551:, the division engaged in a feverish activity of constructing fortifications and laying out defensive plans. With the Italian invasion looming from August 1940 onwards, a limited mobilization was carried out, which brought the division up to strength and even allowed for the reconstitution of the 24th Regiment as a separate unit. This fact, combined with Katsimitros' decision to insist on forward defense, would prove decisive factors in the rapid containment of the initial Italian main thrust into Epirus. The division was deployed in a defensive position stretching from the village of Elaia (
177:
1285:
790:
22:
159:
133:
597:
The 8th
Division was formally reconstituted only in 1946, as the Hellenic Army started being rebuilt, from the forces of the Epirus Military Command, comprising the 74th, 75th and 76th brigades. Until 1949, the division took part in the operations of the
535:
Since 1930, the division bore sole responsibility for the defense of the Epirus sector of the Greco-Albanian border. Due to the relative military weakness of
Albania, the sector was "quiet" and far less vital than the border with
1537:
1532:
520:
516:
1191:
1186:
1415:
1065:
1501:
1440:
1405:
695:
39:
643:" ("No!"). The motto was given to the division in recognition of its decisive role in stopping the Italian advance during the early days of the
1142:
86:
729:
1400:
1128:
1123:
1111:
1099:
1094:
841:
58:
1024:
997:
1055:
1050:
1037:
1010:
934:
893:
888:
875:
369:, when it successfully stopped the initial Italian offensive, and bought time for Greek reinforcements to arrive and turn the tide.
65:
1032:
1005:
577:
The division fought throughout the subsequent
Albanian campaign, but was dissolved along with the rest of the Greek Army after the
1250:
917:
779:
377:
1542:
1222:
417:. On 22 January 1913 it was renamed as the 8th Infantry Division. Its component units were the 15th Infantry Regiment, the 2nd
72:
1527:
1522:
566:. By that point, the mobilization of the Greek reserves had been completed, and in conjunction with the Greek victory in the
1476:
54:
861:
1486:
586:
105:
1257:
499:
The division was re-established in July 1917 and remained in Epirus as the local garrison. It did not fight in the
1491:
1395:
1390:
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1375:
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1365:
1360:
1355:
1350:
1161:
965:
944:
856:
846:
793:
508:
663:
1481:
1420:
1345:
1335:
1330:
1325:
1320:
1315:
1310:
1305:
1153:
1079:
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983:
978:
973:
939:
927:
883:
833:
559:, and for six days, from November 2 to November 8, successfully repelled the successive attacks by the Italian
43:
541:
1425:
922:
851:
639:" ("Then it is war"). However, according to popular legend, Metaxas simply told the Italian envoy in Greek, "
79:
1208:
1116:
811:
772:
571:
544:
286:
635:
to allow
Italian troops to occupy strategic Greek sites or face war. Metaxas curtly replied in French: "
481:
702:
on 16 February 1923 (which became 1 March). All dates prior to that, unless specifically denoted, are
1496:
1215:
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312:
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32:
954:
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560:
1229:
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524:
8:
1243:
822:
627:(pronounced "óchi"), or "NO". The phrase was attributed to the Prime Minister of Greece,
504:
351:
202:
757:
699:
1277:
132:
1435:
1430:
1297:
644:
457:
372:
In a wide-ranging army reorganization in 2013, the division was reduced in size to a
366:
281:
269:
632:
578:
567:
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293:
262:
257:
365:, the division is most notable for its decisive role during the first days of the
1455:
1450:
1445:
628:
599:
589:
partisan army created an 8th
Division, but this too was disbanded in early 1945.
