1292:
797:
56:
40:
681:
with just 7,000 Greek men in order to delay the invading
Persian army. He was asked why he had come to fight such a huge host with so few men. Leonidas answered, “If numbers are what matters, all Greece cannot match a small part of that army; but if courage is what counts, this number is sufficient.”
395:
Dimitrios
Kyriazis, one of its senior officers) and 161 wounded. Between 12 January 1941 and 17 January 1941, the 15th Infantry Division's attacks on positions of the Italian 7th Infantry Division inflicted such heavy casualties that it forced an Italian retreat. Significantly, the 90th Regiment's
396:
repeated attacks during heavy winter storms on the Dras-e-Kais hill, the village of Kaitsa, and Mali
Nisitse, saw the capture of most of the Italian 77th Regiment, including its commander Colonel Menigetti and his command staff. On 2 February 1941, elements of the 15th Infantry Division under now-
415:
during its capture of the 1,805-metre (5,921-ft) northern peak of Mal Shëndëlli, before advancing their line a further 5 km (3 miles). Subsequent engagements saw the two divisions take heights 1647, 1260, and 1178. The 15th
Infantry Division lost 2,000 killed, wounded or missing during the
347:
river crossing near the village of
Cangonj. During the second phase of the battle (17–20 November 1940), the division secured the crossing. This success allowed Greek forces in the south to concentrate on the expulsion of Italian forces on the Morava heights, and eventually capture the town of
382:
The 90th
Infantry Regiment engaged Italian forces on Mali i Taronit (also known as Mali Taronine) on 10 January 1941, near the Këlcyrë-Tepelenë road. The success of the attack was strategically significant because it secured the northern flank of the Greek forces engaged in the
247:
The 15th
Infantry Division was formed for the first time in 1915, following the Greek mobilization on 10 September 1915, in response to the mobilization of Bulgaria. The new formation was headquartered at
363:, which had secured the village on 30 November 1940. As part of a major push to secure Greek positions (13 December 1940 - 6 January 1941), the division was subsequently placed under the command of the
1566:
490:
after bitter fighting against two DSE divisions, which suffered heavy losses. From 10 August 1949 to 30 August 1949, the division was involved in the second and third phases of
Operation "Torch" (
570:
562:
551:
483:
324:
320:
316:
273:
265:
257:
1556:
1198:
1193:
379:. On 8 January 1941 Italian forces, who had control of many of the surrounding peaks, attacked units of the 15th Infantry Division that had taken-up positions around Taronine.
1546:
1422:
1072:
526:, the 15th Infantry Division - consisting of five Infantry Battalions, one Armoured Squadron and one Artillery Squadron - was tasked with the defence of the prefectures of
1508:
1541:
1447:
1412:
510:), the campaign to dislodge DSE forces from the Grammos-Vitsi mountains. These operations resulted in the defeat of DSE forces and the end of the Civil War.
339:
front. On 14 November 1940, the 15th
Infantry Division engaged and captured Italian positions on Hill 1480, also known as "Ivan's Rampart", as part of the
309:
745:
Patria
Magazine (περιοδικό PATRIA), Vol. 19, "ΓΡΑΜΜΟΣ - ΒΙΤΣΙ 1949 : Ο ΕΘΝΙΚΟΣ ΣΤΡΑΤΟΣ ΣΥΝΤΡΙΒΕΙ ΤΗΝ ΚΟΜΜΟΥΝΙΣΤΙΚΗ ΑΠΕΙΛΗ" (Greek), September 2009
210:. The division distinguished itself in the war, where it took part in some of the most significant battles of the conflict. It was disbanded after the
1149:
420:. By the end of the Greco-Italian War, the division had lost 1,363 soldiers killed, and nearly three times that number wounded or missing.
1407:
1135:
1130:
1118:
1106:
1101:
848:
1031:
1004:
1536:
1062:
1057:
1044:
1017:
941:
900:
895:
882:
1039:
1012:
1257:
924:
786:
1531:
1229:
1551:
376:
280:. These units were shipped to the wider Thessaloniki area by the end of September, and the full division became part of the
1483:
868:
1493:
1264:
1498:
1402:
1397:
1392:
1387:
1377:
1372:
1367:
1362:
1357:
1168:
972:
951:
863:
853:
800:
360:
1488:
1427:
1352:
1347:
1342:
1337:
1332:
1327:
1322:
1317:
1312:
1160:
1086:
1081:
990:
985:
980:
946:
934:
890:
840:
595:
332:
231:
1432:
929:
858:
293:
343:. The capture of the hill gave the 15th Infantry Division a strategic position overlooking the pass at the
1215:
1123:
818:
779:
391:
Christos Gerakinis, the regiment captured the hill with a bayonet charge, suffering 42 killed (including
1561:
688:«τω πλήθει, ουδέ η πάσα Ελλάς αρκεί· βραχεία γαρ μοίρα του εκείνων πλήθους εστίν· ει δε ταις αρεταίς,
1503:
1222:
472:
424:
340:
1467:
1271:
535:
297:
284:
in October. The division was disbanded following the demobilization of the Greek Army in May 1916.
