The II/16 Battalion of the X Division of the EDES was under the command of the then captain Ziogas. The commander of the division was Vasilios Kamaras. X Division was active in Thesprotia fighting against German and Albanian Axis collaborators. The forces of the Division were also confronted by the Tsamis between August 4-11, 1944.
The EDES forces clashed with the Tsamides and gradually expelled them from Greek territory. This fact is even today a reason for stupid complaints on the part of Albania, ignoring the fact that the Chamides and collaborators of the Germans were and committed terrible crimes against the Greeks.
"The Turkalvanians (Tsamides), armed under the Germans and cooperating with them, are holding positions against the forces of X Division EOEA, threatening the reoccupation of Paramythia and Parga. Despite this merciful attitude of theirs, the Division repeatedly called on them to surrender their weapons, guaranteeing their safety. In the then taking place agreements of Thou Kranias No. Commander of the Regiment and representatives of the allied mission also took these measures", says Ziogas in his 1956 report.
"Despite the Mission's appeals to this effect, the Turkalvans do not intend to come to a serious agreement. They maintained the post-German alliance and avoided meeting for agreement. Not only this, but also their attitude became hostile. They raided the villages of Dragani - Psakka - Grika between the two factions, destroying the grain gathered in the threshing floor and grabbing the sheep and goats. And those of the inhabitants who moved in isolation were murdered, thus forcing them to leave their villages.
"Meanwhile, the Division had information that in a few days, strong sections of the Albanian cheta would come to reinforce the Turkalvans, so in coordination with the Germans, they would launch an attack to recapture Paramythia. The danger was serious. After that, the Administrative officers of the EOEA advocate and the allied mission, ordered an attack against these Turkalvans to break up the armed forces and disarm them. The Division issued business order no. 233/2-8-44.
I. Enemy:Positive information states that Muslims are transporting women and children from the area of Tsamouria to the area of Gropa and that following an agreement with Albanian Chetan they are expecting reinforcements to strengthen the lines and it is possible that they will attack us.
II. Following the above information, the Division decided to occupy the heights NW Grikas, Psakka, Nikolitsi in order to improve the base of the expedition and to facilitate future operations towards Chamourgian.
III. To this end, the 16th Infantry Regiment, if on 4-8-44 it will attack in the direction of Ag. Theodoroi - Tsouka, it will understand and secure:
A'chrono:The complex of the heights of Grebala-Kiafa Darli-Mali Kladi-Trohali.
Second period:The immediately western heights of Dragani up to and including the height of Zeni. After the occupation of the Greballa heights, Kiafa Darli, to leave an organic section there with the mission to cover the flanks of the Constitution and repel a possible attack by the Muslims from the Groba area.
IV. Each year the 16th S.P. the 5th company of the 5th Regiment, reinforced by the armed reserves, will attack the above-mentioned area and engage the Turkalbanian units located on the heights with fire. Megali Rahi and then Bozour.
V. The 28th S.P. as soon as he perceived the manifestation of the next day's attack, during the above-mentioned time to occupy the enemy facing him with fire and to be ready for a possible forward movement.
VI. Finally, during operations I recommend calmness, determination, order and coherence, discipline, necessary elements for the success of the enterprise.
"As it follows from the above order, the capture of the objectives was assigned to the 16th Regiment, the Commander of the Tchis Krania Regiment, assigned to the 2nd Battalion under me the right frontal attack against the enemy.
"The Turkalvans put up a short resistance on their first line, lasting about half an hour, but due to their complete surprise and the insurgents' momentum, they retreated to natural fortified positions, which were held by several of their divisions. The rebels of the Syntagma, all coming from the area of Tsamourgia, were breathing against the hatred of these butchers of the Hellenism of Tsamouria and arsonists of their villages, chanting and chasing them with frenzied enthusiasm.
"The III Battalion under Lt. Gypsy, located in Grika, would also attack frontally from the left. The first objective was the occupation of the heights. Grebala – Kiafa Darli – Mali Kladi – Trohali. On the evening of August 3-4, in complete secrecy, I concentrated my battalion in Agios Theodoros. As soon as darkness came, it moved through my entire battalion. The commanders of the companies were those who had taken part in the battle of Agios Theodoros (5th company Major Christopoulos, 6th Major Grivakos and of the Machinery companies Major Panagiotakopoulos).
"The 5th company was ahead, followed by the 6th and then the Machinery company. Around midnight, the entire battalion gathered under cover at a short distance from the positions of the Turkalvans. I gave the directions of the pre-identified previous sectors of the companies (6th right 5th left). After the 5th company and Machinery company, around the morning hours, all the companies had occupied the positions of those who had reached the assault distance. He joined immediately after the Commander of the Skull Regiment, who was behind his command group on the right of the III Battalion, the divisions of which had occupied positions and were awaiting the arrival of my battalion.
"At 4:00 a.m. on the 4th of August, the Regimental Commander fired the signal shot and the sortie was suddenly launched. After a while, however, the 5th company and the Machinery company and the right divisions of the III Battalion, met the second line of resistance of the Turkalvans who held fortified positions on the heights of Mali Kladi - Mali Droga.
"The 6th company of my Battalion, which was at the extreme right of the whole formation, after overturning the Turkalvans occupying positions in front of it, continued the pursuit of them, went to the village of Kolestati and captured it. I ordered this company to remain in this position, protecting our right in case the Germans move from Menin, and after the other companies, we continue the battle in the second line of resistance.
"The mortars of the 2nd company actively attack the fortified positions of the Turkalvans, while at the same time the 5th company attacks to occupy the neck between Mali Kladi - Mali Droga. Divisions of the III Battalion are moving hyperkerastically of the Mali Branch from the left. A machine gun of the Turkalvans installed on a fortified rock is constantly firing at the enemy. Following the battle, the British officer Dave, after a section of insurgents, moves on the height of Mali Klidi in a hyperkerastic manner and occupies a position above the firing machine gun of the Turkalvans.
