Battle of Agios Dometios: Difference between revisions
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Added number of estimated turkish soldiers present on eldyk camp, aswell as some changes on the result of the battle. Tag: Reverted |
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| territory = *Turkish forces captures the ELDYK camp and many Greek positions |
| territory = *Turkish forces captures the ELDYK camp and many Greek positions |
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*Due to the UN ceasefire that occurred just before the initial Turkish assault on Agios Dometios, the assault was cancelled |
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*Greek forces successfully defend Agios Dometios |
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*Due to the UN ceasefire, Turkey couldn't launch a second attack on Agios Dometios |
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| result = Partial Greek and Turkish victory |
| result = Partial Greek and Turkish victory |
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*336 Reserve Battalion |
*336 Reserve Battalion |
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| strength1 = |
| strength1 = 700 on ELDYK camp (Greek claim), total unknown |
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| strength2 = 4,000-4,500+ |
| strength2 = 4,000-4,500+ |
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Revision as of 12:23, 7 July 2024
| Battle of Agios Dometios | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Turkish invasion of Cyprus | |||||||||
.jpg) | |||||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
 Turkey Turkish Cypriots |
 Greece Cyprus | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
| Unknown |
Major Dimitrios Alevromagiros | ||||||||
| Units involved | |||||||||
| Turkish Resistance Organisation |
| ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
| 700 on ELDYK camp (Greek claim), total unknown | 4,000-4,500+ | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| 60 killed or wounded (Greek claim)[1] |
143 killed or missing "Dozens" captured (Greek claim)[2][3] | ||||||||
 |
The Battle of Agios Dometios (Greek: Μάχη του Αγίου Δομετίου), was an engagement between Hellenic, Cypriot, Turkish and Turkish Cypriot forces between 14 and 17 August 1974. It was part of the Attila-2 (Second phase of the invasion) operation as described by Turkey and the wider battle for Nicosia as described by Cyprus.[4][5]
Initial Turkish assault
In the early morning on 14 August 1974, Turkey violated the ceasefire agreement signed on 23 July by massing an assault against on all sides, which ended in Greeks losing Morphou, Famagusta, the Mesaoria, Karpasia and half of Nicosia, in Operation Attila-2.[6] In Nicosia, at approximately 5 am, the Turkish Air Force bombarded National Guard targets alongside the ELDYK camp in Agios Dometios and additional shelling by Turkish artillery on the area.[7]
The Turkish forces captured the ELDYK camp and the area surrounding it with approximately 700 Turkish forces moving on the ELDYK camp on the first day with additional M48 tanks arriving by 15 August (second day of the fighting) in order to assist the Turkish infantry forces.[8][9]
Greek-Greek Cypriot defense
The 336 Reserve Battalion was in charge of defending the area between Ledra Palace and the ELDYK military camp, encompassing around 3.5 kilometers.[10]
Some 319 ELDYK soldiers were in charge of defending their camp and the area around it, such as the grammar school.[11] On 15 August, Lieutenant Colonel Stavropoulos requested assistance against the Turkish M-48s but was only offered a few Marmon-Herringtons which were ineffective against the M-48s.[12] The fighting around the ELDYK camp continued until 16 August, and on that day the fiercest fighting took place with heavy bombardments against the camp from the Turkish air force and constant barrages by artillery and tanks making it almost impossible for the Greek soldiers to do anything due to the lack of both air and ground support with the ELDYK camp and the grammar school eventually falling into Turkish hands and ELDYK suffering more than 83 killed or missing as a result of the fighting.[7][13]
In the morning of 16 August, whilst also attacking the ELDYK camp, the Turkish armed forces launched a breakthrough through the Imprisoned Graves to try and outflank Greek Cypriot units there. Greek media alleged that these attacks were unsuccessful.[14][15]
