Greek Army Uniforms - Second World War

Second World War

The 1908 pattern for other ranks in khaki wool remained virtually unchanged and was the uniform issued en masse to the troops that were deployed in the Greco-Italian War of 1940 and the brief Battle of Greece. Changes were significant only in the equipment, which by this time was a motley collection of Austrian, German, French and British patterns, reflecting a similar vast variety in personal arms. In contemporary pictures it appears though that the front-line troops had a relative homogeneous appearance. The majority were equipped with a new Model 1934 helmet, which was based on the contemporary Italian shell in field green colour, but without vents and with a locally produced leather liner. The main ammunition carrier was the Mannlicher twin-pouch and the Mauser triple-pouch, according to the rifle issued to the unit.

Significant number of older French-design Lebel stocks were still in use, especially in support troops. A minority of front-line troops were issued with the 1915 Adrian helmet and British Brodie helmet, as the newer pattern was not received in adequate numbers. Due to the heavy winter conditions in Albania, the outfit was for most of the campaign covered by the long model 1908 woolen overcoat, single breasted, with turned down collar and rear semi-belt. The decorations on these uniforms were limited to a minimum. In contrast to regulations, only a minority of tunics and coats had the prescribed branch-color collar tabs. These colors remained the same as in WW1, and expanded to include more specialist troops. A new pattern of NCO rank stripes similar to the British chevrons, did not see universal adoption before the outbreak of the war, and the older patterns were still seen.

The officers' uniforms came in the thirties much closer to the British pattern of service dress with the adoption of an open collar intended to be worn with shirt and woolen tie, again with riding breeches, boots and a Sam Browne belt. The headgear in the late 1930s turned for good to a British-type leather peaked cap in khaki, with the exception of the Gendarmerie and the Hellenic Army Academy, which kept their traditional kepi. Officer rank insignia also changed from the colourful old Russian-style shoulderboards to a more subdued, British-style system. In 1938 a new pattern of forage cap was also introduced which was similar to the contemporary British, but with the Greek royal cockade in metal. By this time swords and sabres were limited to ceremonial use and a pistol was the main sidearm.

As the war progressed, much of the supplies were depleted and the Greek Army increasingly had to use new stocks of British military aid. At the last stages of the Battle of Greece, a significant number of troops was using battledress and the brodie helmet. The reconstituted free Greek Army in Egypt was completely reequipped with British uniforms and arms, which they kept throughout the Italian campaign and the first stages of the Greek Civil War. During these years, the new Greek Army was, outwardly, virtually indistinguishable from the forces of the British Commonwealth.