Greek Volunteers & the Security Battalions
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Mauser 1943
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Were there any Greek volunteers Serving in the German Army
Were there any Greek volunteers Serving in the German Army
Here are some info from the site, see "Herakles and The Swastika" by Antonio J Munoz for more details.
The formation of Security battalions (Ellinika Tagmata Asphaleias) made up of Greek volunteers was ordered in Sep 1943 by SS-Gruppenführer Walter Schimana (Höhere SS und Polizeiführer in Greece) to support the Germans in the fight against the Greek partisans when the Italians joined the allies.
Initially there were four battalions (known as Evzoni) but this was later increaded to nine. They wore the fielduniform of the Greek main guard and were armed with weapons left behind by the Italian troops. Their duties included fighting the partisans, guarding and functioning as an auxilliary police force.
The men of these units didn't leave Greece with the Germans (they were anti-communists rather than nazis) and many of them helped the British fighting the Greek communist guerilla.
A Volunteer Gendarmerie (Ethelontiki Chorophylaki) was formed in Greece and these units were technically a part of the German Ordnungspolizei.
One of these units was the notorious Poulos Verband, commanded by George Poulos. It was stationed in Kali Vrissi (near Salonika) and was wore a mixture of german army and police uniforms with a small greek flag on the left arm. It fought mainly partisans but also anyone suspected of sympathising with the communists. In Nov 1944 it was transferred to Ljubjana (Slovienia) were it fought the partisans until Mar 1945 when it was sent to Kitzbülh (Austria).
Poulos was hanged after the war but many of the men from this unit fought the communist guerilla in Greece during the Greek Civil War (1946-1949).
/Marcus
The formation of Security battalions (Ellinika Tagmata Asphaleias) made up of Greek volunteers was ordered in Sep 1943 by SS-Gruppenführer Walter Schimana (Höhere SS und Polizeiführer in Greece) to support the Germans in the fight against the Greek partisans when the Italians joined the allies.
Initially there were four battalions (known as Evzoni) but this was later increaded to nine. They wore the fielduniform of the Greek main guard and were armed with weapons left behind by the Italian troops. Their duties included fighting the partisans, guarding and functioning as an auxilliary police force.
The men of these units didn't leave Greece with the Germans (they were anti-communists rather than nazis) and many of them helped the British fighting the Greek communist guerilla.
A Volunteer Gendarmerie (Ethelontiki Chorophylaki) was formed in Greece and these units were technically a part of the German Ordnungspolizei.
One of these units was the notorious Poulos Verband, commanded by George Poulos. It was stationed in Kali Vrissi (near Salonika) and was wore a mixture of german army and police uniforms with a small greek flag on the left arm. It fought mainly partisans but also anyone suspected of sympathising with the communists. In Nov 1944 it was transferred to Ljubjana (Slovienia) were it fought the partisans until Mar 1945 when it was sent to Kitzbülh (Austria).
Poulos was hanged after the war but many of the men from this unit fought the communist guerilla in Greece during the Greek Civil War (1946-1949).
/Marcus
Last edited by Marcus on 18 Apr 2003, 21:08, edited 1 time in total.
I believe that there were. This is just off the top of my head, but I believe that there was the "Greek Security Battalions" set up by the collaborationist government of Ioannis Rallis and George Tsolakoglou, as more of an anti-ELAS, therefore anti-communist unit, than anything else. There was also "Etheloniki Chorophyla", I don't know the precise spelling. Also, there is talk of Napolean Zervas, head of anti-communist resistance group EDES, as collaborating with the Germans as well. I'll look for some links when I've got more time.... Hope that little bit helps.
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Panzermahn
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Mauser 1943
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Greek Volunteers in the German Army
Thanks for all the Help
Greek Volunteers & the Security Battalions
Does anyone have any sources on the Greek collaborationist security battalions that were set up in German-occupied Greece? The only two books that solely devote themselves to this subject are "Herakles And the Swastika: Greek Volunteers in the German Police & SS, 1943-1945" by Antonio Munoz and "Pro-Axis Security Battalions in Southern Greece, 1943-1944." However, these are only 40-70 page books, mostly filled with pictures.
Evzonen Regiments (1. - 3.) in 1944/45
Hi,
If someone can help me with detailed information of the following units:
Evzonen Regiment 1
Evzonen Regiment 2
Evzonen Regiment 3
I think it was formed in early 1944 by German Polizei in Greece in composition tree Bn each.