512:
433:
226:
484:. In December it was placed on garrison duties, with its regiments dispersed at
615:
477:
398:
332:
441:
1516:
1289:
799:
556:
355:
182:
453:
437:
275:
362:
252:
445:
703:
673:
465:
449:
21:
1284:
789:
537:
473:
461:
348:
222:
192:
388:
907:
623:
552:
493:
485:
418:
373:
237:
1538:
Military units and formations of Greece in the Greco-Italian War
665:Ε.Σ. και Νέα Δομή Δυνάμεων: Ο «Μεγάλος Ασθενής» αναζητά θεραπεία
737:(in Greek). www.army.gr. May 2012. pp. 5–6. Archived from
469:
164:
614:
within an oak wreath, taken from 3rd-century BC coins of the
489:
422:
1087:
731:ΕΝΗΜΕΡΩΤΙΚΟΣ ΟΔΗΓΟΣ, ΝΕΟΤΟΠΟΘΕΤΗΜΕΝΩΝ ΣΤΕΛΕΧΩΝ ΣΤΗΝ VIII ΜΠ
611:
1533:
Military units and formations of Greece in the Balkan Wars
787:
631:, on 28 October 1940, when he was given an ultimatum by
1282:
964:
1152:
832:
46:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
515:were: the 15th Infantry Regiment at Ioannina, the
511:. Its subordinate units throughout the subsequent
1514:
409:), was formed on 22 September 1912, during the
393:The 8th Infantry Division, initially named the
389:Balkan Wars, World War I, and Greco-Turkish War
773:
724:
722:
720:
718:
716:
714:
712:
602:as a part of the governmental National Army.
574:signalled the failure of the Italian attack.
780:
766:
709:
610:The emblem the 8th Infantry Division is a
428:It participated in the operations for the
106:Learn how and when to remove this message
672:(in Greek). 23 June 2014. Archived from
1515:
476:. It remained on occupation duties in
137:Camp Flag of the 8th Infantry Division
1281:
761:
413:, under the command of Major General
530:
44:adding citations to reliable sources
15:
605:
540:. This changed in April 1939, when
55:"8th Infantry Division" Greece
13:
656:
592:
14:
1559:
1025:16th Mechanized Infantry Division
998:12th Mechanized Infantry Division
1283:
1056:50th Mechanized Infantry Brigade
1051:29th Mechanized Infantry Brigade
1038:30th Mechanized Infantry Brigade
1011:31st Mechanized Infantry Brigade
894:34th Mechanized Infantry Brigade
889:33rd Mechanized Infantry Brigade
876:2nd Mechanized Infantry Division
788:
570:, the division's victory at the
175:
157:
131:
20:
1033:3rd Mechanized Infantry Brigade
1006:7th Mechanized Infantry Brigade
847:13th Special Operations Command
547:. Under its commander, Maj Gen
452:. In June 1913 it was moved to
126:VIII Μεραρχία Πεζικού (VIII ΜΠ)
31:needs additional citations for
918:8th Motorized Infantry Brigade
842:1st Raider–Paratrooper Brigade
688:
378:8th Motorized Infantry Brigade
337:VIII Μεραρχία Πεζικού, VIII ΜΠ
1:
1543:1913 establishments in Greece
1224:Military Geographical Service
1088:National Guard Higher Command
650:
432:and the subsequent push into
421:Regiment and the Independent
1528:Infantry divisions of Greece
1523:Military history of Ioannina
545:invaded and occupied Albania
7:
1117:1/38 National Guard Command
813:Hellenic Army General Staff
555:) to the line of the river
527:at Preveza and later Arta.
