The Battle of Meritsa (Greek: Μάχη της Μερίτσας) or Battle of Oxyneia (Μάχη της Οξύνειας) was fought on 11–12 February 1943 between some 800 men of the Greek People's Liberation Army (ELAS), under Nestoras Vokas (nom de guerre "Tzavellas"), Nikos Zaralis ("Chasiotis"), Ilias Kafantaris ("Adamantios") and artillery 2nd Lieutenant Aristidis Bloutsos (MIDAS) against a Royal Italian Army battalion.

The Battle of Meritsa was the first victorious battle of the Greek National Resistance and had tremendous impact on Greek morale.

It was fought at the village of Meritsa (modern Oxyneia) near Kalambaka. In the battle, 137 Italians were killed, and 160 were taken prisoner, along with their entire equipment, including 4 mortars, 20 automatic weapons, and over 2,000 grenades. The partisans released their prisoners, but kept the equipment.[1][2][3]

The Greek side had only seven casualties.

References

  1. ↑ Αρχεία Εθνικής Αντίστασης, 1941-1944, p. 331.
  2. ↑ Eudes 1973, pp. 43–44.
  3. ↑ Mazower 1993, p. 135.

Sources

  • Eudes, Dominique (1973). The Kapetanios: Partisans and Civil War in Greece, 1943-1949. Translated by John Howe. New York and London: Monthly Review Press. ISBN 978-0-85345-275-1.
  • Hellenic Army History Directorate (1998). Αρχεία Εθνικής Αντίστασης, 1941-1944 [National Resistance Archives, 1941-1944]. Athens: Hellenic Army History Directorate. ISBN 978-9607897060.
  • Mazower, Mark (1993). Inside Hitler's Greece: The Experience of Occupation, 1941–44. New Haven and London: Yale University Press. ISBN 0-300-06552-3.

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