Greek media claimed that Turkish forces later attempted to re-encircle Nicosia airport after taking the grammar school however were met with resistance from the 212 Infantry Battalion and A' Raider Squadron.[5][16][17]
On 17 August, although the ceasefire was in place, Greek media claimed that Turkish forces attempted to capture the St. Pavlos Church but was unsuccessful. After this alleged incident, The Invasion of Cyprus was over and fighting had since ceased on the front.[15]
Aftermath
Though the Turkish assault on the ELDYK camp was eventually successful, due to the ceasefire placed by the United Nations, the Turkish forces could not do a 2nd assault and thus not allowing Agios Dometios to be captured by Turkish forces.[11] There have been several claims by former ELDYK members about Turkish soldiers decapitating bodies of dead Greek soldiers and throwing dead Greek soldiers into mass graves.[11][12][18]
See also
- Cypriot National Guard
- Turkish invasion of Cyprus
- Hellenic Force in Cyprus
- Turkish Armed Forces
- Turkish Air Force
References
- ^ https://www.anixneuseis.gr/%CE%B7-%CE%BC%CE%B1%CF%87%CE%B7-%CF%84%CE%B7%CF%83-%CE%BB%CE%B5%CF%85%CE%BA%CF%89%CF%83%CE%B9%CE%B1%CF%83/
- ^ https://www.anixneuseis.gr/%CE%B7-%CE%BC%CE%B1%CF%87%CE%B7-%CF%84%CE%B7%CF%83-%CE%BB%CE%B5%CF%85%CE%BA%CF%89%CF%83%CE%B9%CE%B1%CF%83/
- ^ "Αυτό είναι το στρατόπεδο της ΕΛΔΥΚ όπου δόθηκε μία από τις τελευταίες μάχες του Αττίλα. Εκεί οι Τούρκοι αποκεφάλισαν 10 στρατιώτες και τοποθέτησαν τα κεφάλια τους στην πύλη - Μηχανη Του Χρονου". mixanitouxronou.com.cy. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
- ^ "48 χρόνια από τον "Αττίλα 2": Η δεύτερη φάση της τουρκικής εισβολής στην Κύπρο". euronews (in Greek). 14 August 2022. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
- ^ a b "Ο θρύλος του Μανώλη Μπικάκη και η μάχη του Αγίου Δομετίου". cyprustimes.com (in Greek). 25 July 2023. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
- ^ Redefined, Defence (14 August 2020). "August 14, 1974| The 2nd phase of the Turkish Invasion". Defence Redefined. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
- ^ a b "Έλυσε τη σιωπή του ο τελευταίος στρατοπεδάρχης της ΕΛ.ΔΥ.Κ." ProtoThema (in Greek). 3 March 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
- ^ Erickson, Edward J.; Uyar, Mesut (2020). PHASE LINE ATTILA: The Amphibious Campaign for Cyprus, 1974 (1st ed.). Quantico, Virginia: Marine Corps University Press. p. 197. ISBN 978-1-7320030-8-8.
- ^ Newsroom, DefenceReview (17 August 2018). "Η Μάχη της ΕΛΔΥΚ (14-16 Αυγούστου 1974)". Defence Review (in Greek). Retrieved 1 December 2023.
- ^ Redefined, Defence (20 July 2021). "Μαρτυρία 1974 | "Το 336 κράτησε την Λευκωσία, το τάγμα του Αλευρομάγειρου, το τάγμα της Αμμοχώστου"". DEFENCE ReDEFiNED (in Greek). Retrieved 1 December 2023.
- ^ a b c lila (15 October 2019). "Αυτό είναι το στρατόπεδο της ΕΛΔΥΚ όπου δόθηκε μία από τις τελευταίες μάχες του Αττίλα. Εκεί οι Τούρκοι αποκεφάλισαν 10 στρατιώτες και τοποθέτησαν τα κεφάλια τους στην πύλη". ΜΗΧΑΝΗ ΤΟΥ ΧΡΟΝΟΥ (in Greek). Retrieved 1 December 2023.
- ^ a b "Η Επική Μάχη της "ΕΛΔΥΚ" …Παραμονή & Ανήμερα της Παναγιάς του 74!". veteranos |Εθνικά Θέματα (in Greek). 14 August 2023. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
- ^ Gr, Armynow (14 August 2023). "Η μάχη της ΕΛΔΥΚ: Συγκλονιστική αφήγηση από έναν ΕΛΔΥΚάριο". ArmyNow.Gr. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
- ^ giannopoulos (2 February 2015). "Πώς τα "φυλακισμένα μνήματα" των κύπριων αγωνιστών, έμειναν στην ελεύθερη Κύπρο. Οι Ελληνοκύπριοι μαχητές αμύνθηκαν στον "Αττίλα" πάνω στους τάφους του Αυξεντίου, του Παλλικαρίδη, του Καραολή και του Δημητρίου". ΜΗΧΑΝΗ ΤΟΥ ΧΡΟΝΟΥ (in Greek). Retrieved 1 December 2023.
- ^ a b President, The (11 July 2018). "Η Μάχη της Λευκωσίας - Το 336ο τάγμα Εθνοφυλακής". The President (in Greek). Retrieved 1 December 2023.
- ^ Redefined, Defence (15 August 2020). "Η Μάχη της Λευκωσίας". DEFENCE ReDEFiNED (in Greek). Retrieved 1 December 2023.
- ^ Erickson, Edward J.; Uyar, Mesut (2020). PHASE LINE ATTILA: The Amphibious Campaign for Cyprus, 1974 (1st ed.). Quantico, Virginia: Marine Corps University Press. p. 201. ISBN 978-1-7320030-8-8.
- ^ ""Είναι θαμμένοι 15 βήματα από την είσοδο της Εκκλησίας" | NOMISMA" (in Greek). 4 October 2021. Retrieved 1 December 2023.