10:
1564:
581:in April 1941. During the
456:, and participated in the
383:
1469:
1296:
1204:
1179:
1141:
1064:
1023:
996:
953:
906:
874:
862:1st Army Aviation Brigade
821:
808:
583:Axis occupation of Greece
480:until the signing of the
402:
336:
306:
301:
248:
232:
218:
208:
198:
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170:
152:
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130:
125:
120:
730:
694:Note: Greece officially
664:
621:The division's motto is
415:Dimitrios Matthaiopoulos
313:Dimitrios Matthaiopoulos
572:Battle of Elaia–Kalamas
549:Charalambos Katsimitros
376:-level formation - the
317:Charalambos Katsimitros
287:Battle of Elaia–Kalamas
1162:11th Infantry Regiment
966:20th Armoured Division
945:41st Infantry Regiment
940:15th Infantry Regiment
935:10th Infantry Regiment
909:ΙΙI Army Corps/NRDC-GR
857:71st Airmobile Brigade
637:Alors, c'est la guerre
521:24th Infantry Regiment
517:10th Infantry Regiment
509:15th Infantry Regiment
341:VIII Merarchia Pezikou
1154:4th Infantry Division
1080:88th Military Command
1075:5th Airmobile Brigade
984:25th Armoured Brigade
979:23rd Armoured Brigade
974:21st Armoured Brigade
928:1st Infantry Regiment
884:24th Armoured Brigade
834:1st Infantry Division
329:8th Infantry Division
121:8th Infantry Division
923:9th Infantry Brigade
852:32nd Marines Brigade
525:3/40 Evzone Regiment
40:improve this article
1461:Cyprus ('Menelaos')
505:Asia Minor Campaign
482:Treaty of Bucharest
430:capture of Ioannina
1477:3rd Special Forces
1416:Continental Greece
1259:Veterinary Service
1210:Presidential Guard
700:Gregorian calendar
1510:
1509:
1288:Divisions of the
1275:
1274:
1200:
1199:
1175:
1174:
1137:
1136:
1046:
1045:
1019:
1018:
992:
991:
902:
901:
870:
869:
645:Greco-Italian War
531:Greco-Italian War
507:, except for its
458:Second Balkan War
407:Merarchia Ipeirou
367:Greco-Italian War
361:Active since the
322:
321:
282:Greco-Italian War
270:Second Balkan War
116:
115:
108:
90:
1555:
1287:
1279:
1278:
1267:
1260:
1253:
1246:
1239:
1232:
1225:
1218:
1211:
1177:
1176:
1150:
1149:
1145:
1085:
1084:
1068:
1021:
1020:
994:
993:
962:
961:
957:
910:
872:
871:
830:
829:
825:
814:
802:
796:
792:
782:
775:
768:
759:
758:
753:
752:
750:
749:
743:
736:
726:
707:
692:
686:
685:
683:
681:
660:
633:Benito Mussolini
606:Emblem and Motto
568:Battle of Pindus
501:Macedonian front
411:First Balkan War
404:
403:Μεραρχία Ηπείρου
338:
294:Battle of Greece
263:Battle of Bizani
258:First Balkan War
181:
179:
178:
163:
161:
160:
135:
118:
117:
111:
104:
100:
97:
91:
89:
48:
24:
16:
1563:
1562:
1558:
1557:
1556:
1554:
1553:
1552:
1548:Epirus (region)
1513:
1512:
1511:
1506:
1487:19th Mechanized
1465:
1292:
1276:
1271:
1265:
1258:
1251:
1244:
1237:
1231:Military Police
1230:
1223:
1216:
1209:
1196:
1192:Southern Greece
1187:Northern Greece
1171:
1143:
1133:
1083:
1066:
1060:
1042:
1015:
988:
955:
949:
908:
898:
866:
823:
817:
812:
804:
800:
794:
786:
756:
747:
745:
741:
734:
732:
728:
727:
710:
693:
689:
679:
677:
676:on 28 June 2014
666:
662:
661:
657:
653:
629:Ioannis Metaxas
608:
600:Greek Civil War
595:
593:Greek Civil War
579:German invasion
533:
513:interwar period
434:Northern Epirus
395:Epirus Division
391:
386:
325:
315:
308:
241:
176:
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158:
156:
147:
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112:
101:
95:
92:
49:
47:
37:
25:
12:
11:
5:
1561:
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1540:
1535:
1530:
1525:
1508:
1507:
1505:
1504:
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1471:
1467:
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1458:
1453:
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1433:
