2nd Mechanized Infantry Division (Greece): Difference between revisions

{{refmore improvecitations needed|date=February 2013}}

{{Infobox Militarymilitary Unitunit

| unit_name = II2nd Mechanized Infantry Division<br> II"ELASSON"
| native_name = 2η Μηχανοκίνητη Μεραρχία Πεζικού "ΕΛΑΣΣΩΝ"

| image =[[Image: 2nd_Mechanized_Division_Emblem_Greece.jpg|300px]]

| caption = Emblem of the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Division

| dates = 1897–1941, <br>1945–today

| country = [[{{flag|Greece]]}}

| type = [[Mechanized infantry]]

| command_structure = [[First Army (Greece)|First Army]]

| garrison = [[Edessa, Greece|Edessa]], [[Macedonia (Greece)|Macedonia]]

| patron =

| motto = "'''Even if only one stays alive."'''<br />ΕΣΤ' (ΕστΑΝ ΚΑΙ ΕΙΣ ΠΕΡΙΗ<br>''Est' ανan καιke ειςis περιη)perii''

The '''2nd Mechanized Infantry Division''' is a [[divisionmechanized infantry (military)|division]] of the [[Hellenic Army]].

The 2nd Infantry Division was established in the aftermath of the disastrous [[Greco-Turkish War of 1897]] by Royal Decree on 24 October 1897.{{Greece Old Style dating}} Based at [[Athens]], it comprised the [[3rd Infantry Brigade (Greece)|3rd Infantry Brigade]] at with [[1st Infantry Regiment (Greece)|1st]] and [[7th Infantry Regiment (Greece)|7th]] Infantry Regiments, and the [[4th Infantry Brigade (Greece)|4th Infantry Brigade]] with [[8th Infantry Regiment (Greece)|8th]] and [[9th Infantry Regiment (Greece)|9th]] Infantry Regiments.<ref>{{cite book | script-title=el:Η ιστορία της οργάνωσης του Ελληνικού Στρατού, 1821–1954 | trans_titletrans-title=The history of the organization of the Hellenic Army, 1821–1954 | publisher=Hellenic Army Historical Directorate | year = 2005 | isbn = 960-7897-45-5 | language = Greek | pages = 219–220}}</ref> The two existing divisions were then abolished on 1 August 1900 as part of a general restructuring, and three new divisions were ordered established a month later. 2nd Division, still at Athens, now comprised 3rd Brigade (Athens) with the 1st and 7th Regiments, and 4th Brigade ([[Chalkis]]) with the [[2nd Infantry Regiment (Greece)|2nd]] and [[5th Infantry Regiment (Greece)|5th]] Infantry Regiments, as well as the [[2nd Cavalry Regiment (Greece)|2nd Cavalry Regiment]], the [[2nd Artillery Regiment (Greece)|2nd Artillery Regiment]], and the [[2nd Evzone Battalion]].<ref>{{cite book | script-title=el:Η ιστορία της οργάνωσης του Ελληνικού Στρατού, 1821–1954 | trans_titletrans-title=The history of the organization of the Hellenic Army, 1821–1954 | publisher=Hellenic Army Historical Directorate | year = 2005 | isbn = 960-7897-45-5 | language = Greek | pages = 220–222}}</ref>

On 9 September 1904, as part of another reorganization, the 4th Brigade was moved to [[Nafplio]] and now comprised the [[8th Infantry Regiment (Greece)|8th]] and [[11th Infantry Regiment (Greece)|11th]] Regiments, while the 3rd Brigade remained as it was. In addition, the division now comprised the [[1st Evzone Battalion|1st]] and 2nd Evzone Battalions, the [[2nd Cavalry Regiment (Greece)|2nd Cavalry Regiment]], [[2nd Field Artillery Regiment (Greece)|2nd Field Artillery Regiment]], 2nd Engineers Battalion, 2nd Train Company and 2nd Nursing Company, and the 2nd Military Music Command. Most of these support units were based at Athens.<ref>{{cite book | script-title=el:Η ιστορία της οργάνωσης του Ελληνικού Στρατού, 1821–1954 | trans_titletrans-title=The history of the organization of the Hellenic Army, 1821–1954 | publisher=Hellenic Army Historical Directorate | year = 2005 | isbn = 960-7897-45-5 | language = Greek | page = 229}}</ref>

In January 1912, the brigades were abolished and divisions organized as [[triangular division]]s.<ref>{{cite book | script-title=el:Η ιστορία της οργάνωσης του Ελληνικού Στρατού, 1821–1954 | trans_titletrans-title=The history of the organization of the Hellenic Army, 1821–1954 | publisher=Hellenic Army Historical Directorate | year = 2005 | isbn = 960-7897-45-5 | language = Greek | page = 239}}</ref> The Division remained at Athens, but now comprised 1st and 7th Regiments at Athens and the [[3rd Infantry Regiment (Greece)|3rd Infantry Regiment]] at Chalkis, plus supporting units.<ref>{{cite book | script-title=el:Η ιστορία της οργάνωσης του Ελληνικού Στρατού, 1821–1954 | trans_titletrans-title=The history of the organization of the Hellenic Army, 1821–1954 | publisher=Hellenic Army Historical Directorate | year = 2005 | isbn = 960-7897-45-5 | language = Greek | page = 241}}</ref>

In 1998, the division was directly subordinate to the II Army Corps. It comprised the 33rd and 34th Brigades, both mechanised. Both were equipped with M-113s and Leopard MBTs.<ref>'ARRC Assigned Forces,' NATO's Sixteen Nations, Special Issue 1998, p.6</ref> In 2014 the [[24th Armored Brigade (Greece)|24th Armored Brigade]] was transferred to the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Division, which in its current form with three brigades is the strategic reserve of the Hellenic Army.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.defence-point.gr/news/?p=74312|title = Μελλοντική Δομή Δυνάμεων: Επιτέλους συμμάζεμα, τα στοιχεία &#124; Defence-point.gr|date = 25 April 2013}}</ref>

| caption = <{{center>|Locations of 2nd Mechanized Infantry Division units</center>}}

| label =

** 2nd Signal CompanyBattalion (2ο TΔΒΤΔΒ)

** [[File:24th_Armoured_Brigade_Emblem_Greece.jpg|30px]] '''[[24th Armoured Brigade (Greece)|24th Armoured Brigade]]''', based at [[Litochoro]]