Evz. Regiment 1 stationed in Athen, Regiment 2 in Patras.
Who was commanding? Greek officers or Germen?
What is this unit's history, emblems (armshield) etc.?
Bestreg.
Jarek
If someone can help me with detailed information of the following units:
Evzonen Regiment 1
Evzonen Regiment 2
Evzonen Regiment 3
I think it was formed in early 1944 by German Polizei in Greece in composition tree Bn each.
Evz. Regiment 1 stationed in Athen, Regiment 2 in Patras.
Who was commanding? Greek officers or Germen?
What is this unit's history, emblems (armshield) etc.?
Bestreg.
Jarek
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GreekLegionEON
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Greek participation in the SS
Does anyone has any informations or photos about greek legion, which participated in the 4th SS Div, in December 1944 at the end of the war, in eastern prussia??? I have been informed that in the magazine Der Freiwilliger, about mid 1970, there is indeed a photo of a greek SS soldier. I am unabvle to find any bibliography or any sources about this part of history. Additional informations as well and phtoos, are wellcomed (with the kind permittion of Mr Marcus offcourse). Thank you, Dimitrios 
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Panzermahn
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Hi GreekLegionEon,
I never heard any thing about Greek legion in the 4th SS Polizei division. But the only book about greek volunteer and collaborationist units were by Tony Munoz, Herakles and the Swastika...available from
http://www.axiseuropa.com
by the way....i believe some greeks did volunteer as militia units under the SD for the protection against the greek bolsheviks coagitation for a proletarian revolution..
The Greek Bolsheviks were defeated in the civil war thanks to the assistance of the British Army who were at least not too late to see the dangers of Bolshevism just like what the Germans experienced before WW2
I never heard any thing about Greek legion in the 4th SS Polizei division. But the only book about greek volunteer and collaborationist units were by Tony Munoz, Herakles and the Swastika...available from
http://www.axiseuropa.com
by the way....i believe some greeks did volunteer as militia units under the SD for the protection against the greek bolsheviks coagitation for a proletarian revolution..
The Greek Bolsheviks were defeated in the civil war thanks to the assistance of the British Army who were at least not too late to see the dangers of Bolshevism just like what the Germans experienced before WW2
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GreekLegionEON
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Volunteers greek in the SS units
Dear Joachim (cousin of Peiper i believe??? 
), thank you for the respond. It is true that some soldiers, who fight under the commands of the nazis, were later (between Dec 1944 until May 1949) been used by the greek governement (with the help of British governement and personally of Winston Churchil) against the communist "threat". I only know the "Poulos Verbaund" and the "Skoutari Verbaund". Poulos was a greek officer, who collaborate with the nazis in Greece and later as the war ending, was mooved with his corps (about a regiment strength) to Germany. Poulos, as far as i know, was hanged after the end of the war. He as wearing always athe officila uniform of the greek officer. never accepted to wear any german uniform. His idea was to terminat the communism problem in greece, in any cost and with any way.
The Skoutari Verbaund, was a volunteers team from Crete. In this platoon were fascist civilians from Crete, who were volunteers against the communist threat in Europe. Nothing more is known about them. There were also some units in Greece, who collaborate with german forces, but there were not in the SS units ata all
From Mr Munoz Tony, i had an email, which says " In Bundesarchiv, Koblenz, I found a letter from Higher SS & Police Command "Greece" - SS General Walter Schimana. In the letter, I found photos of SS with collaborationist EVZONE troops, also Greek battalionists.
The Germans, who are most efficient and extremely orderly in everything, were in an uproar because these photos were not in the photo section, but inside a letter in the document section. They made a big deal about this and the German archivist almost had a heart attack!
Of course, I requested copies of the photos. I also found photos of Greek battalionists in US National Archives - College Park, Maryland.".
If someone out there has any other infos about greek volunteers in the german forces and especially in the SS units, that will be most wellcomed. Thank you, Regards from Greece, Dimitrios.
