The 19th Mechanized Division () was a mechanized infantry division of the Hellenic Army, established on 15 January 1941. Its formation was not completed until late March. Its nucleus was the pre-war Mechanized Cavalry Regiment, augmented with captured Italian tankettes and cars, motorcycles and Universal Carriers provided by the British. Although officially a "mechanized" unit, as the division was mostly truck-borne, it is usually called the 19th Motorized Division in English-language literature.cf. ,

The division confronted the German invasion of Greece on 6 April 1941, covering the left flank of the Eastern Macedonia Army Section defending the forts of the Metaxas Line. In a series of clashes, the division was destroyed piecemeal as a fighting formation by 9 April. Its remnants surrendered along with the rest of the Hellenic Army in eastern Macedonia on 10 April.

Establishment The origins of the division lie in the first attempts of the Hellenic Army to introduce mechanization in the interwar period. In 1926, the formation of a tank regiment was planned, but it was abolished the following year due to financial difficulties. In 1931, Greece acquired its first tanks—two Vickers 6-ton light tanks, one each of Type A and Type B, and two Carden Loyd tankettes. Initially used for training, they were formed into a tank battalion in 1935, with the expectation that they would be complemented with 14 light tanks ordered in Britain and France. In the event, these were never delivered due to the priority given by Britain and France to their own rearmament and the outbreak of World War II.

In 1937, a Mechanized Cavalry Regiment was formed within the Hellenic Army's single Cavalry Division, in an apparent effort to follow the French Division Légère de Cavalerie model. The regiment comprised trucks (44 each of Mercedes-Benz W 152 and Mercedes-Benz LG 2500 and 75 other trucks, mostly Fiats), as well as motorcycles and other vehicles, but no armoured cars or tanks.

With the outbreak of the Greco-Italian War on 28 October 1940, the Mechanized Cavalry Regiment mobilized and fought as part of the Cavalry Division and later of the 8th Infantry Division. On 15 December, a Tank Company was formed within the regiment out of 35 L3/35 tankettes captured from the Italians in the Battle of Elaia–Kalamas. At the same time, a Tank School was set up in December in Athens, aiming to prepare Greek crews for the use of 40 Light Tank Mk IIIB "Dutchman" tanks promised as aid by the British; in the event, only ten of these were delivered to Greece, but the British sent also 100 Universal Carriers and 185 Austin 8 HP cars equipped with machine-guns.

With this equipment at hand, the Greek GHQ issued an order (ΑΠ 7014) on 15 January 1941 for the establishment of the 19th Mechanized Division at Athens, under Major General Nikolaos Lioumbas. The division was to be structured around the Tank School, with a complement of 77 Universal Carriers and 100 Austins. The entire Mechanized Cavalry Regiment was to be incorporated in it, and further personnel were provided from the Cavalry Division (40 officers and 1,000 other ranks). Despite several applications by infantry officers, none were selected to serve in the new division, which was exclusively staffed by cavalry personnel ( men). The initial order provided for the establishment of a full tank regiment and two mechanized infantry regiments, but due to the aforementioned lack of tanks this never came to pass.

Due to delays in the officers and men arriving from the Albanian front, the first subunits became operational on 12 February. On 16 February, it began its move to the Larissa–Tyrnavos–Trikala area, where it was assembled by 26 February. The division was subordinated to the Central Macedonia Army Section (TSKM) upon its establishment (4 March) and moved to the area of Katerini, where its units arrived by 10 March. Between 14 and 17 March, the Mechanized Cavalry Regiment, transferred from the Albanian front, was gradually incorporated into the division: its Light Company formed the 19th Reconnaissance Group; its 1st Combat Company, with the 1st and 4th MG troops and the 1st and 4th Mortar Troops, formed the 191st Mechanized Regiment; its 2nd Combat Company, with the 2nd MG troop and the 2nd Mortar Troop, formed the 192nd Mechanized Regiment; and its 3rd Combat Company, with the 3rd MG troop and the 3rd Mortar Troop, formed the 193rd Mechanized Regiment.

