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| During the winter and early spring of 1943, the [[Greek Resistance]] scored a number of successes against the [[Italy in World War II|Italian]] [[Axis occupation of Greece|occupation troops]] in the mountainous areas of continental Greece, with battlefield victories like [[Battle of Fardykambos|Fardykambos]], and the liberation of towns like [[Karditsa]] (12 March), [[Grevena]] (24 March), and [[Metsovo]] (22 April).{{sfn|Eudes|1973|pp=42–49}}{{sfn|Grigoriadis|1982|pp=215, 218–219}} By 16 April an Italian report noted that "control throughout the north-east, centre and south-west of Greece remains very precarious, not to say nonexistent".{{sfn|Mazower|1993|pp=135–136}} | During the winter and early spring of 1943, the [[Greek Resistance]] scored a number of successes against the [[Italy in World War II|Italian]] [[Axis occupation of Greece|occupation troops]] in the mountainous areas of continental Greece, with battlefield victories like [[Battle of Fardykambos|Fardykambos]], and the liberation of towns like [[Karditsa]] (12 March), [[Grevena]] (24 March), and [[Metsovo]] (22 April).{{sfn|Eudes|1973|pp=42–49}}{{sfn|Grigoriadis|1982|pp=215, 218–219}} By 16 April an Italian report noted that "control throughout the north-east, centre and south-west of Greece remains very precarious, not to say nonexistent".{{sfn|Mazower|1993|pp=135–136}} |
| As a result, the Italian high command, the [[11th Army (Italy)|11th Army]] in [[Athens]], decided to mount a large-scale and concerted anti-partisan effort, aimed at hemming in the partisan forces in the [[Pindus]] mountain massif, and then launching coordinated and concentric attacks in [[Thessaly]], [[Central Greece]], and [[Epirus (region)|Epirus]] to clear the area.{{sfn|Grigoriadis|1982|p=244}} The operation would begin after 20 May, the deadline set by the new collaborationist government under [[Ioannis Rallis]] for partisans to surrender in exchange for a full [[amnesty]].{{sfn|Ballis|1981|p=100}} | As a result, the Italian high command, the [[11th Army (Italy)|11th Army]] in [[Athens]], decided to mount a large-scale and concerted anti-partisan effort, aimed at hemming in the partisan forces in the [[Pindus]] mountain massif, and then launching coordinated and concentric attacks in [[Thessaly]], [[Central Greece]], and [[Epirus (region)|Epirus]] to clear the area.{{sfn|Grigoriadis|1982|p=244}} The operation would begin after 20 May, the deadline set by the new [[Hellenic State (1941–1944)|collaborationist government]] under [[Ioannis Rallis]] for partisans to surrender in exchange for a full [[amnesty]].{{sfn|Ballis|1981|p=100}} |
| ==Preparations== | ==Preparations== |
| Consequently the newly established General Headquarters of the [[Greek People's Liberation Army]] (ELAS) issued orders to its regional headquarters to prepare for the attack, gathering the bulk of its forces in the Pindus massif, while leaving behind rear guards to obstruct the Italians.{{sfn|Grigoriadis|1982|p=244}}{{sfn|Sevastakis|1978|p=386}} In eastern [[Continental Greece]], ELAS GHQ appointed the former Army captain [[Fotis Vermaios]] as commander of the Eastern Continental Greece Group (Συγκρότημα Ανατολικής Στερεάς), some 1,800 strong, with orders to provide flexible resistance to any Italian attempts to penetrate the mountains and threaten the liberated areas.{{sfn|Grigoriadis|1982|p=244}}{{sfn|Dimitriou|1965|p=302}} Already at the end of May, a first clash took place between the forces of the ELAS [[Thebes, Greece|Thebes]] command under [[Kostas Antonopoulos]] (''[[nom de guerre]]'' "Kronos") and an Italian column at the 51st kilometre of the [[Lamia–Amfissa road]] took place, ending in a victory for the Greek partisans.{{sfn|Dimitriou|1965|p=302}} | Consequently, the newly established General Headquarters of the leftist [[Greek People's Liberation Army]] (ELAS) issued orders to its regional partisan headquarters to prepare for the attack, gathering the bulk of its forces in the Pindus massif, while leaving behind rear guards to obstruct the Italians.{{sfn|Grigoriadis|1982|p=244}}{{sfn|Sevastakis|1978|p=386}} In eastern [[Continental Greece]], ELAS GHQ appointed the former Army captain [[Fotis Vermaios]] as commander of the Eastern Continental Greece Group ({{lang|el|Συγκρότημα Ανατολικής Στερεάς}}), some 1,800 strong, with orders to conduct [[mobile defence]] against any Italian attempts to penetrate the mountains and threaten the liberated areas.{{sfn|Grigoriadis|1982|p=244}}{{sfn|Dimitriou|1965|p=302}} Already at the end of May, a first clash took place between the forces of the ELAS [[Thebes, Greece|Thebes]] command under [[Kostas Antonopoulos]] (''[[nom de guerre]]'' "Kronos") and an Italian column at the pass of the 51st kilometre of the [[Lamia–Amfissa road]] took place, ending in a victory for the Greek partisans.{{sfn|Dimitriou|1965|p=302}} |
