The 12th Mechanized Infantry Division "Evros" (Greek: ΧΙΙ Μηχανοκίνητη Μεραρχία Πεζικού «ΕΒΡΟΣ»Dodekati Mihanokiniti Merarhia Pezikou «EVROS») is a military formation of the Hellenic Army, based at Alexandroupoli, Thrace.
12th Mechanized Infantry Division "EVROS"
ΧΙΙ Μηχανοκίνητη Μεραρχία Πεζικού "ΕΒΡΟΣ"
Camp flag of the 12th Mechanized Infantry Division
The division was formed in the reorganization and expansion of the Hellenic Army following the Balkan Wars of 1912–13. It was activated on 23 December (O.S.) 1913 at Kozani, comprising the 31st, 32nd, 33rd Infantry Regiments and the XII Mountain Artillery Battalion. It formed part of III Army Corps.[1] The original formation was disbanded during the National Schism and did not take part in any engagements during World War I.
In February 1920, the Xanthi Division (Μεραρχία Ξάνθης; Merarkhia Xanthis) was formed at Thessaloniki from Thracian recruits, whence its naming after the city of Xanthi. Commanded by Major General Konstantinos Mazarakis-Ainian, it comprised the 13th, 14th, 15th Infantry Regiments, the XII Mountain Artillery Regiment and other divisional units. In May 1920, the division took part in the Greek takeover of Western Thrace, after which it was shipped to Anatolia where it took part in the Greek offensive operations against the Turkish nationalist forces. In July it was withdrawn from the Anatolian front and re-shipped to take part in the operations for the capture of Eastern Thrace.[1]
Following the 1920 elections and the victory of the anti-Venizelistroyalist coalition, the Xanthi Division was renamed as the 12th Infantry Division.
In early 1921, it was reformed under the command of Prince Andrew and, comprising the 14th, 41st and 46th Regiments, was transferred once again to the Anatolian front, landing in Smyrna between 29 May and 6 June 1921. The division took part in the Battle of Kütahya–Eskişehir and the Greek advance to Ankara, which ended in the Battle of Sakarya. The division was commanded from 15 July by Colonel Periklis Kallidopoulos.[1] The division remained in Anatolia under I Army Corps until the great Turkish offensive in August 1922. The division was practically destroyed as a fighting force after the Battle of Dumlupınar; its remnants—155 officers, 2,240 men, 1,010 animals, 18 guns and 15 machine-guns—embarked at Çeşme for Chios on 31 August.[1]
In Greece, its remnants were merged with the Independent Division to form the new 12th Division at Feres as part of the Army of the Evros (October 1922). It remained in Western Thrace after the signature of the Treaty of Lausanne, based at Komotini.[1] Upon the outbreak of the Greco-Italian War in 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 expected German invasion of Greece looming, the division was transferred to the Central Macedonia Army Section, and was placed under the British Commonwealth troops holding the Vermion–Aliakmon line. Coming under German attack at the Battle 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 at Alexandroupoli, with the 29th, 30th and 31st Regiments and other divisional units.[1] In June 1996 it was converted into a mechanized infantry division, and in 2009 it received the honorific title "Evros".[1]
The 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 historian Polybius, describing the Romans and Carthaginians during the First 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]
Referencesedit
^ abcdefghΕνημερωτικός οδηγός νεοτοποθετημένων στελεχών στη φρουρά Αλεξανδρούπολης (PDF) (in Greek). XII Μ/Κ Μεραρχία Πεζικού, Γραφείο Μέριμνας Προσωπικού. May 2012. pp. 5–10. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
^Ενημερωτικός οδηγός νεοτοποθετημένων στελεχών στη φρουρά Αλεξανδρούπολης (PDF) (in Greek). XII Μ/Κ Μεραρχία Πεζικού, Γραφείο Μέριμνας Προσωπικού. May 2012. p. 3. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
12th, mechanized, infantry, division, greece, other, uses, 12th, division, 12th, mechanized, infantry, division, evros, greek, ΧΙΙ, Μηχανοκίνητη, Μεραρχία, Πεζικού, ΕΒΡΟΣ, dodekati, mihanokiniti, merarhia, pezikou, evros, military, formation, hellenic, army, b. For other uses see 12th Division The 12th Mechanized Infantry Division Evros Greek XII Mhxanokinhth Merarxia Pezikoy EBROS Dodekati Mihanokiniti Merarhia Pezikou EVROS is a military formation of the Hellenic Army based at Alexandroupoli Thrace 12th Mechanized Infantry Division EVROS XII Mhxanokinhth Merarxia Pezikoy EBROS Camp flag of the 12th Mechanized Infantry DivisionActive1913 19161920 19411964 todayCountry GreeceBranch Hellenic ArmyTypeMechanized infantryRoleAnti tank warfareArmoured warfareArtillery observerBomb disposalClose quarters combatCombined armsCounter battery fireDeminingDesert warfareFire supportForce protectionIndirect fireManeuver warfareMilitary engineeringPatrollingRaidingReconnaissanceTactical communicationsUrban warfareSizeDivisionPart ofIV Army CorpsGarrison HQAlexandroupoli ThraceMotto s Until one of them fallsEws an ton eteron propesein Eos an ton eteron propesinEngagementsGreco Turkish War 1919 1922 Greek Summer Offensive Battle of Kutahya Eskisehir Battle of the Sakarya Greek Retreat Battle of Dumlupinar World War II Battle of Greece Battle of Siatitsa PassCommandersNotablecommandersKonstantinos