The Tank Company followed in late March. The tanks had to be driven all the way from the front in Albania to the division's new staging area at Kilkis, which resulted in two falling out of action and considerable wear on the rest, a major headache in view of the almost complete lack of spare parts. The haste in forming the division and scarcity of material meant that the division was barely battle-worthy, and insufficiently motorized. Brigadier H.V.S. Charrington, commander of the British 1st Armoured Brigade, described it as "recently enlisted garage hands", with "no possible prospect of fighting usefully as a mobile force".

Order of battle Following its formation, the division comprised the following units:

Divisional Headquarters 191st Mechanized Regiment (191ο Μηχανοκίνητο Σύνταγμα) 1st Foot Battalion (Ι Τάγμα Πεζομάχων) Combat Company (Ίλη Μάχης), 120 men with Mannlicher–Schönauer carbines, 8 Lebel rifles with the VB rifle grenade, and twelve 6.5 mm machine guns MG Troop (Ουλαμός Πολυβόλων), four 7.92 mm Hotchkiss machine guns Mortar Troop (Ουλαμός Όλμων), four 81 mm mortars Austin-mounted MG Company (Λόχος Πολυβόλων επί 'Ωστιν), 12 Austin 8 cars with a 7.7 mm Hotchkiss machine gun each 2nd Tank Battalion (ΙΙ Τάγμα Αρμάτων) 1st Closed Tank Company (1ος Λόχος Κλειστών Αρμάτων), nine Light Tank Mk IIIB tanks 2nd Bren Open Tank Company (2ος Λόχος Ανοιχτών Αρμάτων Μπρεν), 11 Universal Carriers with two Boys anti-tank rifles and three 2-inch mortars 3rd Bren Open Tank Company (3ος Λόχος Ανοιχτών Αρμάτων Μπρεν), as above 4th Motorcyclists Company (4ος Λόχος Μοτοσυκλεττιστών), 48 two-seat Norton 16H motorcycles and 6 MG-armed Austin 8s Transport corps, 15 trucks 192nd Mechanized Regiment (192ο Μηχανοκίνητο Σύνταγμα) as with the 191st, except that the Closed Tank Company comprised nine L3/35 tankettes 193rd Mechanized Regiment (193ο Μηχανοκίνητο Σύνταγμα) as with the 191st, except that the Closed Tank Company comprised nine L3/35 tankettes 19th Reconnaissance Group (19η Ομάδα Αναγνωρίσεως) Light Company (Ελαφρά Ίλη) Bren Open Tank Company (Λόχος Ανοιχτών Αρμάτων Μπρεν), 11 Universal Carriers 19th Mechanized Artillery Battalion (19η Μηχανοκίνητη Μοίρα Πυροβολικού) Skoda battery carried on automobiles (Πυροβολαρχία Σκόντα φερόμενη επί αυτοκινήτων), 4 Skoda 75 mm Model 15 on cars "English" battery of 4 Ordnance QF 18-pounders modified during World War I by the US to 75 mm calibre (designated M1917), handed over to the British through Lend-Lease; towed by Quads 19th Mechanized Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion (19η Μηχανοκίνητη Μοίρα Αντιαεροπορικού Πυροβολικού) 1st Mechanized Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battery (1η Μηχανοκίνητη Πυροβολαρχία Αντιαεροπορικού Πυροβολικού), four 3.7 cm Flak 36/37 guns 2nd Mechanized Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battery (2η Μηχανοκίνητη Πυροβολαρχία Αντιαεροπορικού Πυροβολικού), four 2 cm Flak 30 guns 19th Communications Company (19ος Λόχος Διαβιβάσεων) 19th Medical Detachment (19ο Υγειονομικό Απόσπασμα) 19th Supply Detachment (19ο Απόσπασμα Επιμελητείας) 1st–4th Mechanized Anti-Tank Troop (1ος–4ος Αντιαρματικός Μηχανοκίνητος Ουλαμός), of two Cannone da 47/32 M35 guns, captured from the Italians, each 1st–2nd 20mm Anti-Tank Troop (1ος–2ος Αντιαρματικός Ουλαμός των 20), of two Solothurn S-18/100 anti-tank rifles, captured from the Italians, each 1st–2nd Automobile Squadron (1η–2η Διμοιρία Αυτοκινήτων) 927 Postal Sector (927 Ταχυδρομικός Τομέας)

