17th Infantry Division (Greece) explained

Unit Name:17th Infantry Division
XVII Μεραρχία Πεζικού (XVII ΜΠ)
Dates:1940–1941
Branch: Hellenic Army
Type:Infantry
Size:Division
Battles:Greco-Italian War

The 17th Infantry Division (Greek, Modern (1453-);: XVII Μεραρχία Πεζικού, XVII ΜΠ; XVII Merarchia Pezikou, XVII MP) was an infantry division of the Hellenic Army that fought in the Greco-Italian War.

Pre-war plans for defence against a joint Italian–Bulgarian attack (Plan "IB") envisaged the raising of the 17th Division during mobilization, and its employment against Bulgaria under the Kavala Army Section, in eastern Macedonia.

When Italy invaded Greece in October 1940, the division was mobilized, but as Bulgaria remained neutral, it was transferred to the Albanian front and fought against the Italian army as part of III Army Corps under the Western Macedonia Army Section. Following the German invasion of Greece and the capitulation of the Greek army in Albania, the division was disbanded.

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