| Serres Division Μεραρχία Σερρῶν | |
|---|---|
 Regimental war flag presentation to the Serres Division, December 1916, in the presence of the "Triumvirate" of the National Defence government (Prime MinisterEleftherios Venizelos, Lt. GeneralPanagiotis Danglis, AdmiralPavlos Kountouriotis). | |
| Active | September 1916 – November 1920 |
| Country |  Greece |
| Allegiance |  Provisional Government of National Defence(1916-17)Kingdom of Greece (1917-20) |
| Branch |  National Defence Army Corps (1916-17) Hellenic Army (1917-20) |
| Type | infantry |
| Size | Division |
| Garrison/HQ | Serres,Macedonia,Greece |
| Engagements | World War IOperations inWestern Thrace |
| Commanders | |
| Commander | Nikolaos Christodoulou Epameinondas Zymvrakakis |
TheSerres Division (Greek:Μεραρχία Σερρῶν,romanized: Merarchia Serrōn) was aninfantry division ofHellenic Army inWorld War I and the annexation ofWestern Thrace.
The division began being raised in September 1916[1] by theProvisional Government of National Defence, as part of its efforts toraise its own army for service alongside theAllies on theMacedonian front.[2] These efforts entailed the establishment of fourinfantry divisions to be recruited in the areas controlled by the government (Crete, theAegean islands, andMacedonia).[3]
The Serres Division (Μεραρχία Σερρῶν), under ColonelNikolaos Christodoulou, was the first division to be formed, as it could draw on the limited forces already available to the Provisional Government: the remnants of the disbandedIV Army Corps who had fled the Bulgarian advance and the Corps' capitulation toThasos.[4] These werec. 2,500 officers and men from the6th Infantry Division's17th and18th infantry regiments and the 6th Mountain Artillery Battalion;7th Infantry Division's2/21 Cretan Regiment, and IV Corps'7th Field Artillery Regiment. The division's manpower was completed by volunteers, both from within Greece and from Greek communities abroad (Constantinople,Asia Minor,Thrace, and theDodecanese), as well as recruits mobilized—sometimes by force—by the Provisional Government.[5]
The 1st Serres Regiment (1ο Σύνταγμα Σερρῶν) under MajorGeorgios Mavroudis was formed from the 17th and 2/21 Regiment, as well as the depot of the9th Infantry Division. On 24–28 November, it assembled under French command atBoymitsa. On 1 December, two of its battalions assumed a front sector atMaya Dag.[6] The 2nd Serres Regiment (2ο Σύνταγμα Σερρῶν) under MajorCharalambos Tseroulis formed two of its battalions from the 18th Regiment's men, as well as taking over the "National Defence Battalion" (Τάγμα Ἐθνικῆς Ἀμύνης) that had already been deployed on the front in theStrymon River sector. The rest of the regiment also went to the same sector, under British command. However, after an attack by its 1st Battalion in theKesislik area resulted heavy casualties (13 dead, 104 wounded), the entire regiment was withdrawn from the front and sent to the Maya Dag area; numerous desertions occurred at that time.[7] The 3rd Serres Regiment (3ο Σύνταγμα Σερρῶν) was formed by one battalion from the 2/21 Regiment, one battalion of Cretan volunteers, and one battalion of volunteers fromSamos and Asia Minor. Its formation was delayed, and it was not until the end of the year that the entire division assembled to the south of Boymitsa.[7]
 Divisions of theHellenic Army | |
|---|---|
| Infantry | |
| Other | |