Key Facts
- Date
- 11–12 February 1943
- Italian killed
- 137
- Italian captured
- 160
- Greek (ELAS) casualties
- 7
- ELAS fighters engaged
- 800
- Equipment seized
- 4 mortars, 20 automatic weapons, 2,000+ grenades
Strategic Narrative Overview
On 11–12 February 1943, approximately 800 ELAS partisans under commanders Nestoras Vokas, Nikos Zaralis, Ilias Kafantaris, and artillery officer Aristidis Bloutsos engaged a Royal Italian Army battalion near the village of Meritsa. The Greek fighters inflicted heavy losses on the Italians, killing 137 and capturing 160 soldiers along with substantial military equipment including mortars, automatic weapons, and grenades.
01 / The Origins
By 1943, Axis forces — including Royal Italian Army units — occupied Greece following the 1941 invasion. Greek resistance coalesced around ELAS, the armed wing of the communist-led EAM movement. Operating in the mountainous Thessaly region near Kalambaka, ELAS commanders sought to challenge Italian garrison forces and demonstrate that organised armed resistance could succeed against occupation troops.
03 / The Outcome
The Italian prisoners were released by the Greek partisans, who retained all captured weapons and equipment. Greek casualties numbered only seven. The outcome significantly boosted Greek morale and demonstrated ELAS as a capable fighting force. The battle is recognised as the first outright victory of the Greek National Resistance, encouraging further organised partisan activity throughout occupied Greece.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Side B
1 belligerent
Nestoras Vokas ('Tzavellas'), Nikos Zaralis ('Chasiotis'), Ilias Kafantaris ('Adamantios'), Aristidis Bloutsos ('MIDAS').
Kinetic Engagement Axis
Scroll horizontally to view full axis. Events plotted relatively.