"At the first shots of Dave's division, the only Turkalvans who resisted were put to flight. The 5th company occupies the Mali Droga neck and hill moving towards the village of Nunesation. The Turkalvans fortified on the heights immediately west of Nunesati (between Nunesati and Tsamanda) already put up serious resistance. Parts of the 5th company enter Nunesation from where they engage the enemy. Other parts of this company occupy positions on the northwestern foothills of the Mali Branch and engage the enemy.
"The Machinery Company places the two mortars in a position immediately northwest of the neck and puts actively against the positions of the Turkalvans. My battalion is already fighting fiercely against the desperately defending Turkalvans trying to hold these positions in order to cover the escape of the families of the remaining divisions who left the Gropas area towards Filiatas and fled when the divisions of the 65th and 28th Regiments appeared. This stubborn struggle, in which the Turkalvans claim the ground hand-to-hand, continues until the evening hours, when these heights were also captured under my battalion, but after the battle it remained in Nunesation. The Turkalvans, after their families, were constantly retreating to the area of Filiaton.
"For a long time this fierce battle lasts, on the neck above Nunesati, we find the Commander of the Tchis Krania Regiment, Lieutenant Christopoulos, the commander of the 5th Company Lt. Col. Kotsio-Nicolas and the suspect. Christopoulos was busy with the positioning of a group of rebels after the officer Panagiotakopoulos, he was busy with the placement of mortars. Tchis Kranias consulted after the chieftain Kotsios-Nicolas from afar. At times their discussion, focused mainly on the collection of spoils during the battles, became heated.
"I was at that moment with Christopoulos, when we perceived Kotsios-Nicolas heading with the pistol in his hands towards Kranias, threatening him. Then Christopoulos immediately shouted "Kotsio, you are not ashamed of what you are doing". I ran straight away, intervened between Kranias and Kotsio-Nicolas, preventing the latter by exorcising him to leave the settlement of his possible differences to a more convenient time, and advanced towards the fighting divisions. At my sight, Kotsionikolas stopped immediately, lowered his pistol and said to Kranias "Have mercy on Ziogan, otherwise I would have killed you." After he leaves, you immediately go to the front line of fire.
"After the end of the battle, Kranias, angered by the behavior of Kotsio-Nicolas, departed through Paramythian with the intention of abandoning the rebel struggle. From Grikas they communicated to me his written order by which he informed me of the above purpose of handing over to me the Administration of the Regiment. However, the day after the intervention of the Division, Kranias returned and therefore took over the administration of the Regiment.
"Whenever Kranias was absent, he took measures to secure the grain stores found in Nunesati, to notify the Division to send transports to receive them. The Division sent a battalion and transports under the commander-in-chief Muselemen and he personally led a patrol carrying the wheat to the Division's warehouses to avoid conflict between the rebels. By order of the Regiment on the 8th of August, after my two companies (5th and Machinamata) they set off to occupy Korytiani, where I would join up with my 6th company located in Sanmiriza, with orders to capture the dominant heights of the Menini-Igoumenitsa road.
"About noon I found myself in Korytianin (a village inhabited entirely by Christians) which was completely deserted. The Christians, fearing the Turkalvans, left their homes and wandered fasting in the forests throughout our battles. Having perceived our presence, they regained their courage and immediately came to gather in their village. Weeping, the insurgents came of age as the savior of those from the martyrdom of the Chamids.
"I ordered the 6th Company and it occupied the heights in front of it up to Korytiani, and he himself, after the 5th Company and the 2nd Machinery, moved towards the village the same day... (not written by the editor), I understand the areas immediately above the village Dramesi dominating the carriage heights. The day after our arrival, the Turkalvans in Dramesi, reinforced by mortars from those in Rhyzia, launched an attack against my battalion, and repulsed them with loss.
"Meanwhile, Kranias after the 3rd Battalion had occupied the "Vatanetsi" hill, aligning this formation of the Syntagma to occupy the dominants of the carriage road of the heights. At the same time, the 65th Regiment also occupied the village... where it freed 100 Greeks who had been imprisoned by the Turkalvans in a concentration camp and thus the entire Division now controlled the Meninis - Igoumenitsis road.
"The Turkalbanians who left Thesprotian as a family crossed Kalaman and gathered in the area of Filiaton. On the 9th of August, the honorable Grivakos, commander of the 6th Company, captured a German cyclist prisoner whom he sent with an escort to Paramythian. My battalion remained in its positions until the 11th of August, when, following the order of the Division, it returned to Paramythian in reserve. After the battle of August 4, the following order of the Division was communicated to the battalion".
Daily Division order of August 4, 1944.
"To the Commander of the 16th Regiment, to the Commanders of II/16, III/16 and II/65 battalions, to all the officers, commanders and rebels of the as well as to the reserve rebels of the villages of Grika, Psakka, Dragani, Kyra Panagia , Xirolofou, Rahouli, Sevastos and Pakratiou, I express my admiration for the proud victory, which they achieved today against the Turkalvanian units of the German Army. I was particularly moved by the amazing speed with which our divisions carried out their mission, realizing their objective well before the predicted time despite the numerical superiority of the enemy, who had been fortified for a long time on high slopes and rocky heights. It is with particular joy and emotion that I express the gratitude of our country and my infinite thanks to the representatives of our Great Allies, American Captain Mr. Rogers, English officer Mr. Dave, English officer Mr. Dunn and American Army selectman Spyron, for the active participation as ordinary fighters in today's attack.
The Division Commander V. Kamaras”