This Army Section HQ was created on 14 February 1941 as a result of the forces on the Albanian Front being expanded to 4 full Army Corps. A.S. Epirus was
responsible for the South-Western half of the Albanian Front, and had under command Army Corps A and B (I and II Corps) which had previously been independent.
On the 09 March 1941 General Papagos sacked the commander of A.S. Epirus, and the commanders of the 2 subordinate Army Corps, A and B. These Generals had advocated discontinuing the war for fear of a German attack and Papagos (who was an Anglophile) had lost faith in them. The commander of A.S. West.Mac. was transferred to command A.S. Epirus, while the commander of Army Corps E (in A.S. West.Mac.) was transferred to command of Army Corps A, and a Divisional commander was promoted to the position of commander of Army Corps B.
At the time of the German Attack on 06 April 1941, A.S. Epirus was responsible for the SW section of the Albanian Front, with Army Corps A and B under command.
On the 17 April 1941 A.S. Epirus had Army Corps G (previously the A.S. West.Mac.) placed under its command.
On the 20 April 1941 at Yannina the three Army Corps commanders (A, B, and G) mutinied against General Pitsikas (commander of A.S. Epirus), and led by General Tsolakoglou the commander of Army Corps G (previously A.S. West.Mac.), and who incidentally became the first Greek Prime Minister under the Germans, capitulated to the Germans and Italians. Officially the surrender took place on the 21 April 1941 at Larissa, whence the Germans had flown Tsolakoglou. However General Papagos and some elements of the Greek Army continued to fight on as best they could, but A.S.
Epirus had been the last major formation of Greeks still
active.
Army Section Assets for A.S. Epirus
Confirmed units are identified by their number and/or name, Units without numbers or names are theoretical and subject of ongoing research.
1st Mobile M.G. Battalion
Headquarters: ?
3 M.G. Companies, each: HQ & 3 M.G. Platoons (each of 4 MMG & Pack Animals).
1 Rifle Company: HQ & 3 Rifle Platoons.
This unit was in action from the 28 October 1940 and was actually on permanent attachment to the VIII Infantry Division. It remained in action until the capitulation on 21 April 1941.
2nd Mobile M.G. Battalion
Headquarters: ?
3 M.G. Companies, each: HQ & 3 M.G. Platoons (each of 4 MMG & Pack Animals).
1 Rifle Company: HQ & 3 Rifle Platoons.
This unit was in action from the 28 October 1940 and was actually on permanent attachment to the VIII Infantry Division. It remained in action until the capitulation on 21 April 1941.
Army Level Heavy Artillery Regiment
Artillery Regiment Headquarters: ?
I (Field) Artillery Battalion: 8 or 12 (Schneider) 85mm L/35 Field Guns & Horse Limbers.
II (Medium) Artillery Battalion: 8 or 12 105mm Field Guns & Horse Limbers.
III (Heavy) Artillery Battalion: 8 or 12 155mm Medium Guns & Horse Limbers.
Army Level Motorised Heavy Artillery Battalion:
8 or 12 (Skoda?) 150mm Howitzers & Trucks.
Army Level Anti-Aircraft Detachment
Headquarters: ?
2 Medium AA Batteries, each: 4 37mm AA Guns & Horse Limbers.
Army Level Engineer Battalion
Headquarters: ?
3 Engineer Companies, each probably: HQ & 3 Engineer Platoons with
horse drawn Wagons
4 Army Bridging Companies, each with:
Pontoon Bridge(s) & Horse drawn Wagons
Formations assigned to A.S. Epirus
