1st Infantry Division (Greece)

1st Infantry Division "Smyrni"
1η Μεραρχία Πεζικού «ΣΜΥΡΝΗ» (Ι ΜΠ)
Emblem of the 1st Infantry Division
Active1897–1916
1917–1941
1948–1954
1974–present
Country Greece
Branch Hellenic Army
RoleRapid Reaction Force
Special Forces
Size5 Brigades
Part ofFirst Army
Garrison/HQVeroia, Macedonia
Motto(s)[Like The] Wind
ΑΕΡΑ
Aera
Engagements
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Nikolaos Makris
Emmanouil Manousogiannakis
Nikolaos Zafeiriou
Vasileios Vrachnos

The 1st Infantry Division "Smyrni" (Greek: I Μεραρχία Πεζικού «ΣΜΥΡΝΗ» (Ι ΜΠ), romanizedI Merarchía Pezikoú "Smýrni") is a historic and elite division of the Hellenic Army. It was founded in 1897 as an infantry division and has fought in all major conflicts in which Greece has been involved. During the Balkan Wars, it acquired the sobriquet "Iron Division" (Greek: «Σιδηρά Μεραρχία», romanizedSidirá Merarchía).

It is currently headquartered in Veroia, Macedonia. Despite its title, it is no longer a conventional infantry division, but a formation comprising the various special forces of the Hellenic Army - a role similar to that once held by the now disbanded 3rd Special Forces Division.


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