| 3rd Infantry Division III Μεραρχία Πεζικού (III ΜΠ) | |
|---|---|
| Country | .svg) Kingdom of Greece |
| Branch |  Hellenic Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | Division |
| Engagements | Balkan WarsGreek Civil War |
The3rd Infantry Division (Greek:III Μεραρχία Πεζικού, III ΜΠ;III Merarchia Pezikou,III MP) was aninfantrydivision of theHellenic Army.
The 3rd Infantry Division was established by Royal Decree on 8 September 1900[1] atMissolonghi, comprising the5th Infantry Brigade at Missolonghi with6th and10th Infantry Regiments, and the6th Infantry Brigade atNafplio with8th and9th Infantry Regiments, plus the3rd Cavalry Regiment, the3rd Artillery Regiment, and the3rd Evzone Battalion.[2] In December 1901, the seats of the brigades changed, with 5th Brigade moving toCorfu and 6th Brigade toKalamata.[2] On 9 September 1904, as part of a major army reorganization, the 3rd Division's component units were fixed as: 5th Brigade at Missolonghi, comprising 6th Regiment (Missolonghi) and 10th Regiment (Corfu); 6th Brigade atPatras, comprising 9th Regiment (Kalamata) and12th Regiment (Patras); and the 3rd and7th Evzone Battalions (Arta), 3rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Engineers Battalion, 3rd Train Company and 3rd Nursing Company, and the 3rd Military Music Command.[3]
In January 1912, the brigades were abolished and divisions organized astriangular divisions.[4] The 3rd Division remained at Missolonghi, but now comprised 6th Regiment (Missolonghi), 10th Regiment (Corfu), and 12th Regiment (Patras), plus supporting units.[5]
At the outbreak of theFirst Balkan War in October 1912, the division was commanded by Major GeneralKonstantinos Damianos. Consisting of three infantry regiments (6th, 10th and 12th), two squadrons of field artillery (1/3rd and 2/3rd), and one mountain artillery squadron (3rd), it was attached to theArmy of Thessaly, commanded by Crown Prince Constantine.
During theBattle of Sarantaporo on 9 October 1912, the 3rd Infantry Division, along with the1st and2nd, executed a frontal attack on Ottoman forces, across open ground. The Greek divisions suffered heavy casualties due to enemy artillery in the advance, but by night had reached the Turkish lines. Ottoman forces retreated when the4th Infantry Division attacked the western flank of the Turkish Army and captured the Porta Pass.[6]
From 25 April 1918, the division fought inWorld War I on theMacedonian front, and remained active in the area aroundLake Prespa until August 1920, when it was transferred to theAsia Minor Campaign.
In November 1920, the 3rd Infantry Division was part of the Army of Asia Minor during theGreco-Turkish War, assigned to theIII Army Corps. Consisting of two infantry regiments (6th and 12th) and onelight infantry regiment (2/39 Evzone), the division fought in theBattle of Sakarya and theBattle of Dumlupınar.
The 3rd Division was based at Patras as part of I Army Corps. By 14 October 1940 it was in the reserve of the Greek Army's three-corps defence against Italy during theGreco-Italian War.[7][8]
 Divisions of theHellenic Army | |
|---|---|
| Infantry | |
| Other | |