II Army Corps (Greece)

II Corps

Formation flag of the II Army Corps
Active 1913-1941, 1946-2013
Country  Greece
Branch Hellenic Army
Part of Army of Asia Minor, First Army
Garrison/HQ Veroia
Motto "Either With It or On It"
Engagements Macedonian front, Asia Minor Campaign, Greco-Italian War, Greek Civil War, Korean War

The IΙ Army Corps (Greek: Β' Σώμα Στρατού, abbr. Β' ΣΣ) was an army corps of the Hellenic Army. Established in 1913, it took part in all subsequent wars of Greece. Since 1998 the corps functioned as a strategic reserve force, and comprised the Army's special forces and army aviation units, as well as mechanized infantry. It was disbanded on 29 November 2013.

History

The II Army Corps was founded after the Balkan Wars, on 17 August 1913 (O.S.). Initially headquartered at Athens, it was transferred to Patras in December of the same year. During World War I it fought in the Macedonian front, and then participated in the Asia Minor Campaign.[1] Following the Greek defeat in August 1922, the Corps was reconstituted on 7 September 1922 (O.S.) in eastern Macedonia, as part of the Army of Evros.[1]

The Corps took part in the Greco-Italian War of 1940–41 from the beginning, and lasted until the Greek defeat and disbandment of the Greek Army after the German invasion of Greece in April 1941.[1] After liberation from the German occupation, II Army Corps was re-established in 1946 at Larissa and took part in the Greek Civil War.[1] After the end of the Civil War in 1949, the Corps was moved to Kozani, where it remained until July 1962, when it moved to Veroia, its final base. During this period, the Corps provided the bulk of the Greek Expeditionary Force in Korea.[1]

From 1 January 1998, the Corps ceased to be a territorial formation, and was transformed into a rapid reaction and strategic reserve force under the operational command of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff. On 1 July 2002, the Corps became a combined arms headquarters, and was renamed four months later into the Reaction, Reinforcement, Reserve Forces Headquarters (Στρατηγείο Δυνάμεων Αντίδρασης, Ενίσχυσης, Εφεδρείας [ΣΔΑΕΕ (Β’ΣΣ)]).[1] On 19 July 2005, it reverted to a purely Army command, and returned to its former name.[1] Following a wide-ranging defence review that decided upon a new force structure for the Greek armed forces, in April 2013 KYSEA decided the disbandment of II Army Corps, with its subordinate formations to come under the direct command of the First Army.[2] The Corps was dissolved on 29 November 2013.

Structure (2008)

II Corps Structure

Emblem and Motto

The Corps' emblem depicts an Ancient Spartan shield over crossed spears. It symbolizes strength, militancy and determination of the ancients.

The motto of the II Army Corps is "Either With It, or On It" (Greek: Ἢ τὰν ἢ ἐπὶ τᾶς, I tan i epi tas).

Spartan mothers would utter the phrase to their sons before they went to war, reminding them to return victorious with the shield, or be brought back dead upon it. Returning home without a shield meant the soldier deserted (A hoplite could not escape the field of battle unless he tossed away the heavy and cumbersome shield).

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Οδηγός νεοτοποθετημένων στελεχών έτους 2010 (PDF) (in Greek). II Army Corps, Personnel Directorate. March 2010. p. 3. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
  2. ↑ Μελλοντική Δομή Δυνάμεων: Επιτέλους συμμάζεμα, τα στοιχεία (in Greek). defencepoint.gr. 25 April 2013. Retrieved 7 December 2013.

Coordinates: 40°17′30″N 21°46′54.4″E / 40.29167°N 21.781778°E / 40.29167; 21.781778

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