Back Heilige Schar (Zweiter Weltkrieg) German Ιερός Λόχος Μέσης Ανατολής Greek Ieros Lochos Spanish Bataillon sacré (Seconde Guerre mondiale) French הגדוד הקדוש HE Ieròs Lòchos Italian Священный отряд (1942) Russian
| Sacred Band | |
|---|---|
&sq=Facebook&lang=en&file=File:Anders_Lassen_-_The_Holy_Legion.jpg) Unit insignia | |
| Active | 1942–1945 |
| Country |  Kingdom of Greece |
| Allegiance | Greek government-in-exile |
| Branch |  Hellenic Army |
| Type | Special Forces |
| Size | Battalion, later Regiment |
| Engagements | World War II |
| Decorations | &sq=Facebook&lang=en&file=File:GRE_Commander%27s_Medal_of_Valour_ribbon.svg){kind=small} Commanders Cross of the Cross of Valour&sq=Facebook&lang=en&file=File:GRE_War_Cross_1940_ribbon.svg){kind=small} War Cross First Class |
| Commanders | |
| Commander | Christodoulos 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]
&sq=Facebook&lang=en&file=File:SACRED-BAND-ATHENS.JPG)
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Χριστόδουλος Τσιγάντες : Ένας σπουδαίος Έλληνας". in.gr (in Greek). 2020-07-31. Retrieved 2023-09-07.
- ^ "B' ΠΑΓΚΟΣΜΙΟΣ ΠΟΛΕΜΟΣ". History War Museum (in Greek). Retrieved 2023-09-07.
- ^ "Ιερός Λόχος 1942-1945".
- ^ 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.