219:
1243:
531:
527:
384:
328:
301:
227:
223:
206:. Established for the first time briefly in 1915–1916, it was re-established in 1940, during the
155:
482:
On 29 January 1949, the 15th Infantry Division, along with the A and B Raider Squadrons and the
961:
772:
444:
364:
98:
1236:
663:
624:
519:
500:
457:
281:
185:
145:
103:
89:
1417:
1173:
1111:
408:
150:
8:
1250:
829:
412:
199:
79:
764:
1284:
435:
The 15th Infantry Division was re-established on 15 May 1945, and participated in the
368:
1442:
1437:
1304:
440:
305:
207:
140:
118:
423:
The 15th Infantry Division was disbanded with the Greek capitulation following the
211:
1462:
1457:
1452:
436:
400:
Agamemnon Metaxas captured Height 802 and the nearby town of Bubës, northwest of
215:
160:
683:
654:
615:
584:
575:
491:
448:
344:
327:) with artillery support (XV Mountain Artillery Regiment), was attached to the
253:
176:
1525:
1296:
806:
727:, Δ. Λιμνιάτης, Αντιστράτηγος ε.α., Gnomon Publications (Greek) October 1997.
416:
battle. Their advance was eventually stopped by strong Italian resistance at
397:
203:
59:
447:. On 14 June 1948, the division took part in the failed Operation "Crown" (
401:
392:
372:
308:. Both the brigade and the newly formed division were commanded by Colonel
249:
475:
forces managed to punch through the II Army Corps' lines and flee towards
678:
539:
214:, re-established after liberation in 1945 and subsequently fought in the
471:
mountains. After 40 days of close fighting, the numerically outnumbered
417:
674:
349:
487:
315:
The newly formed division, now composed of three Infantry Regiments (
292:
The 15th Infantry Division was reformed on 6 November 1940 when the
1291:
796:
523:
356:
196:
114:
69:
55:
914:
710:
Military History Magazine (περιοδ. Στρατιωτική Ιστορία), Vol. 3,
611:
591:
556:
543:
468:
388:
336:
1567:
Military units and formations of Greece in the Greco-Italian War
467:), a major offensive against Communist forces entrenched in the
355:
On 7 December 1940, the 15th Infantry Division moved on towards
643:
607:
261:
93:
44:
677:
when he was in charge of guarding the narrow mountain pass at
736:
John Carr, "The Defence and Fall of Greece 1940-1941", p. 120
639:
476:
296:
was expanded and augmented by personnel conscripted from the
277:
269:
230:
areas until 1998, when it was reorganized and renamed as the
1094:
518:
From 1962, the division was placed under the command of the
635:
335:- and tasked with the defence of the northern flank of the
331:- which was, in turn, under the operational command of the
546:. By 1989, the division consisted of the following units.
