Greek Macedonia Army, 2nd Balkan War, June - November 1913 v.1.

0 June 23, 2002 Alexis Mehtidis

Greek Military History Service, ' The Balkan Wars, 1912 - 1913 ', Volume C' Additions and corrections welcome at : alexmehtidis@hotmail.com

Brief Historical Note: The 2nd Balkan War was the continuation of the 1st Balkan War. There were many incidents between Greek and Bulgarian forces (the first one on 20/11/1912), the Greeks signed a Friendship Treaty and an Army Pact with Serbia on 19/5/1913 and the Bulgarians attacked Greek forces on 16/6/1913. Hostilities against the Bulgarians commenced, for the Greeks, on 17/6/1913. On 18/7/1913 a five-day armistice is signed, it is renewed for three days on 22/7/1913 and then indefinitely on 25/7/1913. Between 6 - 16/8/1913 the Peace Treaty is signed in Bucharest, Romania and the 2nd Balkan War was over.

Composition of the Macedonia Army at the beginning of hostilities ( June 17th, 1913 ) General Headquarters I Division Note: Its 2nd and 4th Infantry Regiments came to the Macedonia front from the Epirus front between 3 - 11/3\1913. II Division Note: It came from the Epirus front to the Macedonia front between 4 - 9/4/1913 III Division Note: It came from western Macedonia to the Macedonia front on 24/4/1913. IV Division Note: It came from the Epirus front to the Macedonia front on 24/3/1913. V Division Note: Already in Macedonia by 1/3/1913. VI Division Note: It came from the Epirus front to the Macedonia front on 15/3/1913. VII Division Note: Already in Macedonia by March 1913.

X Division Note: It came from the Epirus front to the Macedonia front on 30/3/1913. Cavalry Brigade Note: Created on 24/3/1913. Thessaloniki Fortress Command Bridgelayers Battalion Wireless Company

Artillery Park / renamed Ammunition Column before hostilities started Occupation Army of Macedonia L.O.C. Service of Macedonia Medical Service of the L.O.C.

Notes:: 1. The VIIIth Division came to the Macedonian front from the Epirus front in the beginning of July 1913. 2. During November 1912 the Macedonia Army consisted of the I - minus 2nd and 4th Infantry Regiments -, V and VII Divisions. Composition of the Macedonia Army formations, services and commands I Division 2nd Infantry Regiment 4th Infantry Regiment 5th Infantry Regiment 1st Field Artillery Regiment I Mountain Artillery Squadron I Cavalry Half-squadron I Engineer Company Telegraphists Platoon Ammunition Squadron Medical Squadron Supply Column

Notes: 1. Units as of June 17th, 1913. 2. The Ist Division was already in Macedonia by March 1st, 1913 II Division

1st Infantry Regiment 3rd Infantry Regiment 7th Infantry Regiment 2nd Field Artillery Regiment II Cavalry Half-squadron II Engineer Company Telegraphists Platoon Ammunition Squadron Medical Squadron Supply Column

Notes: 1. Units as of June 17th, 1913. 2. The IInd Division moved to Macedonia from the Epirus front between 4 9/4/1913 III Division 6th Infantry Regiment 10th Infantry Regiment 12th Infantry Regiment 3rd Field Artillery Regiment III Cavalry Half-squadron III Engineer Company Telegraphists Platoon Ammunition Squadron Medical Squadron Supply Column Notes: 1. Units as of June 17th, 1913. 2.The IIIrd Division moved from western Macedonia to the Macedonia front on 24/4/1913. IV Division 8th Infantry Regiment 9th Infantry Regiment 11th Infantry Regiment 4th Field Artillery Regiment IV Cavalry Half-squadron IV Engineer Company Telegraphists Platoon Ammunition Squadron Medical Squadron Supply Column Notes: 1. Units as of June 17th, 1913. 2. On 24/3/1913 it arrives at the Macedonian front from Epirus.

V Division 16th Infantry Regiment 22nd Infantry Regiment 23rd Infantry Regiment A' Field Artillery Squadron V Cavalry Half-squadron V Engineer Company Telegraphists Platoon V Ammunition Unit Medical Squadron Supply Column Notes: 1. Units as of June 17th, 1913. 2. In Macedonia already by 1/3/1913 VI Division 17th Infantry Regiment 18th Infantry Regiment 1st Evzones Regiment ( 8th and 9th Evzones Battalions, 3rd Cretans Battalion ) B' Field Artillery Squadron VI Cavalry Half-squadron VI Engineer Company Telegraphists Platoon Ammunition Squadron Medical Squadron Supply Column Notes: 1. Units as of June 17th, 1913. 2. Moved to Thessaloniki from Epirus between 7-10/3/1913. VII Division 19th Infantry Regiment 20th Infantry Regiment 21st Infantry Regiment 1st Field Artillery Squadron 2nd Field Artillery Squadron IIIrd Mountain Artillery Squadron VII Cavalry Half-squadron VII Engineer Company Telegraphists Platoon Ammunition Squadron Medical Squadron Supply Column Notes:

1. Units as of June 17th, 1913. 2. Already in Thessaloniki by March 1913 VIII Division 2nd Evzones Regiment ( 7th and 10th Evzones Battalions ) 15th Infantry Regiment Independent Cretans Regiment ( 14th Infantry Regiment ) Krupp Field Artillery Squadron VIII Half-squadron VIII Engineer Company Telegraphists Platoon Ammunition Squadron Medical Squadron Supply Column Animals Pack Notes: 1.The VIIIth Division arrived in Thessaloniki in the beginning of July 1913 from Epirus. X Division 3rd Evzones Regiment ( 3rd Evzones Battalion, 3rd Independent Evzones Battalion, one Infantry Battalion ) 4th Evzones Regiment ( 1st and 4th Evzones Battalion ) 5th Evzones Regiment ( 2nd and 6th Evzones Battlion, one Infantry Battalion ) Field Artillery Squadron IInd Mountain Artillery squadron X Cavalry Half-squadron X Engineer Company Telegraphists Platoon Ammunition Squadron Medical Squadron Supply Column Notes: 1. Units as of June 17th, 1913. 2. Formed in March 1913 in western Macedonia ( Florina area ). Cavalry Brigade 1st Cavalry Regiment ( two Squadrons ) 2nd Cavalry Regiment ( two Squadrons ) Notes: 1. Units as of June 17th, 1913. 2. Formed in 25/4/1913.

