The battle at Agios Basilios of Parnon was one of the most important conflicts of the Civil War in the Peloponnese and is part of Operation "Pigeon", the clearing of the Peloponnese from the rebels. The 3rd division of the Democratic Army of Greece (DSE) operated in the area, which had developed significant activity throughout this period.
The DSE rebels had unsuccessfully attacked Leonidio with the 55th brigade. The High Command of Peloponnese ordered the two raiding squadrons that formed a group under Lt. Col. Loumakis, with C under Major Kefalas and D under Major Psarakis to cut off the retreat route of the 55th brigade.
Immediately the two squadrons moved under the leadership of D. The Locators arrived at the village of Agios Vasileios Parnonas around 22.00 on the evening of January 21, 1949. The course was particularly arduous as the snow, in some places, reached 1 meter. However, the two squadrons did not meet with DSE units during the approach phase.
Around 10:15 p.m. scouting commandos noticed the presence of rebels in the village. Thus it was decided to encircle the village during the night and attack the rebels at 06.30 on the morning of January 22 from all directions.
So it happened. The two squadrons surrounded the village with the 3rd Squadron having two Mountain Assault Companies (MOCs) north and west of the village and the 4th Squadron having three MOCs east and south. Two other LOK of the 3rd Squadron occupied commanding heights north and northwest of the village. At around 10:30 p.m., a rebel force was spotted entering the village along with transport animals.
The commandos did not prevent the opposing phalanx from entering the village so as not to reveal their positions. They were also ordered not to prevent individual rebels from leaving the village. At the same time, they got as close as possible to the village without being noticed. Commandos were ordered to strike only if their presence was noticed. However, such a thing did not happen.
Crash
At 06.15 on January 22, insurgents moved out of the village in small groups with the intention of setting up outposts around it... They had delayed many fatal hours for them to do the obvious. But immediately the Locatzis jumped out in front of them and I started firing. Hearing the shots, the other rebels inside the village tried to escape. But they fell upon the Locatzis who had surrounded them. The insurgents, panicked, could not find salvation anywhere at the moment when two LOK entered the village and started the liquidation.
By 08.00 the battle in the village had ended. An hour later a rebel force was seen moving towards the village. Having apparently heard the shots, they rushed to help their comrades in the village. This force was countered by two LOCKs of D Squadron. After the successful raid the two squadrons withdrew as the ammunition was almost exhausted and the men were starving, having fasted for 36 hours.
However, the victory in Agios Vasilios was the tombstone of the DSE in the Peloponnese. The 1st battalion of the 55th brigade, a company of the 3rd battalion and its logistics were destroyed in the village. The losses of the rebels were very serious and amounted to 208 dead and 85 prisoners. Among the dead were the commander of the 1st battalion Tsoukopoulos, the political leader of the 55th brigade Kotis, the head of logistics and three company commanders.