First Army (Greece)

The Greek First Army (Greek: 1η Στρατιά, Proti Stratia), is the highest formation of the Hellenic Army and its only extant field army.

Various English and German-language sources erroneously mention the existence of a First Army during the Greco-Italian War and the Battle of Greece (1940–41). The Greek Army did not employ an army-level command in this period. Leo Niehorster's website shows the higher organisation of the Greek Army on 15 August 1940, with the General Staff of the Army directly supervising five corps, three divisions, and the Thessaloniki Fortress.^[1]

The First Army was created in March 1947, during the Greek Civil War. It controlled the II and III Corps, with Volos as its headquarters. It was abolished on 10 February 1948, and re-established in 1951 with its HQ at Larissa, where it remains to this day. Its CO is always a Lieutenant General.

Structure

• First Army (1η Στρατιά), based at Larissa, Thessaly which includes
  • IV Army Corps (Δ' Σώμα Στρατού - Δ' ΣΣ), based at Xanthi, Thrace
  • I Infantry Division(I ΜΠ), based at Veroia, Macedonia
  • II Mechanised Infantry Division (II Μ/Κ ΜΠ), based at Edessa, Macedonia

Emblem and Motto

The emblem of the 1st Army is an Ancient Macedonian shield, emblazoned with the sun of Vergina. It symbolizes determination, strength and the will of the First Army.

The motto is "As long as (the sun) follows his course" (Greek: εστ' αν (ο ήλιος) την αυτήν οδόν ίη, est' an (o ilios) tin aftin odon ii). Before the Battle of Plataea, Mardonius offered the Athenians peace terms, with the hope of dividing the Greek forces. The Athenians responded with "As long as the sun follows his course, as he does now, we shall not come to a compromise with Xerxes".

Sources

1. ↑ http://niehorster.org/027_greece/40-08-15/_p-army.html

• Η ιστορία της οργάνωσης του Ελληνικού Στρατού, 1821–1954 [The history of the organization of the Hellenic Army, 1821–1954] (in Greek). Hellenic Army Historical Directorate. 2005. p. 419. ISBN 960-7897-45-5. 

Formations of the Hellenic Army Hellenic Army General Staff First Army 1st Infantry Division 1st Raider/Paratrooper Brigade 13th Special Operations Command 32nd Marines Brigade 71st Airmobile Brigade 1st Army Aviation Brigade 2nd Mechanized Infantry Division 24th Armoured Brigade 33rd Mechanized Infantry Brigade 34th Mechanized Infantry Brigade 20th Armoured Division 25th Armoured Brigade ΙΙI Army Corps/NDC-GR 1st Infantry Regiment 8th Motorized Infantry Brigade 9th Infantry Brigade 10th Infantry Regiment 15th Infantry Regiment IV Army Corps 12th Mechanized Infantry Division 7th Mechanized Infantry Brigade 31st Mechanized Infantry Brigade 23rd Armoured Brigade 16th Mechanized Infantry Division 3rd Mechanized Infantry Brigade 30th Mechanized Infantry Brigade 21st Armoured Brigade 29th Mechanized Infantry Brigade 50th Mechanized Infantry Brigade ASDEN 5th Airmobile Brigade 79th National Guard Higher Command 80th National Guard Higher Command 88th Military Command 95th National Guard Higher Command 96th National Guard Higher Command 98th National Guard Higher Command ASDYS Northern Greece Supply Centre Southern Greece Supply Centre Army Academy Military Geographical Service

Field armies of the Hellenic Army Army of Epirus (1897, 1912–13) Army of Thessaly (1897, 1912) Army of Asia Minor (1919–22) Army of Thrace (1920–22) Army of the Evros (1922–23) Western Macedonia Army Section (1940–41) Eastern Macedonia Army Section (1940–41) Epirus Army Section (1941) First Army (1947–48, 1952–present)