Sacred Band (World War II)

This article is about the World War II unit. For earlier units with the same name, see Sacred band.
Sacred Band
Unit insignia
Active1942–1945
CountryGreece Kingdom of Greece
AllegianceGreece Greek government-in-exile
Branch Hellenic Army
TypeSpecial Forces
SizeBattalion, later Regiment
EngagementsWorld War II

Greek Civil War

Decorations Commanders Cross of the Cross of Valour
War Cross First Class
Commanders
CommanderChristodoulos Tsigantes
Andreas Kalinskis

The Sacred Band or Sacred Squadron (Greek: Ιερός Λόχος) was a Greek special forces unit formed in 1942 in the Middle East, composed mostly of Greek officers and officer cadets under the command of Col. Christodoulos Tsigantes.[1][2] It fought alongside the SAS in the Western Desert and the Aegean, as well as with General Leclerc's Free French Forces in Tunisia.[3][4] It was disbanded in August 1945 but is the precursor to the modern Special Forces of the Hellenic Army.[5]

A monument to the Sacred band in Athens.
  1. ^ "Ιερός Λόχος: Οι πρώτοι Έλληνες καταδρομείς σε Αφρική και Αιγαίο (vid.) | History-point.gr". www.history-point.gr. 2022-05-30. Retrieved 2023-09-07.
  2. ^ "Χριστόδουλος Τσιγάντες : Ένας σπουδαίος Έλληνας". in.gr (in Greek). 2020-07-31. Retrieved 2023-09-07.
  3. ^ "B' ΠΑΓΚΟΣΜΙΟΣ ΠΟΛΕΜΟΣ". History War Museum (in Greek). Retrieved 2023-09-07.
  4. ^ "Ιερός Λόχος 1942-1945".
  5. ^ Ιωάννου, Δημήτρης (2019). Λοκατζήδες Εναντίον Συμμοριτών (in Greek). p. 61. From the start of August 1945, shortly before the disbanding of the Sacred Band, he contributed to the idea of creating a commando force of brigade size.