Greek Macedonia Army, 2nd Balkan War, June

Greek Macedonia Army, 2nd Balkan War, June - November 1913
v.1.0 June 23, 2002

Alexis Mehtidis

Greek Military History Service, ' The Balkan Wars, 1912 - 1913 ', Volume C'

Additions and corrections welcome at : alexmehtidis@hotmail.com

Brief Historical Note: The 2nd Balkan War was the continuation of the 1st Balkan War. There were many incidents between Greek and Bulgarian forces (the first one on 20/11/1912), the Greeks signed a Friendship Treaty and an Army Pact with Serbia on 19/5/1913 and the Bulgarians attacked Greek forces on 16/6/1913. Hostilities against the Bulgarians commenced, for the Greeks, on 17/6/1913. On 18/7/1913 a five-day armistice is signed, it is renewed for three days on 22/7/1913 and then indefinitely on 25/7/1913. Between 6 - 16/8/1913 the Peace Treaty is signed in Bucharest, Romania and the 2nd Balkan War was over.

Composition of the Macedonia Army
at the beginning of hostilities ( June 17th, 1913 )

General Headquarters

I Division

Note: Its 2nd and 4th Infantry Regiments came to the Macedonia front from the Epirus front between 3 - 11/3\1913.

II Division

Note: It came from the Epirus front to the Macedonia front between 4 - 9/4/1913

III Division

Note: It came from western Macedonia to the Macedonia front on 24/4/1913.

IV Division

Note: It came from the Epirus front to the Macedonia front on 24/3/1913.

V Division

Note: Already in Macedonia by 1/3/1913.

VI Division

Note: It came from the Epirus front to the Macedonia front on 15/3/1913.

VII Division

Note: Already in Macedonia by March 1913.

X Division

Note: It came from the Epirus front to the Macedonia front on 30/3/1913.

Cavalry Brigade

Note: Created on 24/3/1913.

Thessaloniki Fortress Command

Bridgelayers Battalion
Wireless Company

Artillery Park / renamed Ammunition Column before hostilities started

Occupation Army of Macedonia

L.O.C. Service of Macedonia

Medical Service of the L.O.C.

Notes::
1. The VIIIth Division came to the Macedonian front from the Epirus front in the beginning of July 1913.
2. During November 1912 the Macedonia Army consisted of the I - minus 2nd and 4th Infantry Regiments -, V and VII Divisions.

Composition of the Macedonia Army formations, services and commands

I Division

2nd Infantry Regiment
4th Infantry Regiment
5th Infantry Regiment

1st Field Artillery Regiment
I Mountain Artillery Squadron

I Cavalry Half-squadron

I Engineer Company
Telegraphists Platoon

Ammunition Squadron
Medical Squadron
Supply Column

Notes:
1. Units as of June 17th, 1913.
2. The Ist Division was already in Macedonia by March 1st, 1913

II Division

1st Infantry Regiment
3rd Infantry Regiment
7th Infantry Regiment

2nd Field Artillery Regiment

II Cavalry Half-squadron

II Engineer Company
Telegraphists Platoon

Ammunition Squadron
Medical Squadron
Supply Column

Notes:
1. Units as of June 17th, 1913.
2. The IInd Division moved to Macedonia from the Epirus front between 4 - 9/4/1913

III Division

6th Infantry Regiment
10th Infantry Regiment
12th Infantry Regiment

3rd Field Artillery Regiment

III Cavalry Half-squadron

III Engineer Company
Telegraphists Platoon

Ammunition Squadron
Medical Squadron
Supply Column

Notes:
1. Units as of June 17th, 1913.
2.The IIIrd Division moved from western Macedonia to the Macedonia front on 24/4/1913.

IV Division

8th Infantry Regiment
9th Infantry Regiment
11th Infantry Regiment

4th Field Artillery Regiment

IV Cavalry Half-squadron

IV Engineer Company
Telegraphists Platoon

Ammunition Squadron
Medical Squadron
Supply Column

Notes:
1. Units as of June 17th, 1913.
2. On 24/3/1913 it arrives at the Macedonian front from Epirus.