| To resist the Italians, over 8,000 men with ample artillery and air support, the ELAS Eastern Continental Greece Group had about 1,500 armed men at their disposal, chiefly due to lack of weapons and ammunition.{{Sfn|Η Μάχη της Παύλιανης|p=5}} The partisans resorted to manning a continuous line covering the Italian staging areas and the main approaches to the mountainous interior:{{sfn|Dimitriou|1965|pp=310–311}}{{Sfn|Η Μάχη της Παύλιανης|pp=6–7}} | |
| To resist the impending Italian attack, the partisans placed detachments on the main access points to the moutainous interior: [[Sotiris Tsitsipis]] ("Lokros") with 100–150 men was placed at [[Mount Giona]], overlooking the 51st km. [[Miltos Papathanasiou]] ("Huarez") with 150–180 men took over covering the approaches of [[Mount Oeta]] from the 51st km, at Diplopittes. Further north, the men from [[Boeotia]] and [[Locris]] under Antonopoulos and Mylonas took over the village of [[Koukouvista]], while a platoon covered the road leading to Koukouvista from the village of [[Kastellia]] to the east. North of Koukouvista, at [[Pavliani]] and [[Koumaritsi]], 80 men along with the Reserve ELAS company of the sector took over the defence against an attack from Lamia. To the west the [[Doris (Greece)|Doris]] Headquarters at [[Mousounitsa]] undertook to block the [[Mornos River]] valley from the direction of [[Lidoriki]]. Patrols were also set up on the northern slopes of Oeta, towards [[Ypati]] and [[Kombotades]], to guard against an attack from there. Finally, a central reserve of 300–400 men was gathered at the village of [[Mavrolithari]].{{sfn|Dimitriou|1965|pp=310–311}} The entire population was mobilized to prepare multiple defensive positions at each place, supply the partisans with food, and improve the telephone connections with the forward lookouts and the defensive positions at Kastellia, [[Gardikaki]], Koukouvista and Pavliani on the one hand, and to the seat of the General Headquarters at [[Gardiki Omilaion]] on the other.{{sfn|Dimitriou|1965|p=311}} | |
| * To the south, [[Sotiris Tsitsipis]] ("Lokros") with 100–150 men from [[Locris]] and the village of [[Dremissa]], was placed at [[Mount Giona]], overlooking the 51st km. | |
| * The southeastern flank, covering the approaches of [[Mount Oeta]] from the 51st km and Diplopittes, was held by [[Miltos Papathanasiou]] ("Huarez") with 150–180 men from the 2nd Company of the Parnassus Headquarters and Reserve ELAS forces of the area. | |
| * At the central eastern flank, men from Locris under Colonel Ioannis Papathanasiou, and captains Mylonas and Karalivanos, took over the village of [[Koukouvista]], while a platoon from the Thebes Headquarters under Kronos covered the road leading to Koukouvista from the village of [[Kastellia]], numbering about 350 men in total. | |
| * At the northeastern flank, at [[Pavliani]] and [[Koumaritsi]], 80 men from the 1st Company of the Parnassus Headquarters under Charalambos Mokos ("Kallias") along with the Reserve ELAS company of the sector, in total some 200 men, took over the defence against an attack from Lamia. | |
| * To the west the [[Doris (Greece)|Doris]] Headquarters at [[Mousounitsa]] with local forces, some 150 men in tital, undertook to block the [[Mornos River]] valley from the direction of [[Lidoriki]]. | |
| * Patrols were also set up on the northern slopes of Oeta, towards [[Ypati]] and [[Kombotades]], to guard against an attack from there. Finally, a central reserve of 300–400 men (3rd and 4th Companies of Parnassus Headquarters and local forces) was gathered at the village of [[Mavrolithari]]. | |
| The civilian population was mobilized to prepare multiple defensive positions at each place, supply the partisans with food, and improve the telephone connections with the forward lookouts and the defensive positions at Kastellia, [[Gardikaki]], Koukouvista and Pavliani on the one hand, and to the seat of the General Headquarters at [[Gardiki Omilaion]] on the other.{{sfn|Dimitriou|1965|p=311}}{{Sfn|Η Μάχη της Παύλιανης|p=7}} | |
| ==Battle== | ==Battle== |
| On 3 June, a strong Italian force, with artillery and air support, began moving to enter the mountains, by attacking from two directions in converging movements: in the Oeta–Giona area from the east with one battalion and an artillery squadron and in the [[Mount Parnassus|Parnassus]]–Giona area from the south with three battalions.{{sfn|Grigoriadis|1982|pp=244–245}}{{sfn|Hatzis|1983|p=108}} The Italians advanced slowly, with the ELAS partisans keeping close contact with them.{{sfn|Hatzis|1983|p=108}} The southern column set out from the 51st km to the direction of Gravia; the ELAS commanders {{ill|Dimitris Dimitriou (partisan)|el|Δημήτρης Δημητρίου (Νικηφόρος)|lt=Dimitris Dimitriou}} ("Nikiforos") and {{ill|Giannis Alexandrou|el|Γιάννης Αλεξάνδρου (Διαμαντής)}} ("Diamantis") were preparing to ambush it, when it stopped and began setting up camp at Paliochlomos.{{sfn|Dimitriou|1965|p=313}} | On 3 June, a strong Italian force, with artillery and air support, began moving to enter the mountains, by attacking from two directions in converging movements: in the Oeta–Giona area from the east with one battalion and an artillery squadron and in the [[Mount Parnassus|Parnassus]]–Giona area from the south with three battalions.{{sfn|Grigoriadis|1982|pp=244–245}}{{sfn|Hatzis|1983|p=108}} The Italians advanced slowly, with the ELAS partisans keeping close contact with them.{{sfn|Hatzis|1983|p=108}} The southern column, some 1,500 men, set out from the 51st km to the direction of Gravia. Assuming this to be the main Italian effort, the ELAS commanders {{ill|Dimitris Dimitriou (partisan)|el|Δημήτρης Δημητρίου (Νικηφόρος)|lt=Dimitris Dimitriou}} ("Nikiforos") and {{ill|Giannis Alexandrou|el|Γιάννης Αλεξάνδρου (Διαμαντής)}} ("Diamantis") were preparing to ambush it, when it stopped and began setting up camp at Paliochlomos.{{sfn|Dimitriou|1965|p=313}}{{Sfn|Η Μάχη της Παύλιανης|p=9}} |
| In the meantime, the eastern column of some 1,100 men had been engaged by the local ELAS men under Charalambos Mokos ("Kallas") on the road from the village of Gardikaki to Pavliani.{{sfn|Dimitriou|1965|p=313}} With the Italian artillery and mortars shelling his positions, over the phone Kallias informed Nikiforos and Diamantis of the situation and asked them to come with all haste and reinforce him. Some 280 men gathered at Mavrolithari under Vermaios, Nikiforos, and Diamantis and moved with great speed over the Agia Triada–Vrizes plateau to Pavliani.{{sfn|Dimitriou|1965|pp=313–315}} The Doris command at Mousounitsa was also notified, but despite orders to the contrary its men had left the village to tend to their flocks, so that a messenger had to be sent to recall them to action.{{sfn|Dimitriou|1965|p=314}} | In the meantime, the eastern column of some 1,100 men had been engaged by the local ELAS men under Kallias on the road from the village of Gardikaki to Pavliani.{{sfn|Dimitriou|1965|p=313}} With the Italian artillery and mortars shelling his positions, over the phone Kallias informed Nikiforos and Diamantis of the situation and asked them to come with all haste and reinforce him. Some 280 men gathered at Mavrolithari under Vermaios, Nikiforos, and Diamantis and moved with great speed over the Agia Triada–Vrizes plateau to Pavliani.{{sfn|Dimitriou|1965|pp=313–315}} The Doris command at Mousounitsa was also notified, but despite orders to the contrary its men had left the village to tend to their flocks, so that a messenger had to be sent to recall them to action.{{sfn|Dimitriou|1965|p=314}} |