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1423:
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1413:
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1378:
1373:
1368:
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1358:
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1348:
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1338:
1333:
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1323:
1318:
1313:
1308:
1302:
1300:
1294:
1293:
1273:
1272:
1270:
1269:
1262:
1255:
1248:
1241:
1238:National Guard
1234:
1227:
1220:
1213:
1205:
1202:
1201:
1198:
1197:
1195:
1194:
1189:
1183:
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1173:
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1158:
1156:
1147:
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1138:
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1126:
1121:
1120:
1119:
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1108:
1107:
1097:
1091:
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1082:
1077:
1072:
1070:
1062:
1061:
1059:
1058:
1053:
1047:
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1043:
1041:
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1027:
1017:
1016:
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1013:
1008:
1002:
1000:
990:
989:
987:
986:
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976:
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968:
959:
951:
950:
948:
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942:
937:
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914:
912:
904:
903:
900:
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897:
896:
891:
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868:
867:
865:
864:
859:
854:
849:
844:
838:
836:
827:
819:
818:
809:
806:
805:
785:
784:
777:
770:
762:
755:
754:
708:
687:
654:
652:
649:
616:Epirote League
607:
604:
594:
591:
532:
529:
519:at Corfu, the
478:Western Thrace
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387:
385:
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304:
303:
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298:
297:
296:
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289:
273:
272:
267:
266:
265:
250:
246:
245:
234:
230:
229:
220:
216:
215:
213:III Army Corps
210:
206:
205:
200:
196:
195:
190:
186:
185:
172:
168:
167:
154:
150:
149:
144:
140:
139:
136:
128:
127:
123:
122:
114:
113:
28:
26:
19:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1560:
1549:
1546:
1544:
1541:
1539:
1536:
1534:
1531:
1529:
1526:
1524:
1521:
1520:
1518:
1503:
1500:
1498:
1495:
1493:
1492:20th Armoured
1490:
1488:
1485:
1483:
1480:
1478:
1475:
1474:
1472:
1468:
1462:
1459:
1457:
1454:
1452:
1449:
1447:
1444:
1442:
1439:
1437:
1434:
1432:
1429:
1427:
1424:
1422:
1419:
1417:
1414:
1412:
1409:
1407:
1404:
1402:
1399:
1397:
1394:
1392:
1389:
1387:
1384:
1382:
1379:
1377:
1374:
1372:
1369:
1367:
1364:
1362:
1359:
1357:
1354:
1352:
1349:
1347:
1344:
1342:
1339:
1337:
1334:
1332:
1329:
1327:
1324:
1322:
1319:
1317:
1314:
1312:
1309:
1307:
1304:
1303:
1301:
1299:
1295:
1291:
1290:Hellenic Army
1286:
1280:
1268:
1263:
1261:
1256:
1254:
1249:
1247:
1242:
1240:
1235:
1233:
1228:
1226:
1221:
1219:
1214:
1212:
1207:
1206:
1203:
1193:
1190:
1188:
1185:
1184:
1182:
1180:Supply Centre
1178:
1168:
1167:2/39 Regiment
1165:
1163:
1160:
1159:
1157:
1155:
1151:
1148:
1146:
1140:
1130:
1127:
1125:
1122:
1118:
1115:
1114:
1113:
1110:
1106:
1105:5/42 Regiment
1103:
1102:
1101:
1098:
1096:
1093:
1092:
1090:
1086:
1081:
1078:
1076:
1073:
1071:
1069:
1063:
1057:
1054:
1052:
1049:
1048:
1039:
1036:
1034:
1031:
1030:
1028:
1026:
1022:
1012:
1009:
1007:
1004:
1003:
1001:
999:
995:
985:
982:
980:
977:
975:
972:
971:
969:
967:
963:
960:
958:
956:IV Army Corps
952:
946:
943:
941:
938:
936:
933:
929:
926:
925:
924:
921:
919:
916:
915:
913:
911:
905:
895:
892:
890:
887:
885:
882:
881:
879:
877:
873:
863:
860:
858:
855:
853:
850:
848:
845:
843:
840:
839:
837:
835:
831:
828:
826:
820:
816:
815:
807:
803:
801:Hellenic Army
797:
791:
783:
778:
776:
771:
769:
764:
763:
760:
744:on 2011-11-20
740:
733:
725:
723:
721:
719:
717:
715:
713:
705:
701:
697:
691:
675:
671:
667:
659:
655:
648:
646:
642:
638:
634:
630:
626:
625:
619:
617:
613:
603:
601:
590:
588:
584:
580:
575:
573:
569:
565:
563:
558:
554:
550:
546:
543:
542:Fascist Italy
539:
528:
526:
522:
518:
514:
510:
506:
503:, nor in the
502:
497:
495:
491:
487:
483:
479:
475:
471:
467:
463:
459:
455:
451:
447:
443:
439:
435:
431:
426:
424:
420:
416:
412:
408:
400:
396:
381:
379:
375:
370:
368:
364:
359:
357:
356:Hellenic Army
353:
350:
346:
342:
334:
330:
324:Military unit
318:
314:
311:
305:
300:
295:
292:
288:
285:
284:
283:
280:
279:
278:
277:
271:
268:
264:
261:
260:
259:
256:
255:
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247:
244:
240:
239:
235:
231:
228:
224:
221:
217:
214:
211:
207:
204:
201:
197:
194:
191:
187:
184:
183:Hellenic Army
173:
169:
166:
155:
151:
145:
141:
134:
129:
124:
119:
110:
107:
99:
96:December 2010
88:
85:
81:
78:
74:
71:
67:
64:
60:
57: –
56:
52:
51:Find sources:
45:
41:
35:
34:
29:This article
27:
23:
18:
17:
1482:9th Armoured
1340:
810:
746:. Retrieved
739:the original
690:
678:. Retrieved
674:the original
669:
658:
640:
636:
622:
620:
609:
596:
576:
561:
534:
498:
464:, capturing
454:Thessaloniki
442:Argyrokastro
436:, capturing
427:
406:
394:
392:
371:
360:
344:
340:
328:
326:
276:World War II
274:
242:
236:
209:Part of
102:
93:
83:
76:
69:
62:
50:
38:Please help
33:verification
30:
1441:Peloponnese
1426:Independent
1411:Archipelago
363:Balkan Wars
253:Balkan Wars
249:Engagements
219:Garrison/HQ
1517:Categories
1406:Adrianople
824:First Army
795:Formations
748:2015-08-02
670:e-amyna.gr
651:References
564:Army Corps
523:, and the
425:Regiment.
309:commanders
302:Commanders
66:newspapers
704:Old Style
466:Paranesti
347:) was an
148:1946-2013
146:1913-1941
1436:Magnesia
1431:Kydoniai
1298:Infantry
1245:Uniforms
538:Bulgaria
474:Komotini
462:Bulgaria
460:against
446:Tepelenë
352:division
349:infantry
233:Motto(s)
223:Ioannina
203:Division
193:Infantry
1502:Support
1497:Cavalry
1401:98 ADTE
1217:Academy
798:of the
696:adopted
562:Ciamura
557:Kalamas
553:Kalpaki
494:Lefkada
486:Preveza
438:Këlcyrë
419:Evzones
384:History
374:brigade
354:of the
345:VIII MP
307:Notable
153:Country
80:scholar
1456:Xanthi
1451:Smyrna
1446:Serres
680:1 July
585:, the
472:, and
470:Xanthi
450:Përmet
448:, and
423:Cretan
227:Epirus
180:
171:Branch
165:Greece
162:
143:Active
82:
75:
68:
61:
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1470:Other
1421:Crete
1266:ELDYK
1144:ASDYS
1067:ASDEN
742:(PDF)
735:(PDF)
490:Corfu
399:Greek
333:Greek
87:JSTOR
73:books
1396:20th
1391:18th
1386:17th
1381:16th
1376:15th
1371:14th
1366:13th
1361:12th
1356:11th
1351:10th
1252:MOMA
698:the
682:2014
641:Ohi!
612:bull
587:ELAS
492:and
327:The
243:"NO"
199:Size
189:Type
59:news
1346:9th
1341:8th
1336:7th
1331:6th
1326:5th
1321:4th
1316:3rd
1311:2nd
1306:1st
624:OXI
238:ΟΧΙ
42:by
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1129:98
1124:96
1112:95
1100:80
1095:79
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668:.
647:.
618:.
496:.
488:,
468:,
444:,
440:,
405:;
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358:.
343:,
339:;
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225:,
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