Greek Army: Organisation and Composition August 1913 - 1914 v.1.

0 June 30, 2002 Alexis Mehtidis Sources : Army History Directorate, ' The Greek Army during the Balkan Wars, 1912 1913 ', Volume C', 1988 Army History Directorate, The Greek Army during World War I 'Volume A', 1958 Any additions or corrections welcome at : alexmehtidis@hotmail.com Contents I. Army Organisation, August 1913 II. Army Organisation November, 1913 III. Army Organisation and Notes, December 1913 / January 1914 IV. Army, 1914 Introduction This is a presentation of the Greek Army between the end of the 2nd Balkan War and the beginning of World War I. It does not pretend to be the complete presentation of the Greek Army during that time, but - to my knowledge - the most complete yet. It is the translation of parts in the aforementioned sources. Before the Balkan Wars there existed four Divisions ( I, II, III and IV ). During the Balkan Wars another six were formed ( V, VI, VII, VIII, IX and X ). After the end of the 2nd Balkan War XI Division was raised too. Before and during the Balkan Wars there were no Army Corps ; when the situation demanded it, Divisional Groups or Army Groups were formed. I. Army Organisation, August 1913 From August 17th/30th, 1913 it was decided by a Royal Decree ( E.D.Y.S. No. 102104/17.8.1913 ) temporarily to ' ...permanently retain the V, VI, VII, VIII, IX and X Divisions - that were formed during the Balkan War - , to form XI Division and the Cavalry Brigade and to organise the Divisions into Army Corps. ' The Army Corps formed were six : 1st Army Corps in Larissa : I Division in Larissa 2nd Army Corps in Athens II Division in Athens 3rd Army Corps in Ioannina III Division in Mesologgi VIII Division in Korytsa ( Korce in Albania ) IX Division in Ioannina 4th Army Corps in Thessaloniki IV Division in Thessaloniki V Division in Kilkis 5th Army Corps in Drama VI Division in Serres VII Division in Drama 6th Army Corps in Kozani X Division in Veroia

XI Division in Kozani Cavalry Brigade in Serres 1st Cavalry Regiment 2nd Cavalry Regiment 3rd Cavalry Regiment II. Army Organisation, November 1913 Five Army Corps and one Cavalry Division were formed with Law No. 85 / 29-11-1913 ( E.D.Y.S. No. 167557/7.12.1913 ) ' About the Temporary Organisation of the Army ' :

A' Army Corps in Athens : I Division in Larisa II Division in Athens XIII Division in Halkis B' Army Corps in Patras : III Division in Patras IV Division in Nafplion XIV Division in Kalamata C' Army Corps in Thessaloniki : X Division in Veroia XI Division in Thessaloniki XII Division in Kozani D' Army Corps in Kavala : V Division in Drama VI Division in Serres VII Division in Kavala E' Army Corps in Ioannina : VIII Division in Preveza IX Division in Ioannina Cavalry Division in Thessaloniki III. Army Organisation, December 1913 On December 23rd 1913/ January 5th 1914 a Royal Decree ( E.D.Y.S. No. 168981/24.12.1913 ) divided the Greek State in five Military Regions ( A', B', C', D' and E' ) for conscript recruiting. A', B', C' and D' Military Regions were divided each into three military districts, E' into two. Five Army Corps were formed ( A', B', C', D' and E' ) , corresponding to the five Mlitary Regions. The fourteen military districts ( I - XIV ) corresponded to the Divisions they were recruiting for ( I XIV ). Another Royal Decree of the same date ( E.D.Y.S. No. 168983/24.12.1913 ) established the organisation of the future Army Corps and Divisions. Infantry Regiments, Divisions and Army Corps Forty-two Infantry, Evzones and Cretans Regiments were organised ( Nos 1 - 42 ) out of the existing Infantry Battalions, each having three Battalions. Nos 14, 21 and 37 were composed of Cretans ( 1st Cretans Regiment / No 14 Infantry Regiment,2nd Cretans Regiment / No 21 Infantry Regiment, 3rd Cretans Regiment / No 37 Infantry Regiment abbreviated to 1/14 Cretans Regiment etc. - ). Nos 38, 39, 40, 41 and 42 were composed of Evzones ( 1st Evzones Regiment / No 38, 2nd Evzones

