II Corps | |
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Formation flag of the II Army Corps
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Active | 1913–1941, 1946–2013 |
Country | Greece |
Branch | Hellenic Army |
Part of | Army of Asia Minor, First Army |
Garrison/HQ | Veroia |
Motto(s) | "Either With It or On It" |
Engagements | Macedonian front, Asia Minor Campaign, Greco-Italian War, Greek Civil War, Korean War |
The II Army Corps (Greek: Β' Σώμα Στρατού, abbr. Β' ΣΣ) was an army corps of the Hellenic Army. Established in 1913, it took part in all subsequent wars of Greece. Since 1998 the corps functioned as a strategic reserve force, and comprised the Army's special forces and army aviation units, as well as mechanized infantry. It was disbanded on 29 November 2013.
The II Army Corps was founded after the Balkan Wars, on 17 August 1913 (O.S.). Initially headquartered at Athens, it was transferred to Patras in December of the same year. During World War I it fought in the Macedonian front, and then participated in the Asia Minor Campaign. Following the Greek defeat in August 1922, the Corps was reconstituted on 7 September 1922 (O.S.) in eastern Macedonia, as part of the Army of Evros.
The Corps took part in the Greco-Italian War of 1940–41 from the beginning, and lasted until the Greek defeat and disbandment of the Greek Army after the German invasion of Greece in April 1941. After liberation from the German occupation, II Army Corps was re-established in 1946 at Larissa and took part in the Greek Civil War. After the end of the Civil War in 1949, the Corps was moved to Kozani, where it remained until July 1962, when it moved to Veroia, its final base. During this period, the Corps provided the bulk of the Greek Expeditionary Force in Korea.