Chapter 4. First Balkan War.
Constantine.
Crown prince was already with his army when the war was officially declared.
Back in Athens, Venizelos too was very busy enacting new laws for state of war:
But Constantine concentrated on battle strategy.
Although allies had clear advantage over turks, prince understood that this war wouldn't be the last. Thus turks should not just be driven from Europe. Allies should deliver such heavy blow to Ottomans which would criplle them and eventually kill their state.
So he decied that his plan must be about making big encirclements that should completely destroy turkish main forces.
A Coma stratou with only infantry will go through Katerini directly to north. When they meet bulgarian forces they create big encirclement of the whole turkish army in southern Serbia.
B Coma stratou (mountaineers) will create small pocket between Greece and Albania and then will proceed to crush trapped forced in Serbia.
A Coma Stratou will have one more goal - encircle city of Salonica and rush to Thrace with hope to create another pocket.
First batlles were almost bloodless. Disorganized turks run as soon as they saw greek troops.
Constantine was finally happy. Everything he dreamed about was becoming true.
His army was clearely superior to turks. And nothing could stop his men.
With liberation of Morti greek recon discovered an ottoman fleet in Kerkyta. Admiral Pavlos Koundouriotis made his move to intercept turks in sea.
Turkish soldiers runs for their lives from any encounter.
And even wheh they decied to finally fight:
It won't last long. These 3 soldiers were first greek victims of this war.
Constantine decided to personally send letters to their families.
But ottomans were not without teeth. With surprise attack they occupied some Montenegro's territory and made them capitulate:
It was first alled defeat. And last one.
Constantine marched north with his men. Everywhere greek peasants met him as liberator.
Just after 5 days Constantine's troops created small pocket (with turkish HQ) in Ioannina and continued north without almost any resistance.
But still there was time for future plans.
Venizelos' new laws greatly improved economic potencial of the country so Constantine could persuade government to fund new project - modern british destroyer.
With Greece location strong fleet is not a luxury, but a question of survival.
2 days later Kerkyta greek division finally arrived in Kerkyta. Turkish fleet runs from incoming troops:
But then it was a pure bad luck. After clear sunrise it becames hazy. In thick fog ottoman ships passed greek blockade and went south. When admiral Pavlos understood his failure he ordered pursuit. Alas, all efforts were in vain. Finally sailors from ironclad Psara saw some smoke ahead:
It was old ironclad which obviously was left to give chance for other ships to escape.
Battle was short:
On land Constantine's troops finally meet ottoman most fearful warriors:
But even they couldn't match greek attackers. Being out of supply clearly couldn't help them. Battle was won even before reinforcements arrived.
20th of October was fall of Ioannina.
Turks (officers and staff from HQ) surrendered to Constantine himself:
Crown prince decided to send officers home. They didn't kill any of his soldiers so he thought that some kindness in war couldn't be bad.
Just one day later Constantine's first objective was achieved:
Big encirclement was made. 2 infantry divisions, 1 cavalry brigade and 1 HQ was cut from other ottomans forces. Allies began closing pocket.
Turkish army was such horrible mess that one greek division could effectively assault 4 turkish divisions including cavalry!
24th of October greeks and serbs finally finished first pocked.
About 12000 turks were captured.
Recon showed that ottomans were desperately trying to stabilize front in eastern Macedony and Thrace agains Bulgaria.
But they didn't know that it was one big trap:
6 full divisons were encircled in Kavala.
Turks had big fleet in Smyrna, but still Constantine gave order to fleet.
With artillery suppory of armored cruisers, greeks and bulgarians easily destroyed resistance and captured almost 50 thousands turks!
After great victory in Kavala England and France were shocked. They didn't want allies to finish Ottoman Empire completely. They pressured every government with direct warning of possible intervention.
While negotiations were conducted greeks made Salonika's garrison surrender:
Constantine ordered military parade in liberated city:
After just one month of the war turks were almost driven from Europe:
But then shocking news came:
Great powers declared that if allies want to continue the war, they would intervene.
Constantine was feeling betrayed. After such great hopes being forced to stop was a heavy blow for him.
But he understood that Venizelos and king couldn't refuse. Treaty of London was implemented.
Of course it was still huge victory. Greece expands north with the important city of Saloniki being integrated in country.
Whole november greeks were celebrating this victory. But even then Constantine knew that this was just a beginning. There will be a new war and he had to be ready.
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