794:
712:Ο ελληνικός στρατός και το έπος της Β. Ηπείρου (1940-41)
1289:
1557:
Military units and formations of Greece in World War I
971:
594:-level formation on 31 March 1998 and renamed as the
1547:
Military units and formations disestablished in 1998
1159:
839:
668:
629:
505:
462:
252:, while its units were recruited and formed in the
190:
723:History Magazine (περιοδικό "Ιστορία"), Vol. 352,
411:, on 13 February 1941, the division supported the
1542:Military units and formations established in 1940
1523:
606:The emblem of the 15th Infantry Division is a
780:
359:and relieved a reconnaissance force from the
725:Το έπος του 1940 και ο στρατηγός Κατσιμήτρος
787:
773:
304:regions, following the outbreak of the
1524:
486:, successfully recaptured the town of
1288:
768:
513:
287:
601:
375:, where it encountered the Italian
13:
538:, manning 24 border outposts from
430:
14:
1578:
1032:16th Mechanized Infantry Division
1005:12th Mechanized Infantry Division
1537:1998 disestablishments in Greece
1290:
1063:50th Mechanized Infantry Brigade
1058:29th Mechanized Infantry Brigade
1045:30th Mechanized Infantry Brigade
1018:31st Mechanized Infantry Brigade
901:34th Mechanized Infantry Brigade
896:33rd Mechanized Infantry Brigade
883:2nd Mechanized Infantry Division
795:
673:). The phrase was attributed to
54:
38:
1040:3rd Mechanized Infantry Brigade
1013:7th Mechanized Infantry Brigade
854:13th Special Operations Command
522:, and with its headquarters in
29:1915–1916, 1940–1941, 1945–1998
925:8th Motorized Infantry Brigade
849:1st Raider–Paratrooper Brigade
748:
739:
730:
717:
704:
642:'s wings) and vigilant guard (
590:The division was reduced to a
333:Western Macedonia Army Section
242:
1:
1532:1915 establishments in Greece
1231:Military Geographical Service
1095:National Guard Higher Command
697:
1552:Infantry divisions of Greece
218:. It remained active in the
7:
1124:1/38 National Guard Command
820:Hellenic Army General Staff
669:
630:
581:XV Field Artillery Squadron
506:
463:
191:
181:XV Μεραρχία Πεζικού (XV ΜΠ)
21:XV Μεραρχία Πεζικού (XV ΜΠ)
10:
1583:
690:και ούτος ο αριθμός ικανός
670:Ké Oútos o Arithmós Ikanós
659:Και Ούτος Ο Αριθμός Ικανός
237:
132:ΚΑΙ ΟΥΤΟΣ Ο ΑΡΙΘΜΟΣ ΙΚΑΝΟΣ
1476:
1303:
1211:
1186:
1148:
1071:
1030:
1003:
960:
913:
881:
869:1st Army Aviation Brigade
828:
815:
687:
658:
651:This Number Is Sufficient
649:The division's motto was
634:), symbolizing strength (
619:
495:
452:
425:German invasion of Greece
180:
136:
129:This Number Is Sufficient
124:
110:
85:
75:
65:
50:
33:
25:
18:
756:Apophthegmata Laconica,
387:. Under the command of
385:Capture of Klisura Pass
156:Capture of Klisura Pass
1169:11th Infantry Regiment
973:20th Armoured Division
952:41st Infantry Regiment
947:15th Infantry Regiment
942:10th Infantry Regiment
916:ΙΙI Army Corps/NRDC-GR
864:71st Airmobile Brigade
571:90th Infantry Regiment
563:53rd Infantry Regiment
552:51st Infantry Regiment
484:39th Infantry Regiment
361:13th Infantry Division
274:45th Infantry Regiment
266:44th Infantry Regiment
258:43rd Infantry Regiment
173:15th Infantry Division
19:15th Infantry Division
1161:4th Infantry Division
1087:88th Military Command
1082:5th Airmobile Brigade
991:25th Armoured Brigade
986:23rd Armoured Brigade
981:21st Armoured Brigade
935:1st Infantry Regiment
891:24th Armoured Brigade
841:1st Infantry Division
714:(Greek), October 2001
596:15th Infantry Brigade
377:7th Infantry Division
352:on 22 November 1940.
341:Battle of Morava–Ivan
232:15th Infantry Brigade
146:Battle of Morava-Ivan
930:9th Infantry Brigade
859:32nd Marines Brigade
566:, based at Kostarazi
464:Epiheírisi "Koronís"
453:Eπιχείρηση «Κορωνίς»
409:Battle of Trebeshina
294:4th Infantry Brigade
192:XV Merarchía Pezikoú
151:Battle of Trebeshina
1468:Cyprus ('Menelaos')
507:Epiheírisi "Pyrsós"
496:Eπιχείρηση «Πυρσός»
413:5th Cretan Division
1484:3rd Special Forces
1423:Continental Greece
1266:Veterinary Service
1217:Presidential Guard
646:ready to strike).
