The 50th Mechanized Infantry Brigade "Apsos" ( el, 50ή Μηχανοκίνητη Ταξιαρχία Πεζικού «ΑΨΟΣ», 50 Μ/Κ ΤΑΞ) is a mechanized infantry brigade 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

Soufli Soufli ( el, Σουφλί) is a town in the Evros regional unit, Greece, notable for the silk industry that flourished there in the 19th century. The town stands on the eastern slope of the twin hill of Prophet Elias, one of the easternmost spurs ...

as part of IV Army Corps.

History

The brigade traces its history to the 50th Infantry Regiment ( el, 50ό Σύνταγμα Πεζικού, 50 ΣΠ), which was founded in 1919 in Adrianople (now Edirne in

Turkey Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a list of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolia, Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with ...

). The regiment fought in 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 ...

in the

Albania Albania ( ; sq, Shqipëri or ), or , also or . officially the Republic of Albania ( sq, Republika e Shqipërisë), is a country in Southeastern Europe. It is located on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean Sea and shares ...

n front until the capitulation of the Greek Army following the German invasion of Greece in April 1941. After liberation, the regiment was reformed, initially for a short period as the 32nd Brigade (32η Ταξιαρχία), and stationed at Eleftheroupoli. Between 1964 and 1988 it moved its base from Eleftheroupoli to Feres,

Pythio Pythio (Greek: Πύθιο, tr, Kuleliburgaz), sometimes referred to as Pythion, is a village and community in the eastern part of Didymoteicho municipality, Evros regional unit, Greece. It is 16 km east of the centre of Didymoteicho, on th ...

, again to Eleftheroupoli and then briefly to

Koufovouno Koufovouno ( el, Κουφόβουνο) is a settlement in the municipality of Didymoteicho in the northern Evros regional unit, Greece. It is situated on a low hill near the right bank of the river Erythropotamos, at 70 m elevation. In 2011 its po ...

. In summer 1988 it was transferred to

, where its expansion to brigade began. The 50th Infantry Brigade (50ή Ταξιαρχία Πεζικού) became operational on 1 October 1988, although its formation was not completed until two years later. In September 2000, the formation received the honorific title "Apsos" after the river Osum (Apsos in Greek) in southern Albania, where the 50th Infantry Regiment distinguished itself in battle on 25 January 1941. The brigade was converted to

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 ...

in 2003, acquiring its present title.

Emblem

The brigade's emblem features a purple triangular shield upon which is depicted a golden sphinx wielding a poleaxe. A scroll underneath the sphinx bears the unit's abbreviated title. The whole is edged in white, with an inscription above with the unit's motto, Αρχή του νικάν το θαρρείν ("Courage is the foundation of victory"), a quote from

Plutarch Plutarch (; grc-gre, Πλούταρχος, ''Ploútarchos''; ; – after AD 119) was a Greek Middle Platonist philosopher, historian, biographer, essayist, and priest at the Temple of Apollo in Delphi. He is known primarily for his ''P ...

(''Life of

Themistocles Themistocles (; grc-gre, Θεμιστοκλῆς; c. 524–459 BC) was an Athenian politician and general. He was one of a new breed of non-aristocratic politicians who rose to prominence in the early years of the Athenian democracy. A ...

'', 8.2) referring to the Battle of Artemisium in 480 BC.

Structure

* Brigade Headquarters Company (Λ/Σ 50 Μ/Κ ΤΑΞ ΠΖ) * 50th Medium Tank Battalion (50 ΕΜΑ) * 107th Self-Propelled Artillery-Multiple Rocket Launcher Squadron (107η A/K ΜΜΠ/ΠΕΠ). * 512th Infantry Battalion (512 ΤΠ) * 514th Infantry Battalion (514 ΤΠ) * 558th Motorized Infantry Battalion (558 M/K ΤΠ) * 640th Motorized Infantry Battalion (640 M/K ΤΠ) * 50th Support Battalion (50 ΤΥΠ) * 50th Signals Company (50 ΛΔΒ) * 50th Engineer Company (50 ΛΜΧ) * 50th Anti-Tank Company (50 ΛΑΤ) * 50th Light Anti-Aircraft Artillery Company (50 ΠΕΑ/ΑΠ)

References

{{Use dmy dates, date=June 2017 Mechanized infantry brigades of Greece Evros (regional unit) Military units and formations established in 1919 Military units and formations disestablished in 1941 Military units and formations established in 1945 1919 establishments in Greece 1941 disestablishments in Greece 1945 establishments in Greece