Greek Army vs German Army - Operation Marita

Evzonas · Post by **Evzonas** » 07 Jul 2004 09:00

I'd like to find as much information in every aspect of operation Marita, especially in what relates to the details and unit information of the Greek vs German army. It would be great to see soldiers stories from both sides, and anything related.... If others are interested, I will try to publish some info I already have collected too..

Evzonas · Post by **Evzonas** » 07 Jul 2004 10:19

sorry i had you guys bothering about where this post should be posted

I think I have to get to know forum categories better

daveh · Post by **daveh** » 07 Jul 2004 13:31

Disposition of Greek forces facing the Germans:

East Macedonian Field army section: Lt Gen Bakopoulos

To defend the fortified area of Beles - Nestos

Division Group, Lt Gen Dedes
consisting of:

XVIII Division, Major Gen Stergiopoulus:

Occupied line Triethnes to R. Strymonas incl mountain area of Beles.

This covered 40 km. and was divided into :-
Rodopolis subsector: 70th I.R. with 2 battalions and 1 company
Roupesko subsection: 1 battalion 70th I.R., 1 company, Fort Popotlivitsa
Thylakas subsector: 91st I.R. of 2 battalions + 1 company and Forts Istimbel, Kelkayia, Arpalouki, Paleoouriones

XIV Division, Major Gen. Papakonstantinou

Occupied line R Strymonas toWestern approaches of Kato Nevrokopi

This covered 80 km. divided into:
Siderokastro subsector: 41st I.R. with 3 battalions, Forts Rupel, Karatas, Kali, 3 screening companies.
Karadag subsector: 73 rd I.R. with 3 battalions, Forts Persek, Babozora, Maliaga, Perithori, Partalouska
Division reserve: 2 screening companies

Division Group reserve: 1 battalion of 81st I.R. (less 1 company)

VII Division, Majer Gen Zoiopoulos
Occupied line Libahovo crossing to mount Kouslar

This covered 85 km. divided into:
Falakro mountain sector: 26th I.R. of 4 battalions, Forts Lisse, Pyramidoeides, Dasavli, Kastillo, Agios, Nikolaos, Bartiseva
Touloubar sector: 92 nd I.R. of 3 battalions
Paranesi: 71st I.R. of 3 battallions

Nestos Brigade, Colonel Kalis
Occupied line from western b ank of R Nestos to its estuary.

5 battalions a recce team, Fort Echinos

XIX Motorised Division, Major Gen Liubas
191st I.R. in the area of Siderokastro
192nd I.R. in the area of Efkarpia- Kilkis
193rd I.R. in the area of Kalindria - Herso

Krousia detachment
Part of 81st I.R., a Cavalry Regt., security Battalion, screening company
To defend Krousia area and stop any advance into Thessalonika if a break through occured in the Beles area.

anti parachute battalion
area of Thessaloniki

In Thrace the Evros Brigade, Major gen Zissis
7 screening companies, Fort Nymphaea
To secure the Pythio bridgehead.

I will look out the details of the Anglo - Greek force

Christoph Awender · Post by **Christoph Awender** » 07 Jul 2004 20:05

Hello!

Have a look into the daily reports on my site
http://chrito.users1.50megs.com/daily.htm

\Christoph

daveh · Post by **daveh** » 07 Jul 2004 21:11

based on notes from

Source: Abridged History of the Greek-Italian and Greek-German War 1940- 1941 (land operations) 1997 Hellenic Army Generakl Staff ( english edition)

daveh · Post by **daveh** » 11 Jul 2004 13:24

Vermio area: Anglo Greek W Force consisting of:

a) Field Army Section of Central Macedonia
Lt. Gen of the Reserve Kotoulas to 8/4/41 then Maj. Gen Karassos.

20th Division Maj Gen Karassos to 8/4/41 then Col Papkonstantinou

3 Infantry Regiments, 1 screening company.

Secured the passes of N Vermio, Edess-Kelli, Mountain passes at Lake Vegoritida to the Yugoslav borders.

XII Division Col Karambatos

4 Infantry Regiments, each of 2 battalions, a recce group.

South East of 20 th Division as far as Hadova defile.

X Frontier Sector Col of the Reserve Sergios

3 secreening companies

Gevgeli - Kaimaktsalan mountain

b) British Expeditionary Force, Gen Wilson

I Australian Corps Maj Gen Blamey consisting of

6th Austalian Division Maj Gen Mackay
16th Austalian Brigade
19th Austalian Brigade

Hadova defile

2nd New Zealand Division Maj Gen Freyberg
4th New Zealand Brigade
5th New Zealand Brigade
6th New Zealand Brigade

coastal sector of Katerina

1st Armoured Brigade Brig General Charrington

area of Edessa

Petrus · Post by **Petrus** » 11 Jul 2004 21:43

Does anybody here know how Greek 19th Motorised Division was organised? I mean its structure and theoritical as well as actual equipment.

