Greek Volunteers & the Security Battalions
GREEK WAFFEN SS VOLUNTEERS
At Volkgeist there is interesting information on the German occupation of Greece and specifically about the Greek Waffen SS volunteers here.
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grekiskaGripen
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- Joined: 28 Sep 2005, 22:29
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grekiskaGripen
- Member
- Posts: 100
- Joined: 28 Sep 2005, 22:29
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grekiskaGripen
- Member
- Posts: 100
- Joined: 28 Sep 2005, 22:29
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grekiskaGripen
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- Posts: 100
- Joined: 28 Sep 2005, 22:29
Greek heroes
There where many greek SS units, some from the fatherland itself some from Crimea, such as a SS Paneuropean Division, I forget which one.
As far as i know there was a Greek national socialist organization called ESPO,and it was recruting volunteers in order to form a ''Greek Legion'' which would go to the Eastern Front.PEAN(resistance organization with leader and Air Force officer,Perikos),bombed their offices killing over 43 Greek traitors and about 20 German soldiers.
There was another (however very small) national socialist organization called Triaina and it was based in Athens.It didn't however collaborate with the Germans,and sometimes engaged in street fights with left-wingers and German patrols
For whom is Greek or can read Greek,i suggest he buys the Book ''Η Μαύρη Σκια στην Ελλάδα''-The Black Shadow in Greece(συγγραφέας-Χονδροματίδης),in which he has done a good job presenting the fascist and pro-nazi orgnanizations in Greece,before and during the war.There is an interesint article also on Sevastianos Foulidis
There was another (however very small) national socialist organization called Triaina and it was based in Athens.It didn't however collaborate with the Germans,and sometimes engaged in street fights with left-wingers and German patrols
For whom is Greek or can read Greek,i suggest he buys the Book ''Η Μαύρη Σκια στην Ελλάδα''-The Black Shadow in Greece(συγγραφέας-Χονδροματίδης),in which he has done a good job presenting the fascist and pro-nazi orgnanizations in Greece,before and during the war.There is an interesint article also on Sevastianos Foulidis
Dionisios Papadogonas,commander of Security Battalions
Leader of the (Greek) Security Battalions,that were formed from the puppet Goverment to fight communist partizans was Greek Army officer Papadogonas.
He was a distinguished Army officer who had fought in almost every Greek war.He fought in the Balkan wars as a volunteer,guerilla fighter in Northern Epirus in 1914,three (3) years soldier in Minor Asia where he fought in the fiece battle of Afion Karahisar and was one of the few that survived from his battalion.He was decorated for his service and bravery several times.He saw action in the Greek-Italian war and was commander of the V Crete Unit.In June 1943 when he was informed of British Army's officer Reed presence at the mountains,he tried to make contact with him in order to creat small units for the protection of British officers and to organize the civilians for a allied landing in Greece.Reed unfortunately rejected Papadogonas suggestions.
Meanwhile,communist partizans were gaining strength and they targeted conservative civilians.Papadogonas helped Gianakopoulos form ES (Ellinikos Stratos,Greek Army-resistance organization that was destroyed from communists).Papadogonas tried to contact the British in order to tell them to shift allied supplies from communists to the (non-communist) ES.
Few time later,communist partizans made a agreement with ES,that arranged that ES men officers must join the communist partizan.Many men and officers that refused were murdered destroyed from the communist partizans,including Officer Karahalios.A brave man that rejected to join the communist partizans by force was Cavalry officer Vretakos.When it became known that he rejected the agreement,communist partizans started large scale operations to track him down and kill him.A locan politician told him to accept protection from German forces,however he REJECTED.Finally,after days without supplies he was found from communist partizans and in the following battle he fell dead.Before he died he told as a later complaint ''Damn British,whoever gives you faith,finally ends dead''
Meanwhile communist partizans had attempted to kill Papadogonas twice,in ambushes near Kalamata.Papadogonas took his family to Athens(and to safety).He returned April 44,with the Goverments order to become the commander of the Security Battalions in Peloponnisos.He had under his commands the Security battalions of Arkadia,Messinia and Lakonia.In Peloponisos a very large number of civilians that were being terrorized by the communist partizans were considering joining the Security Batallions.
The volunteers in the Security batallions differed.Many were common thiefs and criminals,others were men that their family had been murdered from communist partizans.Many were men and officers,that the (non-communist) resistance organization that they belonged to was destroyed by communists and many of its members slaughtered.
He was a distinguished Army officer who had fought in almost every Greek war.He fought in the Balkan wars as a volunteer,guerilla fighter in Northern Epirus in 1914,three (3) years soldier in Minor Asia where he fought in the fiece battle of Afion Karahisar and was one of the few that survived from his battalion.He was decorated for his service and bravery several times.He saw action in the Greek-Italian war and was commander of the V Crete Unit.In June 1943 when he was informed of British Army's officer Reed presence at the mountains,he tried to make contact with him in order to creat small units for the protection of British officers and to organize the civilians for a allied landing in Greece.Reed unfortunately rejected Papadogonas suggestions.
