2nd Mechanized Infantry Division (Greece)

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2nd Mechanized Infantry Division "ELASSON"
2η Μηχανοκίνητη Μεραρχία Πεζικού "ΕΛΑΣΣΩΝ"
2nd Mechanized Division Emblem Greece.jpg
Emblem of the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Division
Active1897–1941
1945–today
Country Greece
Branch Hellenic Army
TypeMechanized infantry
Size3 Brigades
Part ofFirst Army
Garrison/HQEdessa, Macedonia
Motto(s)"Even if only one stays alive"
(Εστ' αν και εις περιη Est' an ke is perii)
EngagementsBalkan Wars

Russian Civil War

Greco-Turkish War (1919–1922)
World War II

Greek Civil War

The 2nd Mechanized Infantry Division is a division of the Hellenic Army.

History[]

The 2nd Infantry Division was established in the aftermath of the disastrous Greco-Turkish War of 1897 by Royal Decree on 24 October 1897.[1] Based at Athens, it comprised the at with 1st and 7th Infantry Regiments, and the 4th Infantry Brigade with and Infantry Regiments.[2] The two existing divisions were then abolished on 1 August 1900 as part of a general restructuring, and three new divisions were ordered established a month later. 2nd Division, still at Athens, now comprised 3rd Brigade (Athens) with the 1st and 7th Regiments, and 4th Brigade (Chalkis) with the and Infantry Regiments, as well as the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, the , and the .[3]

On 9 September 1904, as part of another reorganization, the 4th Brigade was moved to Nafplio and now comprised the and 11th Regiments, while the 3rd Brigade remained as it was. In addition, the division now comprised the and 2nd Evzone Battalions, the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, , 2nd Engineers Battalion, 2nd Train Company and 2nd Nursing Company, and the 2nd Military Music Command. Most of these support units were based at Athens.[4]

In January 1912, the brigades were abolished and divisions organized as triangular divisions.[5] The Division remained at Athens, but now comprised 1st and 7th Regiments at Athens and the at Chalkis, plus supporting units.[6]

In 1998, the division was directly subordinate to the II Army Corps. It comprised the 33rd and 34th Brigades, both mechanised. Both were equipped with M-113s and Leopard MBTs.[7] In 2014 the 24th Armored Brigade was transferred to the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Division, which in its current form with three brigades is the strategic reserve of the Hellenic Army.[8]

Structure[]

Locations of 2nd Mechanized Infantry Division units
Structure II Mechanized Infantry Division

References[]

  1. ^ Note: Greece officially adopted the Gregorian calendar on 16 February 1923 (which became 1 March). All dates prior to that, unless specifically denoted, are Old Style.
  2. ^ Η ιστορία της οργάνωσης του Ελληνικού Στρατού, 1821–1954 [The history of the organization of the Hellenic Army, 1821–1954] (in Greek). Hellenic Army Historical Directorate. 2005. pp. 219–220. ISBN 960-7897-45-5.
  3. ^ Η ιστορία της οργάνωσης του Ελληνικού Στρατού, 1821–1954 [The history of the organization of the Hellenic Army, 1821–1954] (in Greek). Hellenic Army Historical Directorate. 2005. pp. 220–222. ISBN 960-7897-45-5.
  4. ^ Η ιστορία της οργάνωσης του Ελληνικού Στρατού, 1821–1954 [The history of the organization of the Hellenic Army, 1821–1954] (in Greek). Hellenic Army Historical Directorate. 2005. p. 229. ISBN 960-7897-45-5.
  5. ^ Η ιστορία της οργάνωσης του Ελληνικού Στρατού, 1821–1954 [The history of the organization of the Hellenic Army, 1821–1954] (in Greek). Hellenic Army Historical Directorate. 2005. p. 239. ISBN 960-7897-45-5.
  6. ^ Η ιστορία της οργάνωσης του Ελληνικού Στρατού, 1821–1954 [The history of the organization of the Hellenic Army, 1821–1954] (in Greek). Hellenic Army Historical Directorate. 2005. p. 241. ISBN 960-7897-45-5.
  7. ^ 'ARRC Assigned Forces,' NATO's Sixteen Nations, Special Issue 1998, p.6
  8. ^ "Μελλοντική Δομή Δυνάμεων: Επιτέλους συμμάζεμα, τα στοιχεία | Defence-point.gr". 25 April 2013.


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