13th Infantry Regiment (Greece)

13th Special Operations Command "Ieros Lochos" 13η Διοίκηση Ειδικών Επιχειρήσεων «ΙΕΡΟΣ ΛΟΧΟΣ»
flag an emblem of the 13th Special Operations Command "Ieros Lochos"
Active	1913–1916, 1920–1935, 1940–1941, 1988–today
Country	Greece
Branch	Hellenic Army
Type	Special forces
Role	Special operations
Size	Brigade
Part of	1st Infantry Division
Garrison/HQ	Athens
Engagements	Asia Minor Campaign Greco-Italian War

Asia Minor Campaign

The 13th Special Operations Command "Sacred Band" (Greek: 13η Διοίκηση Ειδικών Επιχειρήσεων «ΙΕΡΟΣ ΛΟΧΟΣ», 13 ΔΕΕ) is the umbrella unit of the Hellenic Army's special operation forces.

The 13th SOC traces its descent to the 13th Infantry Regiment (13ο Σύνταγμα Πεζικού), formed in November–December 1913 as part of the enlargement and re-organization of the Hellenic Army after the Balkan Wars. Along with the 27th and 28th Infantry Regiments, it formed the 11th Infantry Division under III Army Corps, headquartered in Thessaloniki. Along with the bulk of the Army, the regiment was disbanded during the National Schism in 1916.

On 10 February 1920, the Regiment was ordered re-established, and by May it had been re-formed and joined the Xanthi Division in Western Thrace. In the second half of June 1920, the Regiment was placed at the disposal of the British command at Çanakkale, helping to secure the British occupation zone around the Dardanelles Strait. Between 1–10 July, it was shipped back to the area of Soufli. On 10 July, it crossed the Evros River as part of the Greek offensive against the Turkish army in Eastern Thrace, and advanced up to Kirk Kilisse. In April 1921, the regiment was transferred again to Asia Minor, participating in the operations of the remainder of the Asia Minor Campaign until 1922.