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), thank you for the respond. It is true that some soldiers, who fight under the commands of the nazis, were later (between Dec 1944 until May 1949) been used by the greek governement (with the help of British governement and personally of Winston Churchil) against the communist "threat". I only know the "Poulos Verbaund" and the "Skoutari Verbaund". Poulos was a greek officer, who collaborate with the nazis in Greece and later as the war ending, was mooved with his corps (about a regiment strength) to Germany. Poulos, as far as i know, was hanged after the end of the war. He as wearing always athe officila uniform of the greek officer. never accepted to wear any german uniform. His idea was to terminat the communism problem in greece, in any cost and with any way. The Skoutari Verbaund, was a volunteers team from Crete. In this platoon were fascist civilians from Crete, who were volunteers against the communist threat in Europe. Nothing more is known about them. There were also some units in Greece, who collaborate with german forces, but there were not in the SS units ata all
From Mr Munoz Tony, i had an email, which says " In Bundesarchiv, Koblenz, I found a letter from Higher SS & Police Command "Greece" - SS General Walter Schimana. In the letter, I found photos of SS with collaborationist EVZONE troops, also Greek battalionists.
The Germans, who are most efficient and extremely orderly in everything, were in an uproar because these photos were not in the photo section, but inside a letter in the document section. They made a big deal about this and the German archivist almost had a heart attack!
Of course, I requested copies of the photos. I also found photos of Greek battalionists in US National Archives - College Park, Maryland.".
If someone out there has any other infos about greek volunteers in the german forces and especially in the SS units, that will be most wellcomed. Thank you, Regards from Greece, Dimitrios.
[colors removed to make the post easier to read]
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Allen Milcic
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> Off topic, disruptive post removed by Moderator. <
Wheeler, this thread is about the Greek participation in the 4th SS Division. You are welcome to open a new thread on 'Communism' and your beliefs and positions therein in the appropriate section of the Forum. Please also post in a respectful and polite manner, this is a research Forum, not a soap-box for ranting and raving.
Allen/
Wheeler, this thread is about the Greek participation in the 4th SS Division. You are welcome to open a new thread on 'Communism' and your beliefs and positions therein in the appropriate section of the Forum. Please also post in a respectful and polite manner, this is a research Forum, not a soap-box for ranting and raving.
Allen/
Mr. Chan's remarks on the true historical situtation of Greece is pertinent and historical. Mr. Wendel is a bit overboard by calling them, "rants".
Where fighters went and did what and trying to locate them and the communist threat in Greece is pertinent to the thread.
Greece is invaded by Italy, then by Germany and then has a civil war started by communists. Greece was rent at that time by much unrest by all the socialistic forces. How fighters dealt and where they went from there is for research. Nine years of constant fighting and occupation.
Greece got it worst than Spain did.
Where fighters went and did what and trying to locate them and the communist threat in Greece is pertinent to the thread.
Greece is invaded by Italy, then by Germany and then has a civil war started by communists. Greece was rent at that time by much unrest by all the socialistic forces. How fighters dealt and where they went from there is for research. Nine years of constant fighting and occupation.
Greece got it worst than Spain did.
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Allen Milcic
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Mr. Wheeler:WHEELER wrote:Mr. Chan's remarks on the true historical situtation of Greece is pertinent and historical. Mr. Wendel is a bit overboard by calling them, "rants".
Where fighters went and did what and trying to locate them and the communist threat in Greece is pertinent to the thread.
Greece is invaded by Italy, then by Germany and then has a civil war started by communists. Greece was rent at that time by much unrest by all the socialistic forces. How fighters dealt and where they went from there is for research. Nine years of constant fighting and occupation.
Greece got it worst than Spain did.
First of all, this thread is with regards to the Greek participation in the 4th SS division. Full stop. Not the invasion of Greece by Italy and/or Germany, not the Greek Civil War, not 'unrest by all socialistic (sic) forces' etc etc. As stated earlier, you are welcome to start new threads in the appropriate areas if you wish to conduct a knowledgeable and polite discussion on Socialism, Communism, the Greek Civil War, or whatever other area of history and/or politics you may be interested in. You will NOT go off topic, especially with semi-lucid political rants and insults to the Administrator of the very Forum you are priviledged to participate in, and you will post and behave in a professional manner, or your postings will be removed.
Second of all, Mr. Wendel's comments were addressed to Mr. Chan, not yourself as his self-appointed attorney. They were on-point and based on months of Mr. Chan's postings in numerous threads through-out the Forum, not solely this particular thread. Notwithstanding the above, it is not your place to correct the actions of the Forum administration, especially using the tone and language you chose to utilize.
Have a nice day.
Allen/