Himara revolt of 1912

Himara revolt

Military developments in Himara (November 18–30, 1912)

Date	November 18 [O.S. November 5] 1912
Location	Himara
Result	Greek victory Coastal region of Himara secured against Ottoman and Albanian infiltration

Belligerents

Greece

Ottoman Empire

Commanders and leaders

Spyros Spyromilios

The Himara revolt (Greek: Εξέγερση της Χειμάρρας), was a Greek uprising during the First Balkan War that took place in the region of Himara (Himarë, today southern Albania), on November 18 [O.S. November 5] 1912. It successfully overthrew the Ottoman forces of the region, thus securing the coastal area between Sarandë and Vlorë for the Hellenic Army.

During the First Balkan War (1912-1913), the Epirus front was of secondary importance for Greece after the Macedonian front. The landing in Himara, in the rear of the Ottoman Army was planned as an independent operation from the rest of the Epirus front. Its aim was to secure the advance of the Greek forces to the northern regions of Epirus. The success of such an initiative was primarily based on the superiority of the Greek navy in the Ionian Sea and the decisive support of the local Greek population.

At early October 1912, Gendarmerie Major Spyros Spyromilios, a native of Himara, moved to the Greek island Corfu, opposite Himara. His mission was to organize groups of volunteers consisting of northern Epirus Greeks. He also received orders from the Greek government to communicate with the local Albanian beys of the surrounding regions. This unit was later reinforced by additional 200 Greek volunteers from Crete sent by General Konstantinos Sapountzakis, commander of the Greek army in Epirus front.

On November 15, urgent orders were received from the headquarters of the Greek Army for the immediate landing in the region of Himara. The landing operation began at 07:30 am of November 18, at the bay of Spilia near the town of Himara. The disembarkment of the volunteer force did not face any resistance. Immediately it was divided into two groups: The first group which consisted of local volunteers approached the town of Himara from the north, while the second group consisting of Cretans approached from the opposite direction. As soon as the first group entered the town it came under fire from the headquarters of the local Ottoman administration, where the Ottoman guard was garrisoned. Finally, after the arrival of the second group, a brief clash occurred which ended up with the surrender of the Ottomans.

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