Note: The Animals Pack ( only in the VIIIth Division, according to the source-book ) was a unit transporting and slaughtering animals to feed the troops. It was, most probably, part of the composition of the other Divisions, too. Thessaloniki Fortress Command June 17th, 1913 27th Infantry Regiment 28th Infantry Regiment 29th Infantry Regiment ( Marines Landing Regiment ) Fortress Artillery Battalion ( 1st Fortress Artillery Battalion ) 25th Evzones Occupation Company Nine Machinegun Platoons

June 1st, 1913 ( When it was formed ) 1st Fortress Artillery Battalion

Two Marines Battalions

One Cavalrymen on Foot Battalion ( Also mentioned as Half-squadron on Foot of the 2nd Cavalry Regiment )

One Evzones Occupation Company Occupation Army of Macedonia Two Occupation Battalions Thirty three Occupation Companies

Note: Units as of at the beginning of hostilities ( June 17th, 1913 )

L.O.C. Service of Macedonia Engineer Service Veterinary Service L.O.C. Battalion Railway Service Thessaloniki Station Volos Station Gefyra ( Topsin ) Station Kastania Station Nea Kerdylia Station Florina Station Amyntaio Station Kozani Station Servia Station Elasson Station Veroia station Larisa Station Korytsa Station ( Korytsa is Korce in Albania ) Monastirion Station ( Monastirion is Monastir in F.Y.R.O.M ) Skala Stavrou Station Langadas Station Asvestohorion Station Artillery Park 1st Field Artillery Transported Squadron 2nd Field Artillery Transported Squadron ( It is mentioned as 2nd Mountain Artillery Transported Squadron,too ) Belie Squadron Note: Belie could be Belieaux or the equivalent in French Medical Service of the L.O.C. Lamia Hospital Larisa Hospital Kozani Hospital Veroia Hospital Edessa Hospital Korytsa Hospital ( Korytsa is Korce in Albania ) Karditsa Hospital Florina Hospital Kastoria Sanatorium Volos Sanatorium Trikala Sanatorium Tirnavos Sanatorium Servia Sanatorium Goumenissa Sanatorium A' Thessaloniki Hospital B' Thessaloniki Hospital C' Thessaloniki Hospital

D' Evacuation Hospital Note: It could be D' Thessaloniki Evacuation Hospital. Villa Alatini Temporary Hospital Nea Kerdylia Temporary Hospital Langadikia Temporary Hospital Medical Service Depot Garrison's Chemist's Note: By Garrison's, Thessaloniki's Garrison is, probably, denoted. II Stretcher-bearers Squadron III Stretcher-bearers Squadron City Medical Service Note: By City, Thessaloniki is, probably, denoted. B11 Operating Theatre Note: Units as of June 17th, 1913. Artillery Units in the Campaign 1st Field Artillery Regiment ( to I Division ) - I & II Squadrons 2nd Field Artillery Regiment ( to II Division ) - I, II and III Squadrons 3rd Field Artillery Squadron ( to III Division ) - I & II Squadrons 4th Field Artillery Regiment ( to IV Division ) - I & II Squadrons A' Field Artillery Squadron ( to V Division ) 1st Field Artillery Squadron ( to VII Division ) 2nd Field Artillery Squadron ( to VII Division ) Krupp Field Artillery Squadron ( to VIII Squadron ) I Mountain Artillery Squadron II Mountain Artillery Squadron III Mountain Artillery Squadron

Some notes on the history and composition of units created just before the Campaign 1st Fortress Artillery Battalion

It was the IInd Siege Artillery Squadron, equipped with heavy 105mm and 150mm weapons. It moved from the Epirus front to the Macedonia front in April 1913. It was reinforced with weapons from war booty, the Larissa Fortress, the coastal defences and

the Ministry of the Navy and renamed 1st Fortress Artillery Battalion. In the beginning it was composed of two batteries, then more and by June 15th, 1913 it had a total of fifty four weapons. 27th Infantry Regiment

Formed in 17/6/1913 by the Thessaloniki Fortress Command, consisting of the Ist and IInd Independent Infantry Battalions (which had been formed by the Ist Division). It became part of the XIth Division in 24/8/1913. 28th Infantry Regiment

Formed in 19/6/1913 by the Thessaloniki Fortress Command, consisting of two independent Infantry Battalions (which had been formed by the IIIrd Division) and one Cavalry Squadron on Foot (which had been organised by the 2nd Cavalry Regiment). According to other chapters of the same source it was formed by: one Battalion and a Two-company of the IIIrd Division, one Cavalrymen on Foot Battalion and a Twocompany that came from Samos. It became part of the XIth Division in 24/8/1913. 29th Infantry Regiment / Marines Landing Regiment

Formed in 17/6/1913 by the Thessaloniki Fortress Command from three Marines Battalions. Note: By Marines, sailors are meant, as this unit was also called Sailors Landing Regiment and there was no Marine Corps as such. All Marine or Landing Detachments were formed from sailors for a specific operation.