The British saboteurs' mission was to blow up one of the three bridges located in Greece
Papadias,
Asopos or Gorgopotamos
because
The train coming from Germany passed through there, carrying supplies to Piraeus,
so that ships could pick them up and transport them to the Middle East to General Rommel
………………………………………..
The English had financed Napoleon Zervas with a flood of gold lyres to organize a guerrilla force, but when they needed him, on the eve of the operation,
managed to recruit—after conducting local conscription—only 60 nomads
………………………………………..
The English leader, Eddie Myers, was at his wits' end when he saw this situation, but the crafty Zervas,
she understood him
and sent representatives to notify Aris Velouchiotis to meet with them regarding an extremely serious matter
………………………………………..
When Ares arrived at the meeting, Zervas explained the mission to him and told him that, since their own forces weren't enough, they were also asking for his help
and
how this would be in the national interest
………………………………………..
Aris stopped him with a single move
and said to him:
«My fellow general, there’s no need for you to beg me, nor
Don't go to the trouble of explaining it to me.
»I am ready to take part in the operation by providing whatever resources are needed."
………………………………………..
So, in addition to the 60 EDES officers, 150 ELAS officers were added, led by Aris himself
………………………………………..
The plan is drawn up and refined by a joint team of EDES-ELAS and British personnel, and the final plan and the operation order are signed by Aris.
………………………………………..
The southern pier of the bridge is the most difficult to capture because it is guarded by 80 Italian soldiers and barbed wire, as well as two machine guns hidden behind concrete barriers.
………………………………………..
So here, Aris sends in their own men,
the men of the Hellenic Police
i.e.
four groups of 15 men, led by
Lightning,
Geka,
Karalivano,
Nikitara
and
Leading them all is Aris's aide-de-camp, Kostoulas
………………………………………..
on the northern pier of the bridge, which is guarded by about 30 Italians, with no barbed wire,
They are sending 40 EDES members,
led by Permanent Second Lieutenant Sotiris Papachristou
………………………………………..
Some other ELAS units have been sent to sabotage the train lines to the north and south to prevent reinforcements from arriving
and a mixed team will assist the saboteurs at the bottom of the ravine, where the bridge abutments are
………………………………………..
This is the first time that the peasant rebels will attempt a nighttime attack on an area guarded by soldiers
………………………………………..
In modern armies, this is done by commandos who have undergone special physical and mental training
………………………………………..
The general assault is scheduled for 11 p.m., and the deadline set by Ares was 15 minutes.
i.e.
In 15 minutes, they should be done with the checkpoints
………………………………………..
Aris has kept a general reserve force on standby, consisting of Nikiforos and 30 officers from the Hellenic Police
………………………………………..
Thus,
as today,
on November 25, 1942,
11 and the first 6 minutes,
Gunshots can be heard, and about a quarter of the way from the southern platform, the Hellenic Police fire a signal flare to indicate that they have taken the outpost
………………………………………..
In the north, however, where EDES is attacking, the rifle fire continues without a single flare
………………………………………..
Shortly thereafter, Second Lieutenant Papachristou arrived running at the command post to report the failure to the general….
………………………………………..
Dark despair overwhelms Zervas, but Aris takes the initiative
«Nikiforos, Thanos, Pericles, Pelopidas!,",
Take the backup, and make sure you're done with the bridge in twenty minutes; otherwise, don't come back.
Anyone who backs down will be executed on the spot.
Get out!
………………………………………..
and reassures the drugged Zerva as well:
«Don't worry, General… That crazy guy (Nikiforos) will pull it off.»
………………………………………..
"Right away," and even though the reserve hasn't really been withdrawn yet, he tells the English
saboteur:
«Don't worry about the gunshots"
»Just go for it and do your job. Don't wait for the signal."
………………………………………..
indeed
Within a quarter of an hour, the northern outpost also fell, and shortly afterward, two explosions shook the entire area and were reported,
the greatest act of sabotage of World War II
I'm not the one saying it,
Churchill himself says in his memoirs that the Gorgopotamos and the heavy-water sabotage in Rjukan, southern Norway
was
The two biggest acts of sabotage during World War II.
………………………………………..
P.S. During the civil war, the Greek state (which was ruled by collaborators) was looking for,
to charge those who had participated in the sabotage with “damage to state property”