Regiment / No 39, 3rd Evzones Regiment / No 40, 4th Evzones Regiment / No 41, 5th Evzones Regiment / No 42 - abbreviated to 1/38 Evzones Regiment etc. - ). All the Battalions had four Companies, each of three Platoons and one machine-gun Platoon. These forty-two Infantry, Evzones and Cretans Regiments were organised into fourteen Divisions ( I XIV ), each of three Regiments. These fourteen Divisions were organised into five Army Corps . A', B', C' and D' Army Corps consisted of three Divisions, one Field Artillery Regiment, one Cavalry Regiment, one Sappers Regiment, one Transportation Battalion and one Nurses Squadron. E' Army Corps of two Divisions, one Field Artillery Regiment, one Cavalry Squadron, one Sappers Battalion, one Transportation Battalion and one Nurses Squadron. Each of the Divisions consisted of three Infantry Regiments and one Mountain Artillery Squadron. Field and Mountain Artillery Five Field Artillery Regiments were formed ( Nos 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 ) out of the existing Field Artillery Squadrons. Nos 1, 3, 5 and 7 consisted of three Squadrons, with three Batteries each ; the 9th had two Squadrons, with three Batteries each. Fourteen Mountain Artillery Batteries ( I to XIV, corresponding to the Divisions with the same number ) were formed out of the existing Mountain Batteries. Each had two Batteries. Sappers Four Sapper Regiments ( A, B', C' and D' ), each with six Companies and an independent Sapper Battalion ( E' ), with four Companies, were formed out of the existing Sapper Companies. Cavalry The nucleus of four non-Divisional Cavalry Regiments ( A', B' , C' and D' ) - with three Troops each and a Battalion ( E' ) were formed out of the 2nd Cavalry Regiment. Transportation The nucleus of five Transportation Battalions ( A', B', C' and D' with three Companies each and E' with two Companies ) were formed out of the existing Transportation Companies. Nurses Five Nurses Squadrons ( A', B', C', D' and E' ) - with three Platoons each - were formed out of the three existing Nurses Companies. By ' Nurses ', male nurses are meant.

A' Army Corps in Athens : I Division in Larisa II Division in Athens XIII Division in Halkis B' Army Corps in Patras : III Division in Patras IV Division in Nafplion XIV Division in Kalamata C' Army Corps in

Thessaloniki : X Division in Veroia XI Division in Thessaloniki XII Division in Kozani D' Army Corps in Kavala : V Division in Drama VI Division in Serres VII Division in Kavala E' Army Corps in Ioannina : VIII Division in Preveza IX Division in Ioannina Independent Units Fortress Artillery Regiment Horse Artillery Squadron Fortress Engineer Regiment Telegraphists Regiment Railway Battalion in Thessaloniki Aviators Company in Thessaloniki Bridgelayers Battalion in Topsin Fortress Artillery Battalion in Ioannina Fortress Engineer Battalion in Ioannina Vehicles ( actually Car ) Battalion in Athens Cavalry Division of four Regiments. Actually, due to lack of horses the Ist Cavalry Brigade was only formed - with two Regiments -. In Thessaloniki. Some notes on the December 1913 Army Organisation Mountain Composition of the Army. It was decided, out of the experience gained in the two Balkan Wars, that due to the mountaineous nature of Greece, formations of Mountain Composition should be formed.