Meanwhile,communist partizans were gaining strength and they targeted conservative civilians.Papadogonas helped Gianakopoulos form ES (Ellinikos Stratos,Greek Army-resistance organization that was destroyed from communists).Papadogonas tried to contact the British in order to tell them to shift allied supplies from communists to the (non-communist) ES.
Few time later,communist partizans made a agreement with ES,that arranged that ES men officers must join the communist partizan.Many men and officers that refused were murdered destroyed from the communist partizans,including Officer Karahalios.A brave man that rejected to join the communist partizans by force was Cavalry officer Vretakos.When it became known that he rejected the agreement,communist partizans started large scale operations to track him down and kill him.A locan politician told him to accept protection from German forces,however he REJECTED.Finally,after days without supplies he was found from communist partizans and in the following battle he fell dead.Before he died he told as a later complaint ''Damn British,whoever gives you faith,finally ends dead''
Meanwhile communist partizans had attempted to kill Papadogonas twice,in ambushes near Kalamata.Papadogonas took his family to Athens(and to safety).He returned April 44,with the Goverments order to become the commander of the Security Battalions in Peloponnisos.He had under his commands the Security battalions of Arkadia,Messinia and Lakonia.In Peloponisos a very large number of civilians that were being terrorized by the communist partizans were considering joining the Security Batallions.
The volunteers in the Security batallions differed.Many were common thiefs and criminals,others were men that their family had been murdered from communist partizans.Many were men and officers,that the (non-communist) resistance organization that they belonged to was destroyed by communists and many of its members slaughtered.
Last edited by ''X'' on 30 Oct 2006, 22:42, edited 1 time in total.
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grekiskaGripen
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First like to say thanks to "X" for the greek contribution to the site,
Second I want to give a photo of Papadogonas in the field
Third, A quote from the German offficer Major Poys about Colonel Papadongonas, commander of 2nd Battalion/ 18th SS police mountain regiment:
I found Colonel Papadongonas to be a loyal government career officer with nationalist-royalist leanings. He was stately and impressive, with Greek manners, and very soldierly, and in his roots he seemed kindly.
This text is taken from; Herakles and the Swastika, Greek Volunteers in the German Army, Polic and SS 1943-1945 by Antonio J.Munoz.
source for the photo:http://homepages.pathfinder.gr/sfoulidis/index.htm
Second I want to give a photo of Papadogonas in the field
Third, A quote from the German offficer Major Poys about Colonel Papadongonas, commander of 2nd Battalion/ 18th SS police mountain regiment:
I found Colonel Papadongonas to be a loyal government career officer with nationalist-royalist leanings. He was stately and impressive, with Greek manners, and very soldierly, and in his roots he seemed kindly.
This text is taken from; Herakles and the Swastika, Greek Volunteers in the German Army, Polic and SS 1943-1945 by Antonio J.Munoz.
source for the photo:http://homepages.pathfinder.gr/sfoulidis/index.htm
Yes most Security Batalliosn officers were not pro-German.They were venizelists or royalists,anticommunists who believed that communists were a bigger threat to Greece and were ready to go with the allies if they were ordered to do so.However,there were some pro-German officers like Plintzanopoulos.Papadogons was royalist and conservative.He was a seasoned warrior and career officer and distinguished during the Greek-Italian war of 40-41.I explained which were the reasons that finally led him to collaboration
Most members were jailed,however they were used from the Goverment against communists.Papadogonas died in Goudi,hit from a communist bullet or mortar.
Motivation for volunteering differed among the men that served in the security batallions,
The following are from the ''Arhcive of the Security Battalions'' and might help you.If you want more information tell me
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Types of Recruit
There is good evidence that the majority of these serving in the Security Battalions are friendly to the Allies. Apart from the very few Germanophiles, the members of the Battalions fall into the following categories :
The very poor, who joined in order to survive.
Criminal types.
Volunteers inspired by hatred of EAM/ELAS, including those whose relatives have been killed by them (such as Vretakos at Sparta).
Political opportunists.
Officers who consider the fight against "Communism" a patriotic duty, or who were posted to the Battalions by their organisation (EDES of Athens, etc.).
Members of other organisations who were attacked by EAM/ELAS. The 200 members of EKKA who joined the Battalions in Patras after the dissolution of the 5/42 Regt in Doris in Apr 44 are the outstanding example.
Most members were jailed,however they were used from the Goverment against communists.Papadogonas died in Goudi,hit from a communist bullet or mortar.
Motivation for volunteering differed among the men that served in the security batallions,
The following are from the ''Arhcive of the Security Battalions'' and might help you.If you want more information tell me
.....................................................................................................................
Types of Recruit
There is good evidence that the majority of these serving in the Security Battalions are friendly to the Allies. Apart from the very few Germanophiles, the members of the Battalions fall into the following categories :
The very poor, who joined in order to survive.
Criminal types.
Volunteers inspired by hatred of EAM/ELAS, including those whose relatives have been killed by them (such as Vretakos at Sparta).
Political opportunists.
Officers who consider the fight against "Communism" a patriotic duty, or who were posted to the Battalions by their organisation (EDES of Athens, etc.).
Members of other organisations who were attacked by EAM/ELAS. The 200 members of EKKA who joined the Battalions in Patras after the dissolution of the 5/42 Regt in Doris in Apr 44 are the outstanding example.