Dodecanese Regiment facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dodecanese Regiment |
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| Σύνταγμα Δωδεκανησίων | |
Photo taken at the swearing-in ceremony of the regiment
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| Active | November 1940 – April 1941 |
| Country | Greece |
| Branch | Hellenic Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Role | Light Infantry |
| Size | 3 Battalions |
| Part of | 20th Infantry Division, Central Macedonia Army Section |
| March | The Dodecanesian Anthem |
| Engagements | Battle of Vevi (1941) |
| Commanders | |
| Commander | Reserve Lt. Col. Ioannis Nikolaou |
The Dodecanese Regiment (also known as the Regiment of the Dodecanesians) was a special infantry (foot soldier) regiment of the Hellenic Army (the Greek army). It was mostly made up of volunteers from the Dodecanese Islands. This regiment was formed very soon after Greece joined World War II.
The Dodecanese Islands had been controlled by Italy since 1912. Because of this, many Greek people from the Dodecanese had Italian citizenship. However, they really wanted to fight against the Italian Army. They were ready to fight either in their home islands or on the Albanian Front, where Greece was already fighting Italy.
Contents
How the Regiment Was Formed
On October 28, 1940, Italy attacked Greece, starting the Greco-Italian War. The Dodecanesian community living in Athens saw this as a great chance to help free their islands.
Young people from the Dodecanese organized big gatherings in Athens. At the same time, they asked the Greek Government to let Dodecanesian volunteers, even those with Italian citizenship, join the Hellenic Army. The government agreed.
On November 13, 1940, the army headquarters gave the order to create the "Dodecanese Regiment." The real reason for this was that the fighting on the Albanian Front had used up all available soldiers. The army desperately needed more troops to prepare for a possible German attack from the Bulgarian border.
More than 2,000 Dodecanesian volunteers, from all walks of life, came forward to join. However, only 1,586 met the health and age rules. This was enough for about one battalion (a smaller army unit) and one company. This was still about 2,000 fewer soldiers than needed for a full regiment. So, the regiment was filled up with men from other Greek islands and navy reservists.
The volunteers were mainly trained as riflemen and machine gunners. They made up most of the regiment's fighting force. The support parts of the regiment were mostly filled by other Greeks. These 1,586 Dodecanesian volunteers had Italian citizenship. But the Regiment also included some Dodecanesians who already had Greek citizenship and were serving in the Greek Army.
The officers of the Regiment were very experienced. They had fought in World War I and the Asia Minor Campaign. However, they had been involved in failed attempts to change the government in 1933 and 1935. Because of this, they had been removed from the army. After Italy invaded, they were brought back and given active duties.
At first, the volunteers and the Dodecanesian community thought their job would be to free their islands. But soon, the army headquarters made it clear that no operation in the Dodecanese was planned or even possible. The headquarters believed that the Dodecanese Islands would only be freed after the war, depending on how the fighting on the Albanian Front ended.
After quick but intense training, the Dodecanese Regiment received its special war flag on January 12, 1941. It was the only well-trained, fully staffed, and equipped regiment available as a backup force. Because of this, it became the main part of the new 20th Infantry Division. This division soon included the 35th and 80th Regiments, which were also new but had fewer, less experienced soldiers.
Where the Regiment Was Sent
On March 6, the Central Macedonia Army Section (TSKM) was created. It included the 12th and 20th Divisions. Their job was to defend the main part of Greece. This was in case the main defenses at the Metaxas Line were broken through. It also depended on whether Yugoslavia could hold against the German attack.
On March 28, a larger force called the W Force was formed. It included the TSKM and the British Expeditionary Force in Greece. General Wilson was its commander. He was under the overall command of the Greek commander-in-chief, Alexander Papagos. The W Force worked hard to prepare defenses in the Vermio Position. This area was between Mount Voras, Mount Vermio, and the River Aliakmon.
On April 6, the Germans attacked Greece at the Metaxas Line and also invaded Yugoslavia at the same time. The Germans moved through Yugoslavia and reached the western end of the Metaxas Line. They went around it, which led to the Greek forces there surrendering on April 8. The Germans were now in front of the Vermio Position. In the next few days, they were also expected to be behind it.
If the W Force moved to a better new defense spot, the Germans would be free to advance from Yugoslavia. This would put them behind the entire Greek Army on the Albanian Front. So, the W Force had to quickly adjust its left side to cover the Kleidi Pass. By the night of April 9, the Dodecanese Regiment had set up its new defense line. It was to the right of Kleidi Pass, where the hills were smooth in front and steep behind. The regiment was now part of the Allied Mackay Force. This force was assigned to defend Kleidi Pass and was led by Iven Mackay, commander of the Australian 6th Division.
