III Corps

Part of the pre-war Greek Regular Army, Army Corps "G" was stationed in Central Macedonia and was responsible upon mobilisation for organising and equipping all troops in its region. Shortly before the Italian invasion, Army Corps G was assigned to the A.S. Western Macedonia as part of the defences of the North-Eastern part of the Albanian Frontier. The Commander of Army Corps G was one General Tsolakoghlu (Tsolakoglou), a quite controversial character! The General "was a member of a rich and influential Greek family, who, when a captain, had deserted his Company in action during the Balkan War in 1912, but this particular act had no adverse effects upon his subsequent career because of his powerful family connections" (from the Australian Official History). As noted elsewhere Tsolakoglou went on to lead the mutiny on 20 April and then be the first Prime Minister of German-Occupied Greece.

Army Corps G was responsible for the most North-Easterly sector of the Albanian Frontier, running up to the shores of Lake Prespa at the extreme NW corner where Greece-Albania-Jugoslavia meet. On the 09 March 1941 General Papagos sacked the commanders of A.S. Epirus and Army Corps A and B. On 10 March 1941 the commander of Army Corps G (Gen. Tsolakoglou) was transferred to take command of A.S. Western Macedonia (as the commander of A.S. West.Mac. had been transferred to replace the commander of A.S. Epirus) and as there were no suitable Corps commanders available (who had both the skills/experience, and loyalty to Papagos) to replace the transferred commander Army Corps G was disbanded and its Divisions and Assets subordinated directly to A.S. Western Macedonia.

On the 17 April 1941 Army Corps G was reconstituted by renaming the A.S. Western Macedonia. The new Army Corps G was immediately subordinated to A.S. Epirus. The commander continued to be Tsolakoglou, perhaps Papagos had realised his "unreliability" and wished to subordinate him to a more reliable General? On the 20 April 1941 the Commander of Army Corps G (and previously A.S. West.Mac.), General Tsolakoglou, led a mutiny by the three Corps commanders (A, B, and G) against General Pitsikas (commander of A.S. Epirus), and on the following day 21 April 1941 surrendered the last Greek Army to the Germans & Italians. General Tsolakoglou went on to be the first Prime Minister of Greece under German rule, and in 1943 ordered General Papagos arrested and thrown in prison (in Germany where he remained until the Allies liberated him in early 1945).

Army Corps Assets for A.C. Gamma

Confirmed units are identified by their number and/or name, Units without numbers or names are theoretical and subject of on going research.

Cavalry Group Headquarters Squadron:

HQ Troop/Platoon:
Mortar Troop/Platoon: 4 81mm Mortars & Pack Animals.
2 Sabre Squadrons, each:

4 Sabre Troops:
1 Mounted M.G. Battery:

3 Mounted M.G. Platoons, each: 4 MMGs & Limbers/Pack Animals.

Artillery Regiment Headquarters: ?
I (Field) Artillery Battalion: 8 (Schneider) 85mm L/35 Field Guns & Horse Limbers.
II (Medium) Artillery Battalion: 8 M1927 105mm Field Guns & Horse Limbers.
III (Heavy) Artillery Battalion: 12 M17 155mm Medium Guns & Horse Limbers.

Artillery Regiment Headquarters: ?
I (Field) Artillery Battalion: 12 75mm Field Guns & Horse Limbers.
II (Field) Artillery Battalion: 12 75mm Field Guns & Horse Limbers.
III (Field) Artillery Battalion: 12 75mm Field Guns & Horse Limbers.

2 A.T.R. Platoons, each with: 4 Boys 0.55" ATRs.

A.A. Battalion Headquarters: ?
1 Heavy Battery: 4 88mm L/56 (FlaK18) A.A. Guns & Horse Limbers.
2 Medium Batteries, each with: 4 37mm L/98 A.A. Guns & Horse Limbers.
2 Light Batteries, each with: 4 20mm L/113 A.A. Guns & Horse Limbers.
1 Motorised Battery: 4 20mm L/113 A.A. Guns & Trucks.

4 A.A.M.G. Platoons, each with: 4 A.A. MMGs & Horse-drawn Wagons.

4 A.A.M.G. Platoons, each with: 4 A.A. MMGs & Horse-drawn Wagons.

Headquarters: ?
3 Engineer Companies, each probably: 3 Engineer Platoons & Horse-drawn Wagons.

Once disbanded the remaining Corps assets would have presumably been added to A.S. Western Macedonia's Army Assets.

When reconstituted this Corps would have had the assets of A.S. Western Macedonia plus the remnants of the original Army Corps G assets, and whatever remained of the assets the new Army Corps E (Group of Divisions K) had had.

Formations assigned to A.C. Gamma

• -- to be updated --