The 34th Mechanized Infantry Brigade ( el, 34η Μηχανοποιημένη Ταξιαρχία Πεζικού,34η Μηχανοκίνητη Ταξιαρχία ""Απόσπασμα Σχου Διαλέτη" 34η M/K ΤΑΞ) is a

mechanized infantry Mechanized infantry are infantry units equipped with armored personnel carriers (APCs) or infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) for transport and combat (see also mechanized force). As defined by the United States Army, mechanized infantry is di ...

brigade A brigade is a major tactical military formation that typically comprises three to six battalions plus supporting elements. It is roughly equivalent to an enlarged or reinforced regiment. Two or more brigades may constitute a division. Br ...

of the

Hellenic Army The Hellenic Army ( el, Ελληνικός Στρατός, Ellinikós Stratós, sometimes abbreviated as ΕΣ), formed in 1828, is the land force of Greece. The term ''Hellenic'' is the endogenous synonym for ''Greek''. The Hellenic Army is the ...

. It is headquartered in

Assiros Assiros ( gr, Άσσηρος, before 1926: Γιουβέσνα - ''Giouvesna'', bg, Гвоздово, Gvozdovo) is a village and a former municipality in the Thessaloniki regional unit, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of ...

and subordinated to the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Division.

History

The brigade traces its history to the 34th infantry Regiment ( el, 34ο Σύνταγμα Πεζικού, 34ο ΣΠ), which was founded in December 1913 in

Florina Florina ( el, Φλώρινα, ''Flórina''; known also by some alternative names) is a town and municipality in the mountainous northwestern Macedonia, Greece. Its motto is, 'Where Greece begins'. The town of Florina is the capital of the F ...

as a subunit of the 2nd Infantry Division. The regiment distinguished itself in the

Asia Minor Campaign Asia (, ) is one of the world's most notable geographical regions, which is either considered a continent in its own right or a Continent#Subcontinents, subcontinent of Eurasia, which shares the continental landmass of Afro-Eurasia with Afr ...

and the

Greco-Italian War The Greco-Italian War (Greek language, Greek: Ελληνοϊταλικός Πόλεμος, ''Ellinoïtalikós Pólemos''), also called the Italo-Greek War, Italian Campaign in Greece, and the War of '40 in Greece, took place between the kingdom ...

, becoming one of a handful of units to receive twice the highest Greek award for valour, the Commander's Cross of the Cross of Valour. From June 1999 to January 2003, the brigade formed the bulk of the Greek element of

KFOR KFOR may refer to: * KFOR (AM), a radio station (1240 AM) licensed to Lincoln, Nebraska, United States * KFOR-TV, a television station (channel 4 analog/27 digital) licensed to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States * KFOR-TV (Nebraska), a defunct ...

. In June 2003, the brigade moved its base to

Giannitsa Giannitsa ( el, Γιαννιτσά , in English also Yannitsa, Yenitsa) is the largest city in the regional unit of Pella and the capital of the Pella municipality, in the region of Central Macedonia in northern Greece. The municipal unit Gian ...

. In 2008, it received the honorary title "Colonel Dialetis Detachment" ("Απόσπασμα Σχου Διαλέτη") to commemorate the bravery of the 34th Regiment under Colonel

Dimosthenis Dialetis Dimosthenis Dialetis ( el, Δημοσθένης Διαλέτης; 1869–1954) was a Greek soldier who rose to the rank of lieutenant general. Born in Dervista, Aetolia-Acarnania, Dimosthenis Dialetis enlisted in the Hellenic Army on 23 September ...

in the aftermath of the second Battle of Dumlupınar in 26–29 March 1921. During the battle the 34th infantry regiment under Dialetis was ordered to hold the approaches at Dumlupınar at all costs and give time to the 1st Army Corps to retreat from Afyonkarahishar. The regiment faced off against 2 Turkish infantry divisions(4th and 11th) and routed them with heavy casualties. It successfully held the road open and the Corps managed to retreat and avoid encirclement and possible destruction. To this day the 34th brigade is the only unit of the modern Greek army that bears the name of its former commander. As of 2011 the brigade is based at

Structure

* HQ Company (ΙΣΤ) * 34th Armored Battalion (34 ΕΜΑ) * 501st Mechanized Infantry Battalion (501 M/K ΤΠ) * 507th Mechanized Infantry Battalion (507 M/K ΤΠ) * 108th Self Propelled Artillery Battalion (108 Μ Α/K ΠΒ) * 34th Antitank Company (34 ΛΑΤ) * 34th Engineer Company (34 ΛΜΧ) * 34th Signal Company (34 ΛΔΒ) * 34th Support Battalion (34 ΤΥΠ)

References

Mechanized infantry brigades of Greece Thessaloniki (regional unit) Military units and formations established in 1913 Military units and formations disestablished in 1941 {{Cite web, url=https://belisarius21.wordpress.com/2021/12/19/__trashed/#more-10869, title = Η Ανώτατη διεύθυνση των Επιχειρήσεων της Στρατιάς Μικράς Ασίας του Δεκεμβρίου 1920 και του Μαρτίου 1921, date = 19 December 2021