Battle Against the Germans
The next day, the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler (a German unit) sent lighter troops quickly towards Kleidi Pass from Yugoslavia. However, their artillery, tanks, and heavy vehicles were slowed down by destroyed bridges and muddy roads. At midnight (between April 10 and 11), a strong German scouting group attacked Hill 1098. The Dodecanese Regiment fought them off. On April 11, the Germans made another unsuccessful attack on Delinski Dol Hill.
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By 8:30 AM on April 12, the first of three German attack groups (called Kampfgruppe) attacked. Their main effort was focused on Hill 997.5, which was held by the Australian 2/8 Battalion. By 11:00 AM, the British Rangers, who were on the road in front of the pass, pulled back. By noon, the Australian 2/4 Battalion on the left had spread out too much. The German LSSAH unit had entered Kleidi Pass, and the 2/8 Battalion on the right was under extreme pressure.
From 2:00 PM, the Dodecanese Regiment, which was to the right of the Australian 2/8, faced increasingly heavy artillery fire. This meant the second German attack group was getting ready to attack. At 3:40 PM, the regiment received the order to withdraw (pull back) immediately.
According to the original plan, after the withdrawal, the Greek army headquarters expected the Dodecanese Regiment to hold the Kleisoura Pass. This was the last pass before the Germans could reach the rear of the Greek Army on the Albanian Front. Unfortunately, the Greek officer at Mackay's headquarters gave a different order. He told Dodecanese Battalions I and III to march to Kleisoura Pass. Battalion II was to be taken by British vehicles to Vlasti Pass. This order also made it clear that the withdrawal had to be finished by 6:00 PM. It also stated that the Allied Command would not be responsible if the Greeks failed to withdraw on time.
Because there weren't enough vehicles, the increasing German pressure, and the strict time limit, the regiment ordered its field artillery to destroy their guns on the spot. The battalions also had to destroy any equipment they couldn't carry with the few available pack animals.
The Withdrawal
The regiment's commander told his battalion commanders that all three battalions should go through Amyntaio. He said the British had vehicles ready for Battalion II at Amyntaio. However, he did not wait at the meeting point with Battalions I and III to lead them. Instead, he kept marching with his staff past it.
The Greek military translators with the British vehicles were not told which of the regiment's men they were supposed to pick up. To make things worse, as the German LSSAH unit passed through Kleidi Pass and shelled the retreating regiment, Battalion II took a safer route. This route was different from the one specified in the withdrawal order. So, Battalion II did not show up at the meeting point. As a result, the vehicles picked up the wrong men and scattered them in many cities, some far behind the front lines. The regiment lost most of these men for good. It was impossible for them to return, even if they knew where their unit was. Also, the British refused to take the saved equipment on their vehicles. This was a huge blow to the Dodecanese Regiment's ability to fight.
By midnight (April 12 to 13), only 800 men and 25 officers had reached Ptolemaida. Most of them had destroyed boots. They were ordered to march to Pylorio to try and regroup. Kleisoura Pass now had to be defended by whatever backup forces were already there.
On April 15, the remaining Dodecanese Regiment, about 1,500 men, most without weapons or ammunition, were ordered to march to Grevena. But they received information that Germans had taken over various places on their route. So, the commander ordered them to go further south. This was a long and tiring march with almost no rest. It rained almost constantly, and they walked on rough, muddy trails. The men had not eaten for 4 days. Many had no boots and had wrapped rags around their frostbitten feet. Others were collapsing, unable to keep up with the group's pace.
Surrender and Disbandment
On April 17, the regiment was ordered to turn north to Metsovo. On the 19th, they reached Ardomitsa. There, they found food and medical care, and some clothing. But they had no firearms or ammunition. They were also attacked by enemy aircraft.
On April 20, the commander of the Greek forces on the Albanian front, Lt. General Georgios Tsolakoglou, signed a ceasefire (a stop to fighting) agreement with the German LSSAH unit. This agreement was not authorized. The next day, the regiment was ordered to give whatever firearms and ammunition they had to the leader of the Ardomitsa community. Then, they were to march to Metsovo.
On April 24, they reached Metsovo and received new orders to march to Malakasi. The next day, they were told that by a new ceasefire agreement, Greek officers were considered prisoners of war. The Germans were arresting them on sight. On April 26, one day before Germans entered Athens, the Dodecanese Regiment's commander managed to contact the TSKM commander. He confirmed that the Hellenic Army no longer existed. All men were free to return to their homes.