V Division

16th Infantry Regiment
22nd Infantry Regiment
23rd Infantry Regiment

A' Field Artillery Squadron

V Cavalry Half-squadron

V Engineer Company
Telegraphists Platoon

V Ammunition Unit
Medical Squadron
Supply Column

Notes:
1. Units as of June 17th, 1913.
2. In Macedonia already by 1/3/1913

VI Division

17th Infantry Regiment
18th Infantry Regiment
1st Evzones Regiment ( 8th and 9th Evzones Battalions, 3rd Cretans Battalion )

B' Field Artillery Squadron

VI Cavalry Half-squadron

VI Engineer Company
Telegraphists Platoon

Ammunition Squadron
Medical Squadron
Supply Column

Notes:
1. Units as of June 17th, 1913.
2. Moved to Thessaloniki from Epirus between 7-10/3/1913.

VII Division

19th Infantry Regiment
20th Infantry Regiment
21st Infantry Regiment

1st Field Artillery Squadron
2nd Field Artillery Squadron
IIIrd Mountain Artillery Squadron

VII Cavalry Half-squadron

VII Engineer Company
Telegraphists Platoon

Ammunition Squadron
Medical Squadron
Supply Column

Notes:
1. Units as of June 17th, 1913.
2. Already in Thessaloniki by March 1913

VIII Division

2nd Evzones Regiment ( 7th and 10th Evzones Battalions )
15th Infantry Regiment
Independent Cretans Regiment ( 14th Infantry Regiment )

Krupp Field Artillery Squadron

VIII Half-squadron

VIII Engineer Company
Telegraphists Platoon

Ammunition Squadron
Medical Squadron
Supply Column
Animals Pack

Notes:
1.The VIIIth Division arrived in Thessaloniki in the beginning of July 1913 from Epirus.

X Division

3rd Evzones Regiment ( 3rd Evzones Battalion, 3rd Independent Evzones Battalion, one Infantry Battalion )
4th Evzones Regiment ( 1st and 4th Evzones Battalion )
5th Evzones Regiment ( 2nd and 6th Evzones Battlion, one Infantry Battalion )

Field Artillery Squadron
IInd Mountain Artillery squadron

X Cavalry Half-squadron

X Engineer Company
Telegraphists Platoon

Ammunition Squadron
Medical Squadron
Supply Column

Notes:
1. Units as of June 17th, 1913.
2. Formed in March 1913 in western Macedonia ( Florina area ).

Cavalry Brigade

1st Cavalry Regiment ( two Squadrons )
2nd Cavalry Regiment ( two Squadrons )

Notes:
1. Units as of June 17th, 1913.
2. Formed in 25/4/1913.

Note: The Animals Pack ( only in the VIIIth Division, according to the source-book ) was a unit transporting and slaughtering animals to feed the troops. It was, most probably, part of the composition of the other Divisions, too.

Thessaloniki Fortress Command

June 17th, 1913

27th Infantry Regiment

28th Infantry Regiment

29th Infantry Regiment ( Marines Landing Regiment )

Fortress Artillery Battalion ( 1st Fortress Artillery Battalion )

25th Evzones Occupation Company

Nine Machinegun Platoons

June 1st, 1913 ( When it was formed )

1st Fortress Artillery Battalion

Two Marines Battalions

One Cavalrymen on Foot Battalion ( Also mentioned as Half-squadron on Foot of the 2nd Cavalry Regiment )

One Evzones Occupation Company

Occupation Army of Macedonia

Two Occupation Battalions

Thirty three Occupation Companies

Note: Units as of at the beginning of hostilities ( June 17th, 1913 )