- So, all Divisional Troops were of a Mountain Composition as were the Army Corps' Engineers and Cavalry. - One of the Army Corps' Supply Columns was of Mountain Composition too, so it could supply the active Divisions on mountaineous ground, in conjunction with the Divisional Transportation Corps' units and the Army Corps' Supply Columns' detachments with cars and on wheels. The Divisional Ammunition Supply Service was composed of Infantry and Mountain Artillery Supply Units of a Mountain Composition, while the Army Corps' of a Field Composition. There were no vehicle - lorry - detachments for ammunition supply due to a lack of lorries. - Medical formations were completely of a Mountain Composition. These formations were small and staffed with many soldiers so they could follow and tend to the dispersed units of every formation on the mountains.There were two disadvantages in this system, namely that there was a need for an extraordinary number of staff for the medical units and that they couldn't be controlled as well ; but it was the best way to tend to the medical needs of fighting on mountains. A distance of 500 m. on maps would take a two-hours march, for example. The Divisional Medical Parks were of a Mountain Composition while the Army Corps' Medical Parks were of a Field Composition. Infantry One hundred and forty Infantry Battalions would be formed in mobilization, according to the Staff Service calculations. The one hundred and twenty-six of them formed the fourteen Divisions.One Battalion would be formed

in mobilization to guard the General Headquarters, four would be formed as border guarding battalions in places where no operations were intended and five Independent Battalions were to guard islands ( Lemnos, Hios, Samos and Mytilini ). Four battalions wouldn't be formed due to a lack of infantry weapons for them. Existing infantry weapons of that time were : 166.000 Manlicher-Schonauer rifles, 44.000 Mauser and Manlicher rifles out of Bulgarian war booty, 77.000 old Gras rifles, 240 Schwarzlosse and 34 Maxim machine guns and a big number of various types out of war booty. Cavalry There was a great lack of horses so the Cavalry Division was composed of two Regiments, only. The Army Corps' Cavalry Regiments also had two Troops only. Artillery Divisions were equipped with mountain artillery and Army Corps with field. Field Artillery weapon pieces were one hundred and sixty-eight and could complete the composition of the Field Artillery Regiments. Mountain Artillery weapons were ninety-eight 75mm Schneider-Dagli pieces instead of the hundred and twelve needed, though. So, some of the Mountain Artillery Squadrons only had one Battery, until they would be supplied with weapons ordered in France. Engineers There was a serious lack of officers - specially of the Lieutenant's grade -. Medical Service Army Corps' Nurses Squadrons would complete all the Army Corps medical units in mobilization. Each Nurses Squadron consisted of : - For the Army Corps : One Stretcher- bearers Squadron, three Mountain Operating Theatres, one Medical Park on carts and one Hygiene and Protection Unit by the Army Corps Headquarters. - For the Divisions : One Stretcher- bearers Squadron, three Mountain Operating Theatres and four Medical Units of Mountain Composition. Transportation Corps Each Army Corps Transportation Battalion had a disproportionate number of officers because it would complete its composition in mobilization. Supply Columns, Parks - except Artillery Parks - and all Transportation Corps units not needing soldiers with a specialty would be completed by the Transportation Battalions. Ammunition Supply Units and Parks would be completed by Artillery Units, using artillery reserve officers and privates of older drafts. IV. Army, 1914 ( E.D.Y.S. No 168983/24.12.1913 ) A' Army Corps, in Athens

I Division 4th Infantry Regiment 5th Infantry Regiment 1/38 Evzones Regiment I Mountain Artillery Squadron II Division 1st Infantry Regiment

Larisa Larisa Trikkala Karditsa Larisa Athens Athens

7th Infantry Regiment 34th Infantry Regiment II Mountain Artillery Squadron XIII Division 2nd Infantry Regiment 3rd Infantry Regiment 5/42 Evzones Regiment XIII Mountain Artillery Squadron 1st Field Artillery Regiment A' Cavalry Regiment A' Sappers Regiment A' Transportation Battalion A' Nurses Squadron B' Army Corps, in Patras

Athens Athens Athens Halkis Halkis Halkis Lamia Halkis Athens Athens Athens Athens Athens

