The 29th Mechanized Infantry Brigade "Pogradec" ( el, 29η Μηχανοκίνητη Ταξιαρχία Πεζικού «ΠΟΓΡΑΔΕΤΣ», 29η Μ/Κ ΤΑΞ ΠΖ) is a
mechanized infantry brigade of the
Hellenic Army. It is headquartered in
Komotini as part of
IV Army Corps.
History
The brigade traces its history to the 29th Infantry Regiment ( el, 29ο Σύνταγμα Πεζικού, 29ο ΣΠ), which was founded in August 1913 in
Edessa
Edessa (; grc, Ἔδεσσα, Édessa) was an ancient city (''polis'') in Upper Mesopotamia, founded during the Hellenistic period by King Seleucus I Nicator (), founder of the Seleucid Empire. It later became capital of the Kingdom of Osroene ...
.
The regiment distinguished itself in the
Asia Minor Campaign and the
Greco-Italian War, where it participated in the battles of
Kleisoura Kleisoura ( el, Κλεισούρα, "enclosure" or "pass") may refer to:
*Kleisoura (Byzantine district), a Byzantine military frontier province
*Kleisoura, Kastoria, a village and a municipality in Kastoria regional unit, Greece
** Battle of Kleis ...
and
Pogradec. Following the
German invasion of Greece and the capitulation of the Greek Army, the regiment was disbanded on 14 April 1941.
The 29th Infantry Regiment was re-established on 15 May 1960 at Komotini, where it has remained since. On 15 September 2000 it received the honorific title "Pogradec". From 1 January 2003, it began to be expanded to the level of a brigade, and received the new title 29th Control and Security Brigade (29 Ταξιαρχία Ελέγχου Ασφαλείας, 29 ΤΑΞΕΑ) on 25 March of the same year. On 25 August 2005, it was converted to a regular infantry brigade under its current title.
In 2005–09, the brigade's zone of responsibility extended into the
prefectures of
Drama and
Kavala, but in December 2009 it was withdrawn east to the western boundary of the
Xanthi Prefecture.
In the 2013 Army reorganization, the 29th Mechanized Infantry Brigade was reinforced with the addition of the 1st Reconnaissance Squadron (Α' ΕΑΝ), transferred from
Amyntaio
Amyntaio ( el, Αμύνταιο, before 1928: Σόροβιτς - ''Sorovits''; Bulgarian/ Macedonian: Суровичево, Сорович), is a town and municipality in the Florina regional unit of Macedonia, Greece. The population of Amyntaio p ...
after the disbandment of
II Army Corps.
Emblem
The brigade's emblem features a red triangular shield upon which is depicted a map of
Western Thrace
Western Thrace or West Thrace ( el, υτικήΘράκη, '' ytikíThráki'' ; tr, Batı Trakya; bg, Западна/Беломорска Тракия, ''Zapadna/Belomorska Trakiya''), also known as Greek Thrace, is a Geography, geograp ...
with a soldier standing on guard before it. This is edged in white, with an inscription above with the unit's motto, Ιστάμεθα άγρυπνοι ''Istametha agripni'' ("We stand sleepless").
Structure
* Brigade Headquarters Company (ΛΧΣ 29ης Μ/Κ ΤΑΞ ΠΖ)
* 29th Signals Company (29ος ΛΔΒ)
* 29th Medical Company (29ος ΛΥΓ)
* 1st Reconnaissance Squadron (1η ΕΑΝ)
* 511th Mechanized Infantry Battalion (511ο M/Κ ΤΠ)
* 557th Mechanized Infantry Battalion - Recruit Training Centre (557ο M/ΤΠ - KEN)
References
{{Use dmy dates, date=June 2017
Mechanized infantry brigades of Greece
Komotini
2003 establishments in Greece