Security Battalions
Encyclopedia
The Security Battalions 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 Battalions were founded in 1943 by the Greek 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, forcefully conscripted soldiers, extreme-right radicals 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 others suggest the Security Battalions joined the Anti-Communist forces looking to redeem themselves in the eyes of the public.
However, 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 unknown whether Rallis' views were taken into account by German officials.
History
Ioannis Rallis
Ioannis Rallis was the third and last collaborationist prime minister of Greece during the Axis occupation of Greece during World War II, holding office from 7 April 1943 to 12 October 1944, succeeding Konstantinos Logothetopoulos in the Nazi-controlled Greek puppet government in Athens.- Early...
. They were supported by the extreme right and pro-Nazis, but also by some centrist politicians who were concerned about the dominance of ELAS
ELAS
ELAS may refer to:*The Greek People's Liberation Army, World War II Greek Resistance group*The Equitable Life Assurance Society, a life insurance company in the United Kingdom...
(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, forcefully conscripted soldiers, extreme-right radicals and social outcasts, as well as common opportunists
Opportunistic collaboration
Opportunistic collaboration is a flexible, emergent design for collaborative learning. In this process, groups form, break up, and recombine as part of an emerging process, with all participants aware of and helping to advance the structure of the whole...
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
Evzones
The Evzones, or Evzoni, is the name of several historical elite light infantry and mountain units of the Greek Army. Today, it refers to the members of the Proedriki Froura , an elite ceremonial unit that guards the Greek Tomb of the Unknown Soldier , the Hellenic Parliament and the Presidential...
' and 22 'voluntary' battalions, under the commands of SS Lieutenant-General Walter Schimana
Walter Schimana
Walter Schimana was a German Nazi Party and SS member, who rose to General rank during World War II, and was HSSPF in occupied Greece from October 1943.- Early life :Schimana was born in Troppau, then part of Austria-Hungary, the son of a newspaper editor...
. Although the plan was to expand them all over the occupied Greek territories, their main theater of action was in eastern Central Greece
Central Greece
Continental Greece or Central Greece , colloquially known as Roúmeli , is a geographical region of Greece. Its territory is divided into the administrative regions of Central Greece, Attica, and part of West Greece...
and Peloponnese
Peloponnese
The Peloponnese, Peloponnesos or Peloponnesus , is a large peninsula , located in a region of southern Greece, forming the part of the country south of the Gulf of Corinth...
. 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
Greek government in exile
The Greek government in exile was the official government of Greece, headed by King George II, which evacuated from Athens in April 1941, after the German invasion of the country, first to the island of Crete and then to Cairo in Egypt. Hence it is also referred to as the "Cairo Government"...
decried the Security Battalions for treason
Treason
In law, treason is the crime that covers some of the more extreme acts against one's sovereign or nation. Historically, treason also covered the murder of specific social superiors, such as the murder of a husband by his wife. Treason against the king was known as high treason and treason against a...
. After the liberation, the groups were disbanded; many of their members were tried and were convicted of collaborationism
Collaborationism
Collaborationism is cooperation with enemy forces against one's country. Legally, it may be considered as a form of treason. Collaborationism may be associated with criminal deeds in the service of the occupying power, which may include complicity with the occupying power in murder, persecutions,...
. 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
Greek Civil War
The Greek Civil War was fought from 1946 to 1949 between the Greek governmental army, backed by the United Kingdom and United States, and the Democratic Army of Greece , the military branch of the Greek Communist Party , backed by Bulgaria, Yugoslavia and Albania...
broke out in December 1944, however, many of them were recruited into the gendarmerie
Greek Gendarmerie
The Hellenic Gendarmerie was the national gendarmerie and military police force of Greece.-19th Century:The Greek Gendarmerie was established after the enthronement of King Otto in 1833 as the Royal Gendarmerie and modeled after the French Gendarmerie. It was at that time formally part of the...
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 others suggest the Security Battalions joined the Anti-Communist forces looking to redeem themselves in the eyes of the public.
Oath of the Security Battalions
Following to uncertain references, recruits to the Security battalion were under the following oath:However, 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 unknown whether Rallis' views were taken into account by German officials.
Sources
- 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
External links
- The Greek Volunteer Battalions from the Axis History Forum