L.O.C. Service of Macedonia

Engineer Service

Veterinary Service

L.O.C. Battalion

Railway Service

Thessaloniki Station
Volos Station
Gefyra ( Topsin ) Station
Kastania Station
Nea Kerdylia Station
Florina Station
Amyntaio Station
Kozani Station
Servia Station
Elasson Station
Veroia station
Larisa Station
Korytsa Station ( Korytsa is Korce in Albania )
Monastirion Station ( Monastirion is Monastir in F.Y.R.O.M )
Skala Stavrou Station
Langadas Station
Asvestohorion Station

Artillery Park
1st Field Artillery Transported Squadron
2nd Field Artillery Transported Squadron ( It is mentioned as 2nd Mountain Artillery Transported Squadron,too )

Belie Squadron

Note: Belie could be Belieaux or the equivalent in French

Medical Service of the L.O.C.

Lamia Hospital
Larisa Hospital
Kozani Hospital
Veroia Hospital
Edessa Hospital
Korytsa Hospital ( Korytsa is Korce in Albania )
Karditsa Hospital
Florina Hospital

Kastoria Sanatorium
Volos Sanatorium
Trikala Sanatorium
Tirnavos Sanatorium
Servia Sanatorium
Goumenissa Sanatorium

A' Thessaloniki Hospital
B' Thessaloniki Hospital
C' Thessaloniki Hospital

D' Evacuation Hospital
Note: It could be D' Thessaloniki Evacuation Hospital.

Villa Alatini Temporary Hospital
Nea Kerdylia Temporary Hospital
Langadikia Temporary Hospital

Medical Service Depot

Garrison's Chemist's
Note: By Garrison's, Thessaloniki's Garrison is, probably, denoted.

II Stretcher-bearers Squadron
III Stretcher-bearers Squadron

City Medical Service
Note: By City, Thessaloniki is, probably, denoted.

B11 Operating Theatre

Note: Units as of June 17th, 1913.

Artillery Units in the Campaign

1st Field Artillery Regiment ( to I Division )

- I & II Squadrons

2nd Field Artillery Regiment ( to II Division )

- I, II and III Squadrons

3rd Field Artillery Squadron ( to III Division )

- I & II Squadrons

4th Field Artillery Regiment ( to IV Division )

- I & II Squadrons

A' Field Artillery Squadron ( to V Division )
1st Field Artillery Squadron ( to VII Division )
2nd Field Artillery Squadron ( to VII Division )
Krupp Field Artillery Squadron ( to VIII Squadron )
I Mountain Artillery Squadron
II Mountain Artillery Squadron
III Mountain Artillery Squadron

Some notes on the history and composition of units created just before the Campaign

1st Fortress Artillery Battalion

It was the IInd Siege Artillery Squadron, equipped with heavy 105mm and 150mm weapons. It moved from the Epirus front to the Macedonia front in April 1913. It was reinforced with weapons from war booty, the Larissa Fortress, the coastal defences and the Ministry of the Navy and renamed 1st Fortress Artillery Battalion. In the beginning it was composed of two batteries, then more and by June 15th, 1913 it had a total of fifty four weapons.

27th Infantry Regiment

Formed in 17/6/1913 by the Thessaloniki Fortress Command, consisting of the Ist and IInd Independent Infantry Battalions (which had been formed by the Ist Division).
It became part of the XIth Division in 24/8/1913.

28th Infantry Regiment

Formed in 19/6/1913 by the Thessaloniki Fortress Command, consisting of two independent Infantry Battalions (which had been formed by the IIIrd Division) and one Cavalry Squadron on Foot (which had been organised by the 2nd Cavalry Regiment).
According to other chapters of the same source it was formed by: one Battalion and a Two-company of the IIIrd Division, one Cavalrymen on Foot Battalion and a Two-company that came from Samos.
It became part of the XIth Division in 24/8/1913.

29th Infantry Regiment / Marines Landing Regiment

Formed in 17/6/1913 by the Thessaloniki Fortress Command from three Marines Battalions.
Note: By Marines, sailors are meant, as this unit was also called Sailors Landing Regiment and there was no Marine Corps as such. All Marine or Landing Detachments were formed from sailors for a specific operation.