ)
- 536th Mechanized Infantry Battalion (536 M/K ΤΠ)
- 110th Self Propelled Artillery Battalion (110 Μ Α/K ΠΒ)
- 31st Antitank Company (31 ΛΑΤ)
- 31st Engineer Company (31 ΛΜΧ)
- 31st Signal Company (31 ΛΔΒ)
- 31st Support Battalion (31 ΤΥΠ)
Emblem and motto
editThe division's emblem depicts two roosters confronting each other. It and the divisional motto,Έως αν τον ετέρον προπεσείν(Eos an ton eteron propesin;"Until one of them falls" ) are inspired by a quote of the historianPolybius,describing theRomansandCarthaginiansduring theFirst Punic War:[2]"We may compare the spirit displayed by both states to that of game cocks engaged in a death-struggle. For we often see that when these birds have lost the use of their wings from exhaustion, their courage remains as high as ever and they continue to strike blow upon blow, until closing involuntarily they get a deadly hold of each other, and as soon as this happens one or the other of the two will soon fall dead."[3]
References
edit- ^abcdefghΕνημερωτικός οδηγός νεοτοποθετημένων στελεχών στη φρουρά Αλεξανδρούπολης(PDF)(in Greek). XII Μ/Κ Μεραρχία Πεζικού, Γραφείο Μέριμνας Προσωπικού. May 2012. pp. 5–10.Retrieved31 December2013.
- ^Ενημερωτικός οδηγός νεοτοποθετημένων στελεχών στη φρουρά Αλεξανδρούπολης(PDF)(in Greek). XII Μ/Κ Μεραρχία Πεζικού, Γραφείο Μέριμνας Προσωπικού. May 2012. p. 3.Retrieved31 December2013.
- ^Polybius,History,I.58.7–8