Mazarakis AinianPeriklis Kallidopoulos Contents 1 History 2 Organization 3 Emblem and motto 4 ReferencesHistory editThe division was formed in the reorganization and expansion of the Hellenic Army following the Balkan Wars of 1912 13 It was activated on 23 December O S 1913 at Kozani comprising the 31st 32nd 33rd Infantry Regiments and the XII Mountain Artillery Battalion It formed part of III Army Corps 1 The original formation was disbanded during the National Schism and did not take part in any engagements during World War I In February 1920 the Xanthi Division Merarxia 3an8hs Merarkhia Xanthis was formed at Thessaloniki from Thracian recruits whence its naming after the city of Xanthi Commanded by Major General Konstantinos Mazarakis Ainian it comprised the 13th 14th 15th Infantry Regiments the XII Mountain Artillery Regiment and other divisional units In May 1920 the division took part in the Greek takeover of Western Thrace after which it was shipped to Anatolia where it took part in the Greek offensive operations against the Turkish nationalist forces In July it was withdrawn from the Anatolian front and re shipped to take part in the operations for the capture of Eastern Thrace 1 Following the 1920 elections and the victory of the anti Venizelist royalist coalition the Xanthi Division was renamed as the 12th Infantry Division In early 1921 it was reformed under the command of Prince Andrew and comprising the 14th 41st and 46th Regiments was transferred once again to the Anatolian front landing in Smyrna between 29 May and 6 June 1921 The division took part in the Battle of Kutahya Eskisehir and the Greek advance to Ankara which ended in the Battle of Sakarya The division was commanded from 15 July by Colonel Periklis Kallidopoulos 1 The division remained in Anatolia under I Army Corps until the great Turkish offensive in August 1922 The division was practically destroyed as a fighting force after the Battle of Dumlupinar its remnants 155 officers 2 240 men 1 010 animals 18 guns and 15 machine guns embarked at Cesme for Chios on 31 August 1 In Greece its remnants were merged with the Independent Division to form the new 12th Division at Feres as part of the Army of the Evros October 1922 It remained in Western Thrace after the signature of the Treaty of Lausanne based at Komotini 1 Upon the outbreak of the Greco Italian War in 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 expected German invasion of Greece looming the division was transferred to the Central Macedonia Army Section and was placed under the British Commonwealth troops holding the Vermion Aliakmon line Coming under German attack at the Battle 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 at Alexandroupoli with the 29th 30th and 31st Regiments and other divisional units 1 In June 1996 it was converted into a mechanized infantry division and in 2009 it received the honorific title Evros 1 Organization edit nbsp nbsp 12th Div nbsp 7th Mech 31st Mech nbsp class notpageimage Locations of 12th Mechanized Infantry Division units nbsp Structure of the 12th Mechanized Infantry Division HQ Company LS XII M K MP 3rd Armoured Cavalry Squadron G EAN 12th Support Battalion 12th Signal Company 12o TDB 966th Military Police Company Tactical Command 41st Infantry Regiment TD 41oSP based at Samothraki Division Artillery Command DPB XII M K MP HQ Company 156th Self Propelled Artillery Battalion 156 A K MMP pzh 2000Gr 187th Observation Battery 187 PPAP 7th Mechanized Infantry Brigade 7h M K TA3 Sarantaporos based at Lykofos HQ Company IST 7th Armoured Battalion 7 EMA 640th Mechanized Infantry Battalion 640 M K TP Mechanized Infantry Battalion M K TP Self Propelled Artillery Battalion 131 M A K PB 7th Antitank Company 7 LAT 7th Engineer Company 7 LMX 7th Signal Company 7 LDB 7th Support Battalion 7 TYP 31st Mechanized Infantry Brigade 31h M K TA3 Kamia based at Feres HQ Company IST 12th Armored Battalion 12 EMA 526th Mechanized Infantry Battalion 526 M K TP 561st Mechanized Infantry Battalion 561 M K TP 535th Mechanized Infantry Battalion 535 M K TP 536th Mechanized Infantry Battalion 536 M K TP 110th Self Propelled Artillery Battalion 110 M A K PB 31st Antitank Company 31 LAT 31st Engineer Company 31 LMX 31st Signal Company 31 LDB 31st Support Battalion 31 TYP Emblem and motto editThe division s emblem depicts two roosters confronting each other It and the divisional motto Ews an ton eteron propesein Eos an ton eteron propesin Until one of them falls are inspired by a quote of the historian Polybius describing the Romans and Carthaginians during the First 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 a b c d e f g h Enhmerwtikos odhgos neotopo8ethmenwn stelexwn sth froyra Ale3androypolhs PDF in Greek XII M K Merarxia Pezikoy Grafeio Merimnas Proswpikoy May 2012 pp 5 10 Retrieved 31 December 2013 Enhmerwtikos odhgos neotopo8ethmenwn stelexwn sth froyra Ale3androypolhs PDF in Greek XII M K Merarxia Pezikoy Grafeio Merimnas Proswpikoy May 2012 p 3 Retrieved 31 December 2013 Polybius History I 58 7 8 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 12th Mechanized Infantry Division Greece amp oldid 1218166414 History, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