Non-divisional Troops

III Division 6th Infantry Regiment 12th Infantry Regiment 2/39 Evzones Regiment III Mountain Artillery Squadron IV Division 8th Infantry Regiment 11th Infantry Regiment 35th Infantry Regiment IV Mountain Artillery Squadron XIV Division 6th Infantry Regiment 36th Infantry Regiment 1/14 Cretans Regiment XIV Mountain Artillery Squadron 3rd Field Artillery Regiment B' Cavalry Regiment B' Sappers Regiment B' Transportation Battalion B' Nurses Squadron C' Army Corps, in Thessaloniki

Patras Patras Patras Mesologgi Patras Nafplion Nafplion Tripolis Korinthos Nafplion Kalamata Kalamata Kalamata Hania Kalamata Korinthos Argos Korinthos Korinthos Korinthos

Non-divisional Troops

X Division 29th Infantry Regiment 30th Infantry Regiment 4/41 Evzones Regiment X Mountain Artillery Squadron XI Division 13th Infantry Regiment 27th Infantry Regiment 28th Infantry Regiment XI Mountain Artillery Squadron XII Division

Veroia Edessa Giannitsa Veroia Veroia Thessaloniki Thessaloniki Thessaloniki Thessaloniki Thessaloniki Kozani

31st Infantry Regiment 32nd Infantry Regiment 33rd Infantry Regiment XIII Mountain Artillery Squadron 5th Field Artillery Regiment C' Cavalry Regiment C' Sappers Regiment C' Transportation Battalion C' Nurses Squadron D' Army Corps, in Kavalla

Kozani Anaselitsa ( Lapsista ) Florina Kozani Thessaloniki Giannitsa Thessaloniki Thessaloniki Thessaloniki

Non-divisional Troops

V Division 22nd Infantry Regiment 23rd Infantry Regiment 3/37 Cretans Regiment V Mountain Artillery Squadron VI Division 16th Infantry Regiment 17th Infantry Regiment 18th Infantry Regiment VI Mountain Artillery Squadron VII Division 19th Infantry Regiment 20th Infantry Regiment 2/21 Cretans Regiment VII Mountain Artillery Squadron 7th Field Artillery Regiment D' Cavalry Regiment Non-divisional Troops D' Sappers Regiment D' Transportation Battalion D' Nurses Squadron

Drama Drama Drama Drama Drama Serres Serres Serres Demir Hisar ( Sidirokastron ) Serres Kavalla Kavalla Pravi Kavalla Kavalla Drama Serres Drama Serres Serres

E' Army Corps, in Ioannina

VIII Division 10th Infantry Regiment 15th Infantry Regiment 24th Infantry Regiment VIII Mountain Artillery Squadron IX Division 25th Infantry Regiment 26th Infantry Regiment 3/40 Evzones Regiment IX Mountain Artillery Squadron 9th Field Artillery Regiment E' Cavalry Squadron E' Sappers Battalion E' Transportation Battalion E' Nurses Battalion

Preveza Kerkyra ( Corfu ) Lefkas Preveza Preveza Ioannina Ioannina Ioannina Ioannina Ioannina Ioannina Ioannina Ioannina Ioannina Ioannina

Non-divisional Troops

Cavalry Division, in Thessaloniki

I Cavalry Brigade 1st Cavalry Regiment 3rd Cavalry Regiment Independent Units

Thessaloniki Thessaloniki Thessaloniki

Fortress Artillery Regiment Fortress Artillery Battalion Horse Artillery Squadron Fortress Engineer Regiment Fortress Engineer Battalion Telegraphists Regiment Railway Battalion Vehicles ( actually Car ) Battalion Bridgelayers Battalion Aviators Company

Thessaloniki Ioannina Thessaloniki Thessaloniki Ioannina Thessaloniki Thessaloniki Athens Topsin ( Gefyra ) Thessaloniki

Notes : 1. When double dates are mentioned it is because the first is with the Old Calendar and the second with the New Calendar. 2. Army 1914 is essentialy the Army December 1913, sources do not specify the month in 1914, but we can safely asume that it was the Greek Army at the beginning of World War I.