First Army (Greece)

The Greek First Army (1η Στρατιά, Proti Stratia), is the highest formation of the Hellenic Army and its only extant field army.

The First Army was created in March 1947, during the Greek Civil War. It controlled the II and III Corps, with Volos as its headquarters. It was abolished on 10 February 1948, and re-established in 1951 with its HQ at Larissa, where it remains to this day. Its CO is always a Lieutenant General.

Structure

 * [[Image:1st Army Emblem Greece.jpg|30px]] First Army (1η Στρατιά), based at Larissa, Thessaly which includes
 * III Army Corps/NDC-GR (Γ' Σώμα Στρατού - Γ' ΣΣ / NDC-GR), based at Thessaloniki, Macedonia
 * [[Image:I Army Corps Greece.jpg|30px]] I Army Corps (Α' Σώμα Στρατού - Α' ΣΣ), based at Kozani, Macedonia
 * [[Image:IV Army Corps Greece.jpg|30px]] IV Army Corps (Δ' Σώμα Στρατού - Δ' ΣΣ), based at Xanthi, Thrace

Emblem and Motto
The emblem of the 1st Army is an Ancient Macedonian shield, emblazoned with the sun of Vergina. It symbolizes determination, strength and the will of the First Army.

The motto is "As long as (the sun) follows his course" (εστ' αν (ο ήλιος) την αυτήν οδόν ίη, est' an (o ilios) tin aftin odon ii). Before the Battle of Plataea, Mardonius offered the Athenians peace terms, with the hope of dividing the Greek forces. The Athenians responded with "As long as the sun follows his course, as he does now, we shall not come to a compromise with Xerxes".