This thematic exhibition sheds light on the modern military history of Greece exploring the evolution of warfare technology, tactical innovation, and engineering. From the Greek War of Independence to the contemporary battlefield, Artillery has played a key role in the country’s defensive structure, reflecting the continuous pursuit of balance between innovation, strategy, and mobility in order to achieve tactical advantage.
Artillery is among the earliest organized branches of the Greek Army, dating back to the War of Independence of 1821, when the First National Assembly laid the foundations of a regular army composed of Infantry, Cavalry, Artillery, and Engineers. The first organized presence of artillery was recorded in June 1821 in Kalamata, with two mountain guns supporting the regular corps of Dimitrios Ypsilantis. Despite its destruction at the Battle of Peta (1822), this effort marked the beginning of the formation of a modern military branch.
In 1828, the first Artillery Battalion was established, with an organized structure and a significant number of guns, laying the groundwork for the gradual development of the branch. Throughout the 19th century, and particularly during the reign of King Otto, Artillery acquired a clearly defined organizational identity and was equipped with state-of-the-art artillery pieces from European manufacturers of the time, such as Krupp and Schneider.
During the Balkan Wars (1912–1913), Artillery played a decisive role in major battles, from Sarantaporo to Bizani, making use of new technologies such as the 75 mm field gun, which enabled the application of indirect fire.
Greece’s contribution to the development of mountain artillery was marked by an unusual episode, as two distinguished officers independently submitted designs for new mountain artillery systems to the companies Schneider and Krupp. Petros Lykoudis and Panagiotis Danglis found themselves competing for authorship of the original designs. Ultimately, the design of Danglis prevailed and was adopted by the French firm Schneider, leading in 1908 to the acceptance of the legendary artillery piece of the Hellenic Army, the 75 mm Schneider–Danglis mountain gun, which played a significant role in all military operations up until 1941.
The Škoda artillery piece was also employed which, unlike many heavy artillery weapons of its time, possessed considerable mobility—for a howitzer of such calibre—thanks to a well-designed towed carriage and a dedicated tractor. Moreover, positioning the Škoda gun in place typically required two to three hours, a relatively short period by the standards of the First World War.
Where mechanization was impossible, pack and draught animals constituted a critical factor in the operational success of Artillery for decades, ensuring the transport of guns, ammunition, and supplies across difficult terrain. Particularly during the Asia Minor Campaign, thousands of oxen, mules, horses, and even camels were used to move artillery pieces across the arid landscape of the Anatolian hinterland, providing tactical flexibility due to their endurance and adaptability.
The significance of the terms “light,” “medium,” and “heavy” as applied to tanks changed during the interwar period. During and immediately after the First World War, a “light tank” was considered to weigh up to 10 tons, a “medium” tank approximately 10 to 25 tons, and a “heavy” tank more than 25 tons. Approaching the Second World War, a range of operational characteristics—such as armour protection—evolved, resulting in increased weight ranges: light tanks exceeded 20 tons, medium tanks exceeded 30 tons, and heavy tanks, developed toward the end of the war, exceeded 60 tons.
In Greece, during the interwar years and the Second World War, Artillery adapted to the demands of modern warfare, being divided into branches such as Field Artillery and Anti-Aircraft Artillery. It participated actively in the operations of Pindus, Korçë, and Kleisoura, and following the Occupation it was reorganized in the Middle East, taking part in the battles of El Alamein and Rimini.
The year 1946 marked the beginning of a new era with the institutional establishment of the Armoured Corps, as an evolution of the Cavalry. The introduction of main battle tanks decisively enhanced the Army’s combat power and inaugurated the modern concept of combined arms warfare: firepower provided by Artillery and mobility and protection by the Armoured Forces.
Notable figures associated with Artillery include, among others, Lieutenant General Panagiotis Danglis (1853–1924), who developed the Schneider–Danglis artillery gun; Second Lieutenant Pavlos Melas (1870–1904), who fought in the Macedonian Struggle; and Dimitrios Kamberos (1880–1942), who, although an Artillery officer, carried out the first flight with a military aircraft in Greece and earned the nickname “Trelokamperos” (“Mad Kamberos”) due to his daring flights.
Also noteworthy is Major Konstantinos Versis (1901–1941), who, refusing to accept the humiliating terms imposed by the Germans, ordered his men to assemble the battery’s guns and sing the National Anthem, facing south toward the rest of Greece. After rendering a military salute to the guns, he ordered their destruction and, during the ensuing explosions, took his own life.
Finally, Georgios Papadopoulos, later dictator of Greece, had served as an Artillery officer, while Stylianos Pattakos was a dismissed Major General of the Armoured Corps.
Within the tactical structure of the battlefield, Artillery functions as a force multiplier, capable of shaping the operational environment from a distance through the indirect, precise, and synchronized application of firepower. With proper positioning, coordination, and integration into combined operations, it can suppress enemy positions, weaken opposing defenses, and facilitate the advance of friendly forces in both offensive and defensive missions.
The power of Artillery is not limited to the firing of heavy projectiles; rather, it lies in its ability to support, coordinate, and enhance the actions of individual combat arms, making it one of the most critical factors in the modern tactical battlespace.
Today, Artillery operates in close synergy with Armoured Forces, making use of self-propelled artillery systems and multiple rocket launcher systems. This cooperation forms an integrated combat system in which technology, expertise, and maneuver are combined to support forces on the battlefield.
The emblem of Artillery, featuring crossed cannons and a guided projectile, bears the ancient maxim “Strength through Knowledge”, encapsulating the technical and scientific character of the Weapon. Accordingly, the emblem of the Armoured Forces features crossed swords with a horseshoe, symbolizing the predecessor of the branch, together with a battle tank, representing the modern Armoured Forces with their firepower and striking capability. It is accompanied by the motto “Where glory and duty lie.”
From the first cannons of the War of Independence to modern missile systems, Artillery and Armoured Forces narrate a shared story of evolution, adaptation, and strategic advantage.
In this Thematic Exhibition, visitors will find 3D models from the collection of the Hellenic War Museum, historical photographs from the Balkan Wars, the Asia Minor Campaign, and the 2 World Wars, as well as tactical maps, correspondence, manuals, and manuscripts that illuminate aspects of Greece’s military history, alongside projectiles, mortars, shells, and equipment.
The exhibition contains items from the following institutions:
