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Hellenic Army

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This article is about the land force of modern Greece. See hoplites for information on Military systems in Ancient Greece.
Hellenic Army
Hellenic Army General Staff flag
Hellenic Army General Staff flag
Active1821 (de facto)
1828 (official)
Country Greece
Allegiance The Hellenic Republic
TypeLand Forces
RoleNational Defence
Sizestandard numbers in peacetime:
nominal 90,000 personnel
(88,262 as of 2011[1])
wartime strength:
253,500[2]
Part ofHellenic Armed Forces
FormationsFormations of the Hellenic Army
PatronSaint George
Motto(s)Freedom Stems from Valour
EquipmentEquipment of the Hellenic Army
EngagementsGreek War of Independence
Greco-Turkish War of 1897
First Balkan War
Second Balkan War
World War I
Allied Expedition to the Ukraine
Greco-Turkish War of 1919–1922
World War II
Greek Civil War
Korean War
Turkish Invasion of Cyprus
Gulf War
War in Afghanistan
War on Terrorism
Commanders
Chief of the Army General StaffLt. Gen. Konstantinos Zazias
Inspector-General of the ArmyLt. Gen. Konstantinos Ginis
Notable
commanders		King Constantine I, Lt. Gen. Panagiotis Danglis, Lt. Gen. Ioannis Metaxas, Lt. Gen. Nikolaos Plastiras, Lt. Gen. Georgios Kondylis, Lt. Gen. Konstantinos Ventiris, Fld. Marshal Alexander Papagos, Lt. Gen. Thrasyvoulos Tsakalotos
Insignia
Identification markingΕΣ
Regimental War Flag

The Hellenic Army (Greek: Ελληνικός Στρατός, Ellinikós Stratós), formed in 1828, is the land force of Greece. Along with the Hellenic Air Force (H.A.F.) and the Hellenic Navy (H.N.), it makes up the Hellenic Armed Forces. It is currently the largest branch of the three. The army is headed by the chief of the Hellenic Army General Staff (HAGS), which in turn is under the command of Hellenic National Defence General Staff (HNDGS). The motto of the Hellenic Army is Ἐλεύθερον τὸ Εὔψυχον (Eleútheron tò Eúpsychon), "Freedom Stems from Valour", from Thucydides's History of the Peloponnesian War (2.43.4). The Hellenic Army Emblem is the two-headed eagle with a Greek Cross escutcheon in the centre, representing the links between modern Greece, the Greek Orthodox Church, and the Byzantine Empire.

The Hellenic Army, apart from being the largest component participating in it, is also leading the Balkan Battle Group (otherwise known as HELBROC (an acronym for HELlas, Bulgaria, ROmania and Cyprus)), which is the largest military formation of NATO in Southeast Europe.[3]

Mission

The main mission of the Hellenic Army is the defence of the state’s independence and integrity, the safeguarding of national territory, as well as the decisive contribution to the achievement of the country’s policy objectives.[4]

During peacetime, the Army has the following main objectives:

  • The maintenance of high operational readiness for the prevention and effective confrontation of dangers and threats, as well as the ensuring of rapid response capability.
  • The contribution to international security and peace.
  • The contribution to activities of social aid and the support of state services for the confrontation of emergency situations.

History

Main article: History of the Hellenic Army
Greek infantry unit ready to charge in the Battle of Bizani, First Balkan War, 1913.

The modern Hellenic Army was formed shortly after the creation of the State in 1828. The first out of eight tactical army regiments was established in February 1828 after the respective order was given by the first head of state of the independent Greece, Ioannis Capodistrias.[5] This tactical army would replace the irregular military bands of the capetanei (καπεταναίοι – commanders) who had led the revolt against Ottoman Empire in 1821. The new formations were formed firstly in Troizina and were organized according to the ones of the French Army. The first commander appointed was the French general, Charles Nicolas Fabvier. In addition to the creation of tactical infantry units, Capodistrias proceeded in the establishment of various other auxiliary corps, such as the Hellenic Military Academy, the first Artillery and Cavalry battalions, the Mechanics Corps and a unit of logistical support, the Army Commissariat. The first combined arms drills were executed in October 1829 at Megara.

The Hellenic Army has taken part in the following engagements:

Structure

class=notpageimage|
Hellenic Army major combat unit locations
Key: red – infantry, green – mech, gold – armour, purple – aviation
large pin – division, small pin – brigade
Main article: Structure of the Hellenic Army

General Staff

  • Hellenic National Defence General Staff
    • Hellenic Army General Staff
      Γενικό Επιτελείο Στρατού (ΓΕΣ)
      • Chief-of-Staff of the Army
        Αρχηγός ΓΕΣ
      • Inspector General of the Army
        Γενικός Επιθεωρητής Στρατού / Διοικητής ΔΙΔΟΕΕ
      • 1st Deputy Chief-of-Staff of the Army
        A' Υπαρχηγός ΓΕΣ
      • 2nd Deputy Chief-of-Staff of the Army
        Β' Υπαρχηγός ΓΕΣ

Combat and support arms

  • Most combat arms are called "Arm" (Όπλον). This term denotes army elements that, more or less, have direct participation in combat.
  • Most support branches are called "Corps" (Σώμα), with some exceptions.

Army units and formations

Main article: Formations of the Hellenic Army

After a major reorganization which occurred in the last decade, which included the transformation of most Infantry formations into Mechanized Brigades and a parallel reduction of personnel, the Hellenic Army's higher command is the Hellenic Army General Staff.

