The 2/39 Evzone Regiment "Col. Karachristos" ( el, 2/39 Σύνταγμα Ευζώνων «ΣΧΗΣ ΚΑΡΑΧΡΗΣΤΟΣ», 2/39 ΣΕ) is a historic unit 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 th ...

. Formerly an elite

Evzone The Evzones or Evzonoi ( el, Εύζωνες, Εύζωνοι, ) were several historical elite light infantry and mountain units of the Greek Army. Today, they are the members of the Presidential Guard ( el, Προεδρική Φρουρά , transl ...

(

light infantry Light infantry refers to certain types of lightly equipped infantry throughout history. They have a more mobile or fluid function than other types of infantry, such as heavy infantry or line infantry. Historically, light infantry often fought ...

) regiment, today its name and tradition are borne by the Recruit Training Centre of

Messolonghi Missolonghi or Messolonghi ( el, Μεσολόγγι, ) is a municipality of 34,416 people (according to the 2011 census) in western Greece. The town is the capital of Aetolia-Acarnania regional unit, and the seat of the municipality of Iera Polis ...

(ΚΕΝ Μεσολογγίου).

History

The regiment was formed on 23 December 1913 at

, as part of the

's reorganization following the Balkan Wars. The regiment fought in the Macedonian front operations of

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

as part of the 3rd Infantry Division from 25 April 1918 until the war's end in the

Prespa Lakes The Lake Prespa is located on the tripoint of North Macedonia, Albania, and Greece. It is a system of two lakes separated by an isthmus: the Great Prespa Lake, divided between the three countries, and the Little Prespa Lake, mostly within Greece ...

area. Following the Allied breakthrough of the German-Bulgarian front in autumn, the regiment advanced to Pirot. Along with the rest of the division, it was transferred to

Smyrna Smyrna ( ; grc, Σμύρνη, Smýrnē, or , ) was a Greek city located at a strategic point on the Aegean coast of Anatolia. Due to its advantageous port conditions, its ease of defence, and its good inland connections, Smyrna rose to promi ...

in August 1920, and took part in all subsequent operations of 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 subcontinent of Eurasia, which shares the continental landmass of Afro-Eurasia with Africa. Asia covers an area ...

until the Greek defeat in 1922. During the

Greco-Italian War The Greco-Italian War (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 kingdoms of Italy and G ...

of 1940–41, the regiment was part of the 8th Infantry Division and thus one of the first units to face the Italian attack. The regiment served throughout the conflict, being disbanded after the capitulation of the Greek army to the Germans in April 1941. After the end of

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

, on 2 December 1950 a training centre for new recruits (Κέντρο Εκπαίδευσης Νεοσυλλέκτων, ΚΕΝ) was established at Messolonghi, which on 31 August 1965 received the designation "12th Infantry Regiment", before being renamed to "2/39 Evzone Regiment" on 26 June 1978. On 26 September 2000, the regiment received the honorific name "Col. Karachristos" after its commander, Col. Vlasios Karachristos, killed in action on 20 August 1921. For its wartime service, the regiment had been twice decorated with the highest Greek military distinction, the Commander's Cross of the Cross of Valour, the first time for its actions in the Macedonian Front, and the second for its actions during the spring and summer battles of 1921, especially the two-day battle of Avgin near Bursa in March. The regiment was also awarded the French ''

Croix de guerre 1914–1918 Croix (French for "cross") may refer to: Belgium * Croix-lez-Rouveroy, a village in municipality of Estinnes in the province of Hainaut France * Croix, Nord, in the Nord department * Croix, Territoire de Belfort, in the Territoire de Belfort depa ...

'' for its actions on the Macedonian Front. The regiment and the training centre are located in the "Lt. Gen.

Spyros Moustaklis Lieutenant General Spyros Moustaklis ( el, Σπύρος Μουστακλής; Missolonghi, 1926 – 1986) was an officer of the Greek Army. During the military junta years in Greece, he actively opposed the dictatorship and suffered permanent da ...

Camp" on the northern outskirts of Messolonghi.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:2 39 Evzone Regiment 1913 establishments in Greece Military units and formations established in 1913 Military units and formations disestablished in 1941 Military units and formations established in 1950 Evzone regiments of Greece Commander's Crosses of the Cross of Valour (Greece) Military units and formations of Greece in the Greco-Turkish War (1919–1922) Military units and formations of Greece in World War I Military units and formations of Greece in the Greco-Italian War Missolonghi Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1914–1918 (France)