Combat history

The division's original role, as part of TSKM, was to cover the Mount Vermion–Mount Olympus line, shielding the British "W Force" as it assembled in its rear. It therefore occupied the eastern, coastal sector in front of Mount Olympus. As the units of "W Force" arrived and took positions on the Vermion–Olympus line, the British commander, Lt. General Henry Maitland Wilson, planned to assign the division to cover a sector of some 11 km north of Katerini, with the sea to their right and the 2nd New Zealand Division to their left. However, on 20 March, the division was redeployed north, around Lake Doiran, on anti-paratrooper duties, leaving the Olympus sector to be covered by overstretched New Zealand troops.

On 28–29 March, in the face of the looming German invasion, the division moved further northeast to the area of Kilkis and Lachanas, coming under the control of the Eastern Macedonia Army Section (TSAM). On the way the two Italian tankette companies, along with the car-mounted Skoda battery, were detached and stationed at Neos Koukloutzas near Thessaloniki in anti-paratrooper duties. On 30 March, the 19th Reconnaissance Group was likewise detached for anti-paratrooper duties in the rear of the 7th Infantry Division at Doxato, while the 191st Regiment was detached as reserve for TSAM's Group of Divisions (14th and 18th Infantry Divisions) in the Sidirokastro area.

The remainder of the division was tasked with three possible missions: securing the border sector Lake Doiran–Polykastro, currently lightly held by the 9th Border Sector; the reinforcement of the Mount Krousia defensive line, held by the Krousia Detachment (Απόσπασμα Κρουσίων); and covering the Group of Divisions' retreat should they be forced to abandon the main defensive line along Mount Beles. From 30 March, the division was engaged in reconnoitring these areas. On 4 April, the division was reinforced by the newly constituted IVb Mountain Artillery Battalion (IVβ Μοίρα Ορειβατικού Πυροβολικού), of two 4-gun batteries with Skoda 75 mm guns captured from the Italians.

6 April

With the onset of the German offensive on 6 April, the division assumed positions covering TSAM's left flank up to Lake Doiran. To reinforce it, TSAM subordinated to the division the independent Krousia Detachment under Col. Ilias Sionidis. This was formed around the 2nd Cavalry Regiment (1,400 men, 1,050 horses), with the command staff of the 81st Infantry Regiment, reinforced by the 5th–7th Security Companies, the newly formed 2nd Transport Security Battalion, the B3 Field Artillery Battalion (eight M1917 guns), and two 85 mm mod. 1925 guns and other minor units.

The division commander ordered his units to take up their positions in four sectors, from east to west: the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, west of Lake Kerkini (Lt. Col. Konstantinos Stergiou); the remainder of the Krousia Detachment (Col. Sionidis); 192nd Mechanized Regiment (Col. Konstantinos Asimakis); 193rd Mechanized Regiment (Col. Iason Nomikos). The divisional command post was at Kilkis. The resulting front stretched over 30 km. The available forces, 14 field guns and the effective strength of four infantry battalions, were far below what was necessary to effectively cover this frontage. In addition, further difficulties were presented by the inadequate communications network between the various units, while the expected air supremacy of the Luftwaffe posed particular dangers for mechanized units called upon to move in the open in daylight.

Preceded by mixed Universal Carrier and motorcycle reconnaissance detachments, the 192nd and 193rd Regiments began moving to their designated areas after noon, and arrived there at nightfall. At this point, 192nd Regiment could muster only 295 men, while another 241 could not be moved by vehicle—presumably due to a large number of breakdowns and the lack of spare parts and were ordered to proceed to Kilkis.