Security Battalions

Security Battalions

The Security Battalions (Greek: "Τάγματα Ασφαλείας, Tágmata Asfalías") were Greek collaborationist military groups, formed during the Axis occupation of Greece during World War II in order to support the German occupation troops.

The Battalionss were founded in 1943 by the puppet government of Ioannis Rallis. They were supported by the extreme right and pro-Nazis, but also by some centrist politicians who were concerned about the dominance of ELAS (the military arm of the communist-dominated National Liberation Front EAM) as the main body of the Greek resistance. Among the members of the Security Battalions one could find ex-army officers, violently conscripted soldiers, ultra-right fanatics and social outcasts, as well as common opportunists who believed the Axis would win the war.

The main role of the Security Battalions was to fight against ELAS. Their aggregate force was at most 22,000 men, divided into 9 'evzonic' and 22 'voluntary' battalions, under the commands of SS Lieutenant-General Walter Schimana. Although the plan was to expand them all over the occupied Greek territories, their main theater of action was in eastern Central Greece and Peloponnese. At that time, ELAS had already gained control over 1/3 of continental Greece. They remained faithful to the Germans even when the occupation was crumbling. Their last mission was to engage in combat against ELAS and keep them away from the main routes, in order to secure the safe exit of the German troops from Greece.

During the war, the Allied-oriented government in exile decried the Security Battalions for treason. After the liberation, the groups were disbanded; many of their members were tried and were convicted of collaborationism. Their creator, Rallis, was sentenced to life imprisonment for treason. He died in prison in 1946.

When the first conflicts of the Greek Civil War broke out in December 1944, however, many of them were recruited into the gendarmerie to fight alongside the British and government forces against the ELAS guerrillas. The Left has accused the governments of the period of utilizing the Security Battalions against the Communists, while otherswho suggest the Security Battalions joined the Anti-Communist forces looking to redeem themselves in the eyes of the public.

Oath of the Security Battalions

Although not recognized by right-winged resources, there are various references pointing out that Security Battalion recruits were under the following oath:

"I swear by God this sacred oath, that I will obey absolutely the orders of the Supreme Commander of the German Army, Adolf Hitler. I will with loyal dedication perform my duties and obey without condition the orders of my superiors. I fully acknowledge that any objection to the obligations hereby accepted will lead to my punishment by the German Military Authorities." [http://politikokafeneio.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?p=114187&sid=040bbd798e8d1b12e85459f97e9d8b1b ]

It is reported that Rallis, the PM installed by the occupation forces, in the negotiations for the founding of such militia unit on the side of the Nazi occupation forces, refused to accept this oath as " ...Greek military forces can't put their legions to a foreign government..". It is not known if this was finally taken into account or it was just a "political" flare of the pupet PM.

References

ources

*
* Vasileios Stavrogiannopoulos, "Η Ζωή της Κατοχής και τα Τάγματα Ασφαλείας"
* Nikolaos D. Christodoulou, "Pro-Axis Security Battalions in Southern Greece, 1943-1944"
* Antonio J. Munoz, "Herakles & the Swastika: Greek Volunteers in the German Army, Police & SS, 1943-1945"


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • security —    an excuse for aggression, espionage, or repression    For Hitler, the invasion of neighbouring states:     The old cry of Security , so shamelessly employed to cover the aggressions of the thirties. (A. Clark, 1995)    For Senator Joseph… …   How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms

  • Security Division (Germany) — The Wehrmacht Security Divisions (German: Sicherungs Divisionen ) were German military units which operated during World War II.History and organisationThe Wehrmacht Security Divisions were set up at the beginning of 1941 and were intended to… …   Wikipedia

  • United States Air Force Security Forces — Security Forces Badge Active As Military Police (1942 1948) …   Wikipedia

  • United States security assistance to the Palestinian Authority — (PA) has been provided since the Palestinian Authority was established by the Oslo Accords in the mid 1990s. The security assistance was given on an ad hoc basis and often covert at the outset. Since 2005 the U.S. State Department has… …   Wikipedia

  • Destruction battalions — A poster from the World War II: DESTROY THE FASCIST TANKS Active from 24 June 1941 to 1954 Country …   Wikipedia

  • Iraqi security forces — (ISF) is the Multi National Force Iraq umbrella name for military, paramilitary and civilian law enforcement entities that serve under the Government of Iraq. The armed forces are administered by the Ministry of Defense (MOD), and the Iraqi… …   Wikipedia

  • Delivering Security in a Changing World — The 2003 Defence White Paper, titled Delivering Security in a Changing World, set out the future structure of the British military, and was preceded by the 1998 Strategic Defence Review (SDR) and the 2002 SDR New Chapter, which responded to the… …   Wikipedia

  • International Security Assistance Force — ISAF redirects here. For the sailing body, see International Sailing Federation. For other uses, see ISAF (disambiguation) International Security Assistance Force Logo of ISAF. Active …   Wikipedia

  • Lithuanian Security Police — The Lithuanian Security Police, also referred to as Saugumas ( lt. Saugumo policija), was a Lithuanian Nazi sponsored collaborationist police force that operated from 1941 to 1944.en icon cite news |author = United States Department of Justice… …   Wikipedia

  • Director for Security Liaison — An office created in the Private Secretary s Office of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom in 2004. The first office holder was Brigadier Jeffrey Cook, OBE MC, a former Special Air Service (SAS) officer. As his role was… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”