There are four major military commands which supervise all army units,

Although divisions still exist, having the role of forward commands, the Army is mainly organized in brigades, that follow the typical NATO standards consisting of five battalions, three manoeuvre, one artillery, one support and some other company sized formations. According to the latest developments, up to 2015, all active divisions will dissolve, but all brigades will acquire one more manoeuvre battalion, largely eliminating the distinction between mechanized and armoured formations, thus creating a new type brigade, which will be named Strike Brigade.[6]

Personnel

Main article: Conscription in Greece
The sortie of Messolonghi during the Greek War of Independence. Oil painting by Theodoros Vryzakis.

There are three classes of personnel in the Hellenic Army, namely professional, volunteer and conscript. There are currently 90,000 personnel on active duty, of which 30,000 are conscirpted. As of 2012, the Hellenic Republic has mandatory military service (conscription) of 9 months for all males between the ages of 18 and 45. Citizens discharged from active service are normally placed in the Reserve and are subject to periodic recall of 1–10 days at irregular intervals. Greek males between the age of 18 and 60 who live in strategically sensitive areas may also be required to serve part-time in the National Guard. During a mobilization the amount of conscripts may exceed 180,000.[7]

Conscript enlisted men and non-commissioned officers wear special rank insignia to differentiate them from volunteers.

Most professional officers graduate from the Evelpidon Military Academy in Athens (Στρατιωτική Σχολή Ευελπίδων) and the Corps Officers Military Academy in Thessaloniki (Στρατιωτική Σχολή Αξιωματικών Σωμάτων), while the rest graduate from various Military Schools according to their specialization.

In the chain of command, graduates of the two Military Academies in Athens and Thessaloniki are considered higher in seniority compared to professional officers of the same rank who graduate from specialized Military Schools. The latter officers are followed in seniority by volunteer and finally conscript staff.

During war, the Hellenic army battalions are commanded by either a ranking officer major general or if in a combat mission by another state which in agreement with the Greek state will be commanded by a ranking General of their own.

Equipment

Main article: List of equipment of the Hellenic Army
Main article: List of historical equipment of the Hellenic Army

The heavy equipment and weaponry of the Hellenic Army is mostly of foreign manufacture, from German, French, American, British and Russian suppliers. A notable exception is the indigenous Leonidas armoured personnel carrier which was built by the Hellenic Vehicles Manufacturer Industry ELBO.

Equipment runs the gamut from state-of-the art to obsolescent Cold War inventories; the latter are gradually being retired.

Uniforms and ranks

Main articles: Hellenic Army officer rank insignia, Hellenic Army Other Ranks rank insignia, and Greek Army uniforms
Uniforms of the Greek Army in the first period of King Otto's reign (1832–1862).

The structure of Hellenic Army ranks has its roots in British military traditions and follows NATO standard rank scale. The rank of Stratarchis (Στρατάρχης, equivalent to Field Marshal or General of the Army) though, has been historically used, but is no longer extant. It was first awarded to King Constantine I for his leadership in the Balkan Wars. The rank was subsequently assumed by his successors upon accession, until the abolition of the monarchy. The only regular officer to have been awarded the rank was General Alexander Papagos on 28 October 1949.

Gallery

  • Alexander Ypsilantis crosses the Pruth, during the Greek War of Independence. Painting by Peter von Hess.
    Alexander Ypsilantis crosses the Pruth, during the Greek War of Independence. Painting by Peter von Hess.
  • General and later PM of Greece Nikolaos Plastiras (1883–1953).
    General and later PM of Greece Nikolaos Plastiras (1883–1953).
  • Units on the World War I Victory parade in Paris (1919).
    Units on the World War I Victory parade in Paris (1919).
  • Loading the M40 recoilless rifle, Greek infantry.
    Loading the M40 recoilless rifle, Greek infantry.
  • Greek Army Aviation CH-47SD Chinook transport helicopter.
    Greek Army Aviation CH-47SD Chinook transport helicopter.
  • M113 armoured personnel carrier.
    M113 armoured personnel carrier.
  • Panhard VBL.
    Panhard VBL.
  • M901 ITV (Improved Tow Vehicle).
    M901 ITV (Improved Tow Vehicle).
  • Humvee (HMMWV).
    Humvee (HMMWV).
  • Leopard 2A6 HEL.
    Leopard 2A6 HEL.

References

Inline citations

  1. ^ Ελληνική Άμυνα και Τεχνολογία, Ετήσια Ανασκόπηση, Ισορροπία Δυνάμεων 2011–2012, Εκδόσεις Δυρός
  2. ^ Ελληνική Άμυνα και Τεχνολογία, Ετήσια Ανασκόπηση, Ισορροπία Δυνάμεων 2011–2012, Εκδόσεις Δυρός
  3. ^ Official Greek Defence Staff PR (18MB).
  4. ^ Υπουργείο Εθνικής 'Αμυνας (2004) – Ένοπλες Δυνάμεις.
  5. ^ Γενικο Επιτελειο Σρατου (2009–2010): Ιστορία του Ελληνικού Στρατού
  6. ^ Ιωάννη Α. Ραγιέ. "ΣΤΡΑΤΗΓΙΚΟ ΔΟΓΜΑ – Προς ένα ρεαλιστικό αποτρεπτικό δόγμα". ΣΤΡΑΤΗΓΙΚΗ: ΕΘΝΙΚΗ ΑΣΦΑΛΕΙΑ, Ιούλιος 2008, pp. 118–121.
  7. ^ http://www.armedforces.co.uk/Europeandefence/edcountries/countrygreece.htm#Greek Army

Other sources

  • Michalopoulos, Dimitris. "The Evolution of the Greek Army (1828–68)". War and Society in East Central Europe, Vol. XIV, Brooklyn College Press, 1984, pp. 317–330, ISBN 0880330430.
  • Template:El icon Η ιστορία της οργάνωσης του Ελληνικού Στρατού, 1821–1954. Hellenic Army Historical Directorate. 2005. ISBN 960-7897-45-5. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)

External links

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