Immediately after the German occupation of Greece in April-May 1941 the Greek government rescues in Egypt and there in exile began to form part warrior. In August 1942 in Palestine was established division of 200 people called the "company of the immortals." On September 15, 1942 the new captain Colonel Christodoulos Tsigantes division renamed the "Holy Force," and then - the "Sacred to the Greek squad revolution." This is the first Greek team of special appointment.
Eskadronat SAS
Collaborating with the commander of the British SAS Service Colonel David Stirling Greek company goes into its Kuabrit based in Egypt. The staff of "Holy Squad" became the basis of L Detachment SAS in carrying out raids against German airports, ports and warehouses along the SML North Africa. But after the battle of El Alamein comes the end of diversionary raids. After the war ended the activities of the SAS is divided into two directions. Now reydarski special squads have to act on the central Mediterranean coast. The other area of their action is the Aegean Sea. Here English and Greek special forces to fight the war.
Battlefield baptism
In February 1943 he joined the Greek company under the command of General Jacques Philippe Leklerk, commander of the second armored division of Free France. On March 10, 1943 near Ksar Rila in Tunisia "Holy squad" enter into his first battle against a German mechanized unit, hiding the advance of 10 Corps of the British Army. Later "Holy squad" is subject to the Second New Zealand Division on April 6 and leads with her fighting against the Germans in Wadi Akarit. In May 1943, when the squad now counts 314 soldiers, goes to Palestine. In July he was sent to Jenin for parachute training. After the capitulation of Italy in September 1943 British troops move to Dodekaneskite islands occupied by the Italians, but inhabited by Greeks. On October 30 the first section of the "Holy Squad" is transferred to the planes of the Greek island of Samos, the other sections are delivered to the island's fishing boats. But the operation ended in failure. Britaskite troops evacuate the island, while fighters from the "Holy Squad" are transferred to the Middle East. In February 1944 the detachment was given under the command of forces raids on British troops. In February, the first section of the squadron was sent to the northern islands of the Aegean (Samos, Psara, Lesvos, Chios), and second - the archipelago Dodekanes. In 1944 the number of "Holy Squad" is increased to a thousand people and it gets the status of Col.
Dissolution
After the liberation of mainland Greece in October 1944 "Holy Squad 'returns home. In relations between probritanskoto national unity government of George Papandreou and national liberation front, EAM, which has left view and controlled much of rural Greece conflicts erupt. Raised the question of disarmament of guerrilla forces and create a new national army of members of two rebel groups and ELAS EDES. The government decided to keep "Sacred Force" and Third Greek Mountain Brigade Rimini, which it considers should underpin the future armed forces. But tensions grew and led to Dekemvrian events in Athens, when the "Holy squad" enter into armed confrontation with the forces of ELAS. In late 1944 and early 1945 "Sacred Force" continue to fight against other German garrisons in the Aegean islands until May 1945 squad then returns to Egypt, where he was based until their disbanding in August 1945 disbanding ceremony of the flag squad is pinned Gold Cross "For courage" - the highest military award of Greece, and the cross "for participation in the war" - first class. Traditions of the "Holy squad" in modern Greek Army inherit mountain diversionary roti, which began its history in 1946
First subversive parachute brigade
First subversive parachute brigade in the army of Greece army unit which combines the functions of light infantry and special forces assignment. But because they often decide diversionary brigade and percussion tasks behind enemy lines, usually considered a subversive force. Brigade was formed in 1946 It is a compound with a special assignment tasks: conducting airborne and special operations, organizing and conducting guerrilla warfare behind enemy lines, special reconnaissance and amphibious assault forces. The compound consists of three regiments and enter into the composition of the first infantry division. Stationed in Macedonia Remtina city.
Mountain diversionary roti
In 1946 in Greece, civil war broke out and the government decided to create a special unit to help the British army to seize territories, remained under the control of the communist guerrilla. Mountain diversionary roti, or LOK, are created on January 20, 1947 and immediately became active in the mountainous area of Greece. Beta diversionary squadron was formed in Athens in August 1947, participated in the Civil War operations in fez, in central Greece, Epirus, Macedonia, Western Euboea. In December 1947 in the port city of Volos in fez created diversionary Delta Squadron, which during the Civil War works in all regions of Greece. Diversionary squadron "Epsilon" was formed in April 1949. In 1949 LOK actions were so successful against the communist rebels that command increased diversionary forces them to two brigades. Eskadronat Gamma was founded in 1949 in the 50s have created training centers for training of personnel. In 1955 in Aspropyrgos parachute school was established, which operates today. In 1956 part of the special training center are transferred from Vouliagmeni in Perama Hea and renamed the Training Center with a special assignment. In Aspropiros experimental center was formed of parts "command." In 1959 in parachute school has formed a special parachute part. In 1961 on Mount Olympus was formed training center for mountain warfare training and aliyska. In 1963, the parachute school was reorganized into a military parachute team assignment. In 1965 created the first and second parachute division under the command of the Second Tactical Force Headquarters "command".