I would grateful for your help. Best regards,
Petrus

Evzonas · Post by **Evzonas** » 12 Jul 2004 07:32

Petrus wrote:Does anybody here know how Greek 19th Motorised Division was organised? I mean its structure and theoritical as well as actual equipment.

I would grateful for your help. Best regards,
Petrus

At least I have no such detailed information needed....

I do have some "raw" material to read and orginise so provided I find the time, I will certainly provide more info...

Here's a good one though:

"The CO of the German 125th Infantry Division meeting CO of the Greek sub-sector Aggistron Lt. Plevrakis said " I am not sad as a soldier as the sacrifice was neccessary, ruther as a human seeing only a handfull of men left in my Division."

Evzonas · Post by **Evzonas** » 12 Jul 2004 07:35

Here are some more pictures..

Evzonas · Post by **Evzonas** » 12 Jul 2004 07:45

Here is also a detailed list of the Metaxas Line aka Rupel fort personel numbers.

FORT OFFICERS SOLDIERS TOTAL
POPOTLIVISTA 12 277 289
ISTIMBEI 17 440 457
KELKAGIA 7 236 243
ARPALOUKI 13 354 367
PALIOURIONES 15 592 607
RUPEL 44 1353 1397
KARATAS 28 783 811
KALI 30 902 932
PERSEK 9 200 209
BABAZORA 22 695 717
MALIAGA 19 578 597
PERITHORI 7 249 256
PARTALOUSKA 4 124 128
DASALVI 4 83 87
LISSE 12 457 469
PYRAMIDOID 4 173 177
CASTILLO 8 173 181
St. Nicolaos 14 297 311
BARTISEVA 20 504 524
ECHINOS 26 806 832
NYMFAIA 14 464 478

TOTALS 329 9740 10.069

Evzonas · Post by **Evzonas** » 12 Jul 2004 07:54

More Pics

Forts are to be conquered... not surrender!

Evzonas · Post by **Evzonas** » 12 Jul 2004 08:01

Some more...

daveh · Post by **daveh** » 12 Jul 2004 16:35

19th motorised Infantry Division

Andrew Mollo's The Armed Forces of World War II describes the 19th motorised division as being formed from 2000 hurriedly conscripted garage hands in March 1941. It gives the Division a strength of 24 light Italian & Dutch tankettes, some Italian lorries, a few British Bren Carriers, and some motorcycles and motor cars.

I have doubts about the

Dutch tankettes

. I have seen a reference to these vehicles having been ordered by the Dutch but not delivered prior to May 1940. These were Vivkers Model 1936 nicknamed the Dutchman. They were to be sent to the Greeks but never arrived.

Tarnstrom in his Baslkan Battles states that the 19th Infantry Division was motorised in February 1941. His suggested form is

1 recce battalion: with motor cycles and trucks
1 tank battalion of
2 tank companies with 10 ex italian cv 33 s each
1 tank company with 4 Vickers Mk E Type A and 6 Carden Loyd Mk VI
3 motorised infantry regiments (other sorces suggest these were the 191st, 192nd and 193rd)
1 motorised artillery regiment each with 3 battalions of 3 x 4 75mm field gun batteries

Prior to the German attack the 19th motorised Infantry Division with its 191st and 192nd I R was in the area of Kilkis.

On April 6th and 7th the division was left alone while German units threatened to out flank the division. About midday on the 7th the division made contact with the Yugoslavians, extending its left flank to the bank of the R Axios, absorbing a number of units to assist in this mission. It is referred to as having 2 regiments (191st and 192nd) and a recce group deployed.

As Yugoslavian resistance in S Serbia collapsed 19th motorised Infantry Division was
moved to try to block the valley of the Axios river. Division HQ was threatened by the rapid German advance and had to retire hastily very late on the 8/4/41.

These German advances led to EMFAS withdrawing its units to the harbours of E Macedonia.As there was no shipping available and EMFAS formed its delaying function an offer to surrender was accepted.

In the sector of 19th motorised Infantry Division the193rd Regiment was attacked 9/4/41 and surrendered soon after.

http://www.geocities.com/ww2greece/02.html partly works for me, hope you have more luck.

Evzonas · Post by **Evzonas** » 12 Jul 2004 18:18

Unfortunately, past second level links the site mentioned only gets back Page Not Found from geocities.....

Petrus · Post by **Petrus** » 12 Jul 2004 19:34

I cannot believe that the http://www.geocities.com/ww2greece/ is the only website dedicated to Greece's war effort during WW2. Perhaps, as the site doesn't work properly, we should seek info elsewhere but who knows where?

Of course there is a language problem. Probably there are plenty of sites in Greek but the language seems quite incomprehensible (to me at least), partly due to its alphabet (albeit it sounds beautifully, which is another story).

Best regards,
Petrus