Greek Armed Forces in the Middle East
After the fall of Greece to the Axis powers in April–May 1941, elements of the Greek Armed Forces managed to escape to the British-controlled Middle East.There they were placed under the Greek government in exile, and continued the fight alongside the Allies until the liberation of Greece in October 1944.[1] On 15 June 1941, the "Headquarters of the Royal Hellenic Army in the Middle East" (Αρχηγείου Βασιλικού Ελληνικού Στρατού Μέσης Ανατολής, ΑΒΕΣΜΑ) was established.Their goal was to overthrow the Greek government in exile and replace it with politicians sympathetic to the 4th of August Regime, as well as ousting all non-monarchist officers from the military.British 9th Army commander General William Holmes likewise refused to suppress ASO by force, instead sending the Metaxist officers who had submitted a resignation to a special camp in Syria.3,500 politically reliable officers and men were formed into the 3rd Greek Mountain Brigade under Col. Thrasyvoulos Tsakalotos, on 4 June 1944.In September 1942, an elite special forces unit, the Sacred Band (Ιερός Λόχος), was formed, made up solely of officers and volunteers.RHN ships also participated in the landing operations in Sicily, Anzio and Normandy, as well as at the ill-fated Dodecanese Campaign.A significant moment in the RHN's history was the acceptance of the Italian Fleet's surrender in September 1943, alongside the British Royal Navy.
fall of GreeceGreek Armed ForcesGreek government in exileAlliesTurkeyMiddle EastHellenic Army General StaffGeorge II of GreeceNetanyaPalestinePafsanias KatsotasBritish 50th DivisionSecond Battle of El AlameinBritish 44th DivisionMetaxist4th of August RegimePanagiotis Kanellopoulos9th ArmyWilliam Holmes3rd Greek Mountain BrigadeThrasyvoulos TsakalotosBattle of Riministrugglespecial forcesSacred BandChristodoulos TsigantesPhilippe LeclercTunisia CampaignRHN AdriasAlexandros SakellariouAverofAlexandriaRoyal NavyMediterraneanIndian OceanSicilyNormandyDodecanese CampaignItalian FleetAdriasVasilissa OlgaApril 1944 mutinyGeorge Papandreou335th Fighter Squadron13th Light BomberDesert Air ForceAvro AnsonsBlenheimsBaltimoresHurricanesSpitfireYugoslav Army Outside the HomelandWayback MachineGreece during World War II1940–1941 Balkans CampaignGreco-Italian War(1940–1941)PindusElaia–KalamasKorytsa/KorcëSarandaMorava–IvanHimaraKlisura PassTrebeshinaItalian spring offensiveHill 731GreeceIoannis MetaxasAlexandros PapagosCharalambos KatsimitrosKonstantinos DavakisMarkos DrakosIoannis PitsikasDimitrios PapadopoulosGeorgios KosmasBenito MussoliniGaleazzo CianoSebastiano Visconti PrascaUbaldo SodduUgo CavalleroCarlo Geloso8th Infantry DivisionEpirus Army SectionWestern Macedonia Army Section11th ArmyGerman invasion(April–May 1941)Operation LustreMetaxas LineKleisoura PassThermopylaeKing George IIKonstantinos BakopoulosGeorgios TsolakoglouBritish CommonwealthHenry Maitland WilsonThomas BlameyBernard FreybergGermanyWilhelm ListSepp DietrichKurt StudentEastern Macedonia Army SectionCentral Macedonia Army Section1st Armoured Brigade2nd New Zealand Division6th Australian DivisionXVIII Army CorpsXXXX Panzer CorpsLuftflotte 41st Parachute Division5th Mountain DivisionOccupation and collaborationGünther AltenburgHermann NeubacherWalter SchimanaAlexander LöhrArmy Group EHellmuth FelmyLXVIII Army CorpsHubert LanzXXII Mountain CorpsAlexander AndraeBruno BräuerFriedrich-Wilhelm MüllerFortress CreteMax Merten