| Moving as fast as possible, the reinforcements had become scattered; Nikiforos arrived first with his men, but waited until the others had arrived before going over into the offensive.{{sfn|Dimitriou|1965|pp=314–315}} Led by the teacher Stathis Agorianitis (commander of the local Reserve ELAS battalion) and the political officer Kostas Kriaras, who knew the ground well, the newly arrived ELAS companies moved west, behind Kallias' men, through the forested heights overlooking the narrow mountain road, and emerged behind the Italian lines. Nikiforos led the first company into a charge towards the right, so as to prevent the Italians from outflanking the partisans, while the other two companies followed behind; the second company, under Diamantis and Vermaios, attacked in the centre, while the third company attacked to the left, maintaining contact with Kallias' positions to the east.{{sfn|Dimitriou|1965|pp=315–316}} Despite occasionally fierce resistance, the Italian column quickly broke and fled.{{sfn|Dimitriou|1965|pp=317–318}} | Moving as fast as possible, the reinforcements had become scattered; Nikiforos arrived first with his men, but waited until the others had arrived before going over into the offensive.{{sfn|Dimitriou|1965|pp=314–315}} Led by the teacher Stathis Agorianitis (commander of the local Reserve ELAS battalion) and the political officer Kostas Kriaras, who knew the ground well, the newly arrived ELAS companies moved west, behind Kallias' men, through the forested heights overlooking the narrow mountain road, and emerged behind the Italian lines. Nikiforos led the first company into a charge towards the right, so as to prevent the Italians from outflanking the partisans, while the other two companies followed behind; the second company, under Diamantis and Vermaios, attacked in the centre, while the third company attacked to the left, maintaining contact with Kallias' positions to the east.{{sfn|Dimitriou|1965|pp=315–316}} Despite occasionally fierce resistance, the Italian column quickly broke and fled.{{sfn|Dimitriou|1965|pp=317–318}} |
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| * {{cite book | last = Hatzis | first = Thanasis | authorlink = | title = Η νικηφόρα επανάσταση που χάθηκε | trans-title = The Victorious Revolution That Was Lost | volume = II | publisher = Dorikos | location = Athens | year = 1983 | language = Greek }} | * {{cite book | last = Hatzis | first = Thanasis | authorlink = | title = Η νικηφόρα επανάσταση που χάθηκε | trans-title = The Victorious Revolution That Was Lost | volume = II | publisher = Dorikos | location = Athens | year = 1983 | language = Greek }} |
| * {{cite book | last = Mazower | first = Mark | authorlink = Mark Mazower | title = Inside Hitler's Greece: The Experience of Occupation, 1941–44 | publisher = Yale University Press | location = New Haven and London | year = 1993 | isbn = 0-300-06552-3}} | * {{cite book | last = Mazower | first = Mark | authorlink = Mark Mazower | title = Inside Hitler's Greece: The Experience of Occupation, 1941–44 | publisher = Yale University Press | location = New Haven and London | year = 1993 | isbn = 0-300-06552-3}} |
| * {{cite book | author=Pavliani Community Council | title = Η Μάχη της Παύλιανης (3-6-1943) | trans-title = The Battle of Pavliani (3-6-1943) | language = Greek | year = 1988 | url = https://geosalemis.blogspot.com/2016/10/3-1943.html | ref={{harvid|Η Μάχη της Παύλιανης}} }}<!-- Leaflet published on the occation of the dedication of the monument to the battle on 5 June 1988 --> | * {{cite book | author=Pavliani Community Council | title = Η Μάχη της Παύλιανης (3-6-1943) | trans-title = The Battle of Pavliani (3-6-1943) | language = Greek | year = 1988 | url = https://geosalemis.blogspot.com/2016/10/3-1943.html | ref={{harvid|Η Μάχη της Παύλιανης}} }}<!-- Leaflet published on the occasion of the dedication of the monument to the battle on 5 June 1988 --> |
| * {{cite book | last = Sarafis | first = Stefanos | authorlink = Stefanos Sarafis | title = Greek Resistance Army: The Story of ELAS | publisher = Birch Books | location = London | year = 1951 | oclc = 993128877 }} | * {{cite book | last = Sarafis | first = Stefanos | authorlink = Stefanos Sarafis | title = Greek Resistance Army: The Story of ELAS | publisher = Birch Books | location = London | year = 1951 | oclc = 993128877 }} |
| * {{Cite book | last = Sevastakis | first = Alexis | title = Καπετάν Μπουκουβάλας: Το αντάρτικο ιππικό της Θεσσαλίας | trans-title = Kapetan Boukouvalas: The Partisan Cavalry of Thessaly | language = Greek | year = 1978 | publisher = Diogenis | location = Athens }} | * {{Cite book | last = Sevastakis | first = Alexis | title = Καπετάν Μπουκουβάλας: Το αντάρτικο ιππικό της Θεσσαλίας | trans-title = Kapetan Boukouvalas: The Partisan Cavalry of Thessaly | language = Greek | year = 1978 | publisher = Diogenis | location = Athens }} |
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