Greek Corps interned 1916

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Peter H
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Greek Corps interned 1916

#1

Post by Peter H » 11 May 2006, 16:23

12th September 1916---"4th Greek Corps of 25,000 men at Kavalla deserts (under Colonel Hatzopoulos) to the Germans. Sent to Germany as 'guests'."

Has anyone any details on this incident?Officially Greece at this stage was still neutral but the 4th Corps was isolated in a position east of Salonika.

From: http://www.ullsteinbild.de/
Stationierung des IV. griechischen Armeekorps in Görlitz (28.9.1916-21.02.1919): Ankunft der ersten griechischen Truppen auf dem Bahnhof - Der Flügeladjutant des Kaisers, von Estorff (Mitte) begrüsst den griechischen Kommandeur und Kommandant von Kawala, General Karakallos (mit Brief)) . 15.09.1916
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Kaan Caglar
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#2

Post by Kaan Caglar » 11 May 2006, 17:26

Dear Peter,
I found some info on the incident, taken exactly from HELLENIC ARMY GENERAL STAFF - ARMY HISTORY DIRECTORATE, A history of the partecipation of the Hellenic Army in the First World war 1914-1918, Athens 1999, pages 31-35
On September 1916 Greek Army Corps D based in Eastern Macedonia, with its HQ in Kavala, was forced to surrender. It had three Infantry Divisions (5th, 6th and 7th) and some minor units, among them 7th Field Artillery Regiment. Before the capitulation, on 12th September 1916, the guns and vehicles of the 7th Field Artillery Regiment (with ten artillery batteries) were loaded onto the troop ship Ares, that sailed to Volos. Thus they were not taken over by bulgarian Army. During the voyage the Ares was forced by a French destroyer to sail to Solun. So the guns and vehicles escaped from Bulgarians had to surrender to Greek Army of National Defence, that supported the Etente. The rest of Army Corps D was massed in Drama, where Bulgarians ordered that its guns and machine guns were stored in separate buildings. But these weapons too were not captured by Bulgarian Army. Between 15 September and 27 September Army Corps D (with 16 mountain guns) was transported by rail from Drama to Silesian city of Goerlitz in germany where it was interned.
Regards
Kaan


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Peter H
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#3

Post by Peter H » 13 May 2006, 07:08

Thanks Kaan.

A very messy time for the Greeks.From what I can gather the Bulgarians advanced into Eastern Thrace in 1916 to complete their hold around Salonika.Fort Rupel was taken first.The Greeks were informed by their monarchist government to only offer token resistance.As well known the King of Greece was the Kaiser's brother-in-law and hence pro-German.The Kavalla incident lead to riots in Greece and the fall of the government replaced by one pro-Allied.I assume the Germans sent a small force in with the Bulgarians and paved the way for the Greek Corps to surrender.More mouths to feed for Germany.

Regards,
Peter

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Peter H
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Re: Greek Corps interned 1916

#4

Post by Peter H » 18 Dec 2010, 11:22

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Peter H
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Re: Greek Corps interned 1916

#5

Post by Peter H » 18 Dec 2010, 11:23

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Peter H
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Re: Greek Corps interned 1916

#6

Post by Peter H » 18 Dec 2010, 11:29

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Clemence
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Re: Greek Corps interned 1916

#7

Post by Clemence » 01 Jun 2011, 20:24


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Vasil
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Re: Greek Corps interned 1916

#8

Post by Vasil » 02 Jun 2011, 11:32

Some Bulgarian sources note that 464 officers and 6373 soldiers of the 4th Greek Army Corps surrendered and were interned in Germany. So it is likely that the corps was not entirely mobilized at that time.

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xristar
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Re: Greek Corps interned 1916

#9

Post by xristar » 16 Jun 2011, 17:43

Vasil wrote:Some Bulgarian sources note that 464 officers and 6373 soldiers of the 4th Greek Army Corps surrendered and were interned in Germany. So it is likely that the corps was not entirely mobilized at that time.
The Corps had already demobilized prior to the surrender. Reservists had been sent home.

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