514:Cold War and after
1562:Western Macedonia
1517:
1516:
1295:Divisions of the
1282:
1281:
1207:
1206:
1182:
1181:
1144:
1143:
1053:
1052:
1026:
1025:
999:
998:
909:
908:
877:
876:
667:
638:'s body), speed (
628:
504:
461:
367:and moved to the
310:Agamemnon Metaxas
306:Greco-Italian War
288:Greco-Italian War
208:Greco-Italian War
189:
166:
165:
141:Greco-Italian War
119:Western Macedonia
101:(1941, 1945–1962)
1574:
1294:
1286:
1285:
1274:
1267:
1260:
1253:
1246:
1239:
1232:
1225:
1218:
1184:
1183:
1157:
1156:
1152:
1092:
1091:
1075:
1028:
1027:
1001:
1000:
969:
968:
964:
917:
879:
878:
837:
836:
832:
821:
809:
803:
799:
789:
782:
775:
766:
765:
759:
752:
746:
743:
737:
734:
728:
721:
715:
708:
693:
672:
662:
660:
633:
623:
621:
602:Emblem and Motto
509:
499:
497:
466:
456:
454:
443:Hellenic Army's
212:Battle of Greece
194:
184:
182:
58:
43:
42:
41:
16:
15:
1582:
1581:
1577:
1576:
1575:
1573:
1572:
1571:
1522:
1521:
1518:
1513:
1494:19th Mechanized
1472:
1299:
1283:
1278:
1272:
1265:
1258:
1251:
1244:
1238:Military Police
1237:
1230:
1223:
1216:
1203:
1199:Southern Greece
1194:Northern Greece
1178:
1150:
1140:
1090:
1073:
1067:
1049:
1022:
995:
962:
956:
915:
905:
873:
830:
824:
819:
811:
807:
801:
793:
763:
762:
753:
749:
744:
740:
735:
731:
722:
718:
709:
705:
700:
604:
516:
439:as part of the
437:Greek Civil War
433:
431:Greek Civil War
427:in April 1941.
369:Përmet District
290:
245:
240:
216:Greek Civil War
169:
161:Greek Civil War
131:
102:
97:
39:
37:
20:
12:
11:
5:
1580:
1570:
1569:
1564:
1559:
1554:
1549:
1544:
1539:
1534:
1515:
1514:
1512:
1511:
1506:
1501:
1496:
1491:
1486:
1480:
1478:
1474:
1473:
1471:
1470:
1465:
1460:
1455:
1450:
1445:
1440:
1435:
1430:
1425:
1420:
1415:
1410:
1405:
1400:
1395:
1390:
1385:
1380:
1375:
1370:
1365:
1360:
1355:
1350:
1345:
1340:
1335:
1330:
1325:
1320:
1315:
1309:
1307:
1301:
1300:
1280:
1279:
1277:
1276:
1269:
1262:
1255:
1248:
1245:National Guard
1241:
1234:
1227:
1220:
1212:
1209:
1208:
1205:
1204:
1202:
1201:
1196:
1190:
1188:
1180:
1179:
1177:
1176:
1171:
1165:
1163:
1154:
1146:
1145:
1142:
1141:
1139:
1138:
1133:
1128:
1127:
1126:
1116:
1115:
1114:
1104:
1098:
1096:
1089:
1084:
1079:
1077:
1069:
1068:
1066:
1065:
1060:
1054:
1051:
1050:
1048:
1047:
1042:
1036:
1034:
1024:
1023:
1021:
1020:
1015:
1009:
1007:
997:
996:
994:
993:
988:
983:
977:
975:
966:
958:
957:
955:
954:
949:
944:
939:
938:
937:
927:
921:
919:
911:
910:
907:
906:
904:
903:
898:
893:
887:
885:
875:
874:
872:
871:
866:
861:
856:
851:
845:
843:
834:
826:
825:
816:
813:
812:
792:
791:
784:
777:
769:
761:
760:
747:
738:
729:
716:
702:
701:
699:
696:
603:
600:
588:
587:
585:Argos Orestiko
578:
576:Argos Orestiko
567:
559:
515:
512:
432:
429:
329:III Army Corps
289:
286:
254:Aegean islands
244:
241:
239:
236:
167:
164:
163:
159:
158:
153:
148:
138:
134:
133:
126:
122:
121:
112:
108:
107:
94:III Army Corps
87:
83:
82:
77:
73:
72:
67:
63:
62:
52:
48:
47:
35:
31:
30:
27:
23:
22:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1579:
1568:
1565:
1563:
1560:
1558:
1555:
1553:
1550:
1548:
1545:
1543:
1540:
1538:
1535:
1533:
1530:
1529:
1527:
1520:
1510:
1507:
1505:
1502:
1500:
1499:20th Armoured
1497:
1495:
1492:
1490:
1487:
1485:
1482:
1481:
1479:
1475:
1469:
1466:
1464:
1461:
1459:
1456:
1454:
1451:
1449:
1446:
1444:
1441:
1439:
1436:
1434:
1431:
1429:
1426:
1424:
1421:
1419:
1416:
1414:
1411:
1409:
1406:
1404:
1401:
1399:
1396:
1394:
1391:
1389:
1386:
1384:
1381:
1379:
1376:
1374:
1371:
1369:
1366:
1364:
1361:
1359:
1356:
1354:
1351:
1349:
1346:
1344:
1341:
1339:
1336:
1334:
1331:
1329:
1326:
1324:
1321:
1319:
1316:
1314:
1311:
1310:
