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| Infantry (Greece) | |
|---|---|
| Unit name | Infantry (Greece) |
| Native name | Πεζικό |
| Country | Greece |
| Branch | Hellenic Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Role | Close combat, maneuver, peacekeeping |
| Garrison | Athens |
| Notable commanders | Themistocles, Leonidas, Belisarius |
Infantry (Greece) is the principal ground combat arm of Hellenic land forces with roots extending from Mycenaean hoplites and Classical phalanxes through Byzantine tagmata to modern Hellenic Army regiments. The infantry tradition of Greece has influenced and been influenced by figures and states such as Pericles, Alexander the Great, Byzantine Empire, Ottoman Empire, Ioannis Kapodistrias, and contemporary alliances like North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the European Union. Continuities link archaeological finds at Mycenae, tactical treatises associated with Thucydides, and reforms following the Treaty of Constantinople (1832).
Greek infantry origins trace to Late Bronze Age warriors attested at Tiryns and Pylos and develop into the Archaic and Classical hoplite phalanx central to polis warfare involving Sparta, Athens, Thebes, and Corinth. Key engagements like the Battle of Marathon, Battle of Thermopylae, and Battle of Plataea showcased hoplite armor and tactics alongside cavalry and light troops from allies such as Thrace and Macedon. Military innovators including Themistocles and commanders in the Peloponnesian War adapted combined arms methods later codified by Macedonian reforms under Philip II of Macedon and executed by Alexander the Great at battles like Gaugamela, blending phalanx, companion cavalry, and siegecraft introduced at Tyre.
Byzantine infantry evolved from Late Roman legions into thematic forces centered on Theme (Byzantine district) structures, with units such as the Varangians and the elite tagmata participating in campaigns under emperors like Justinian I and generals such as Belisarius. Engagements in the Arab–Byzantine wars, the Rus'–Byzantine War, and confrontations with Seljuk Turks and Crusader states illustrated a shift to more mobile infantry, missile troops, and mixed formations documented in manuals like the attributed works of Leo VI the Wise. Fortification warfare around cities like Constantinople and sieges at Nicaea further shaped infantry organization.
Under Ottoman hegemony, indigenous infantry traditions persisted in klepht and armatolos bands active in regions such as Epirus, Macedonia, and the Peloponnese. The 1821 Greek War of Independence saw leaders including Theodoros Kolokotronis, Alexander Ypsilantis, and Lord Byron coordinate irregular infantry actions, sieges such as the Siege of Tripolitsa, and pitched actions exemplified in the Battle of Valtetsi. Philhellenic volunteers from France, United Kingdom, and Russia influenced tactics and armament that later informed the establishment of a regular Hellenic infantry under King Otto of Greece and statesmen like Ioannis Kapodistrias.
Following independence and reforms after the Convention of London (1832), the Hellenic Army developed infantry regiments that fought in the Greco-Turkish War (1897), the Balkan Wars, and the First Balkan War and Second Balkan War campaigns against Ottoman and Balkan forces. During the Greco-Italian War and Battle of Greece in World War II, infantry divisions engaged Axis armies with support from commanders such as Alexander Papagos. Postwar reorganizations under politicians like Konstantinos Karamanlis and military leaders integrated NATO standards, with Hellenic infantry participating in Cold War deployments and modernization programs tied to procurement from states including United States and Germany.
Hellenic infantry organization comprises mechanized, light, mountain, and airmobile formations within brigades and divisions such as the 1st Infantry Division (Greece) and specialized units like the 5/42 Evzone Regiment and mountain troops trained in alpine operations in Mount Olympus and Pindus. Training institutions include the Hellenic Military Academy (Evelpidon) and the Navy and Air Force cooperative centers for joint operations; professional career pathways and conscription policies have been influenced by legislations and defense white papers associated with cabinets led by Constantine Karamanlis and Andreas Papandreou. Doctrine draws on lessons from the Korean War era, NATO doctrine development in Allied Command Europe, and adaptations for littoral, mountain, and urban environments around the Aegean Sea.
Infantry armament has transitioned from muzzle-loading muskets acquired in the 19th century to modern systems such as the FN FAL, HK G36, and indigenous developments like projects with EBO and collaboration with Hellenic Aerospace Industry. Support weapons in service include machine guns like the FN MAG, anti-tank systems such as the MILAN (missile), and mortars procured from suppliers in Italy and France. Vehicle platforms used by mechanized infantry include the Leonidas APC, M113, and Leopard 2 main battle tanks in combined arms formations, while personal equipment reflects standards set by NATO interoperability programs and logistics coordinated through the Ministry of National Defence (Greece).
Hellenic infantry doctrine emphasizes territorial defense, mountain warfare, and coalition interoperability, informed by historic engagements from Thermopylae to modern peacekeeping in Cyprus and deployments under United Nations and NATO mandates such as operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, and missions supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Joint exercises with allies including Israel, France, and the United States—as at Arrow 2013 and other trilateral drills—shape operational procedures, while defense cooperation agreements with Cyprus and participation in regional security dialogues influence contingency planning in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Category:Military of Greece Category:Infantry by country