IV Army Corps (Greece)

IV Army Corps
File:IV Army Corps Greece.jpg Emblem of the IV Army Corps
Active	1913-1941, 1976-present
Country	Greece
Garrison/HQ	Xanthi
Motto(s)	Τῷ ξίφει τὸν δεσμόν λελύσθαι - Solve the knot with the sword.

The IV Army Corps (Greek: Δ' Σώμα Στρατού, abbr. Δ' ΣΣ) is an army corps of the Hellenic Army. Established before the First World War, it served in all conflicts Greece participated in until the German invasion of Greece in 1941. Re-established in 1976, it has been guarding the Greco-Turkish land border along the Evros River, and thus the most powerful formation in the Hellenic Army.

History

The IV Army Corps was established by Royal Decree on 23 December 1913 (O.S.) at Kavala, East Macedonia, during the reorganization of the Hellenic Army following the Balkan Wars. When East Macedonia was occupied by German and Bulgarian forces during World War I, the entire Corps was carried by rail to Görlitz, Germany, as "guests" of the German Government, where they remained for almost three years.

During the Greco-Turkish War it was renamed the Thracian Army and was stationed in Adrianople. In 1922, after the defeat of the Hellenic forces in Asia Minor, it covered the withdrawal of many units to Thrace.

In November, 1940 during the Greco-Italian War it was renamed again as East Macedonia Army Group (ΤΣΑΜ) joining the 1st Army which was fighting in Albania. In April 1941 it surrendered to German forces.

In 1976 the Corps was reformed in Xanthi and currently is the most powerful formation of the Hellenic Army.

Structure

IV Corps Structure

• • File:IV Army Corps Greece.jpg IV Army Corps (), headquartered at Xanthi, Thrace consisting of
    • 1st Artillery Regiment-MLRS (1o ΣΠΒ), based at Drama, Macedonia
      • HQ Company (ΛΔ/1ο ΣΠΒ)
      • 193rd Multiple Rocket Launcher Battalion (193 ΜΠΕΠ)
      • 194th Multiple Rocket Launcher Battalion (194 ΜΠΕΠ)
      • Observation Battery (ΠΠΑΠ)
    • 1st Communications, EW, Surveillance Regiment (1ο ΣΕΗΠΠΕΠ), based at Xanthi, Thrace
    • Corps Field and Air Defense Artillery Command and units (ΔΠΒ/Δ' ΣΣ)
    • Corps Engineer Command and units (ΔΜΧ/Δ' ΣΣ)
    • Corps HQ Battalion
    • 12th Mechanized Infantry Division (Greece) (XII Μ/Κ ΜΠ), based at Alexandroupoli, Thrace organised in
      • 7th Mechanized Infantry Brigade "Sarantaporos" (7η M/K ΤΑΞ Σαραντάπορος), based at Lykofytos, Thrace
      • 31st Mechanized Infantry Brigade "Kamia" (31η M/K ΤΑΞ Κάμια), based at Feres, Thrace
      • Tactical Command/41st Infantry Regiment (ΤΔ/41ο ΣΠ), based at Samothraki, North Aegean
      • 3rd Armored Cavalry Battalion (Γ' ΕΑΝ)
      • Division Artillery Command and units (ΔΠΒ/ΧΙΙ Μ/Κ ΜΠ)
      • 12th Signal Battalion (12ο TΔΒ)
      • Division HQ Company (ΛΣ/ΧΙΙ Μ/Κ ΜΠ)
    • 16th Mechanized Infantry Division (XVI Μ/Κ ΜΠ), based at Didymoteicho, Thrace organised in
      • 3rd Mechanized Infantry Brigade "Rimini" (3η M/K ΤΑΞ Ρίμινι), based at Kavyli, Thrace
      • 30th Mechanized Infantry Brigade "Tomoritsa" (30ή M/K ΤΑΞ Τομορίτσα), based at Lagos, Thrace
      • Tactical Command/21st Infantry Regiment "Drama" (ΤΔ/21ο ΣΠ Δράμα), based at Orestiada, Thrace
      • 4th Armored Cavalry Battalion (Δ' ΕΑΝ)
      • Division Artillery Command and units (ΔΠΒ/ΧVΙ Μ/Κ ΜΠ)
      • 16th Signal battalion (16ο TΔΒ)
      • Division HQ Company (ΛΣ/ΧVΙ Μ/Κ ΜΠ)
    • 20th Armored Division (XX ΤΘΜ), based at Kavala, Macedonia organised in
      • 21st Armored Brigade "Cavalry Brigade Pindus" (XXI ΤΘΤ Ταξιαρχία Ιππικού Πίνδος), based at Komotini, Thrace
      • 23rd Armored Brigade "3rd Cavalry Regiment Dorylaeum" (XXIII ΤΘΤ 3ο Σύνταγμα Ιππικού Δορύλαιον), based at Alexandroupoli, Thrace
      • 25th Armored Brigade "2nd Cavalry Regiment Ephesus" (XXV ΤΘΤ 2ο Σύνταγμα Ιππικού Έφεσος), based at Xanthi, Thrace
      • Division Artillery Command and units (ΔΠΒ/ΧΧ ΤΘΜ)
      • 20th Signal Battalion (20ό TΔΒ)
      • Division HQ Company (ΙΣ/ΧΧ ΤΘΜ)
    • 50th Independent Mechanized Infantry Brigade "Apsos" (50ή M/K TAΞ Άψος), based at Soufli, Thrace
    • 29th Internal Security Brigade "Pogradets" (29η ΤΑΞEAΣ Πόγραδετς), based at Komotini, Thrace