1308:
1306:
1302:
1298:
1297:Hellenic Army
1293:
1287:
1275:
1270:
1268:
1263:
1261:
1256:
1254:
1249:
1247:
1242:
1240:
1235:
1233:
1228:
1226:
1221:
1219:
1214:
1213:
1210:
1200:
1197:
1195:
1192:
1191:
1189:
1187:Supply Centre
1185:
1175:
1174:2/39 Regiment
1172:
1170:
1167:
1166:
1164:
1162:
1158:
1155:
1153:
1147:
1137:
1134:
1132:
1129:
1125:
1122:
1121:
1120:
1117:
1113:
1112:5/42 Regiment
1110:
1109:
1108:
1105:
1103:
1100:
1099:
1097:
1093:
1088:
1085:
1083:
1080:
1078:
1076:
1070:
1064:
1061:
1059:
1056:
1055:
1046:
1043:
1041:
1038:
1037:
1035:
1033:
1029:
1019:
1016:
1014:
1011:
1010:
1008:
1006:
1002:
992:
989:
987:
984:
982:
979:
978:
976:
974:
970:
967:
965:
963:IV Army Corps
959:
953:
950:
948:
945:
943:
940:
936:
933:
932:
931:
928:
926:
923:
922:
920:
918:
912:
902:
899:
897:
894:
892:
889:
888:
886:
884:
880:
870:
867:
865:
862:
860:
857:
855:
852:
850:
847:
846:
844:
842:
838:
835:
833:
827:
823:
822:
814:
810:
808:Hellenic Army
804:
798:
790:
785:
783:
778:
776:
771:
770:
767:
757:
751:
742:
733:
726:
720:
713:
707:
703:
695:
691:
685:
680:
676:
671:
665:
656:
652:
647:
645:
641:
637:
632:
626:
617:
613:
609:
599:
597:
593:
586:
582:
579:
577:
573:
572:
568:
565:
564:
560:
558:
554:
553:
549:
548:
547:
545:
541:
537:
533:
529:
525:
521:
511:
508:
502:
493:
489:
485:
480:
478:
474:
470:
465:
459:
450:
446:
445:II Army Corps
442:
438:
428:
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1489:9th Armoured
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250:Thessaloniki
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104:I Army Corps
90:V Army Corps
86:Part of
1448:Peloponnese
1433:Independent
1418:Archipelago
679:Thermopylae
583:, based at
574:, based at
555:, based at
540:Lake Prespa
407:During the
371:, north of
243:World War I
137:Engagements
111:Garrison/HQ
106:(1962–1998)
1526:Categories
1413:Adrianople
831:First Army
802:Formations
754:Plutarch,
698:References
610:-wielding
272:, and the
758:225c.8-9.
664:romanized
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501:romanized
488:Karpenisi
458:romanized
195:) was an
186:romanized
1443:Magnesia
1438:Kydoniai
1305:Infantry
1252:Uniforms
675:Leonidas
536:Kastoria
524:Kastoria
418:Tepelenë
357:Pogradec
337:Albanian
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200:division
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125:Motto(s)
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80:Division
70:Infantry
1509:Support
1504:Cavalry
1408:98 ADTE
1224:Academy
805:of the
666::
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557:Grevena
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469:Grammos
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402:Klisura
389:Colonel
373:Këlcyrë
350:Korytsa
302:Grevena
238:History
228:Florina
224:Grevena
202:of the
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34:Country
1463:Xanthi
1458:Smyrna
1453:Serres
644:labrys
608:labrys
345:Devoll
323:, and
264:, the
262:Lesbos
256:: the
96:(1940)
51:Branch
45:Greece
26:Active
1477:Other
1428:Crete
1273:ELDYK
1151:ASDYS
1074:ASDEN
684:Greek
655:Greek
640:eagle
631:grýps
616:Greek
492:Greek
477:Vitsi
449:Greek
441:Royal
393:Major
278:Samos
270:Chios
177:Greek
1403:20th
1398:18th
1393:17th
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1368:12th
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1259:MOMA
636:lion
620:γρύψ
534:and
325:90th
321:33rd
317:28th
300:and
226:and
171:The
76:Size
66:Type
1353:9th
1348:8th
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694:).
542:to
473:DSE
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