TOPOGRAPHY

Β΄ Τάγμα Σκαπανέων 1947. Καταυλισμός

The buildings and facilities in Makronissos were located on the western part of the island. A contemporary visitor will encounter buildings and ruins of the six camps that operated autonomously under the supervision of a captain and cadre of officers. Outposts, barbed wire fences and walls surrounded each camp.

More specifically, these camps [from north to south] were named as follows:

• Disciplinary CampDisciplinary Camp
  Military camp for political exiles overseen and administered by the gendarmerie. It was initially used for “preemptively detained” individuals from army operations in the northern Peloponnese over Christmas 1948. It was located north of the First Battalion at a site known as Trisanemi. (1948-July 1950)
• Second Sappers Battalion (Second Special Privates Battalion, B ETO)Second Sappers Battalion (Second Special Privates Battalion, B ETO)
  Military unit created in the Second Army Corps after a decision was taken not to remove citizens with “suspect political beliefs” from the army’s ranks but instead to assign them to units comprised of “undesirables”. It was the first such battalion to arrive and set up camp on Makronissos. Throughout its operation, it was the reception unit for newly arrived troops pending their transfer to the other two battalions. Subsequent to its stationing at Makronissos, it was renamed the Second Special Privates Battalion (B ETO). (1947-1953)
• Second Special Civilian Rehabilitation School (B ETO-ESAI)Second Special Civilian Rehabilitation School (B ETO-ESAI)
  Military camp for political exiles that was administered by the B ETO. It was created after the end of the Greek Civil War in October 1949, along with the Organisation of Makronissos Rehabilitation Centres (OAM), through which the army officially assumed the “political reform” of civilians. (1949-1950)
• First Sappers Battalion (First Special Privates Battalion, A ETO)First Sappers Battalion (First Special Privates Battalion, A ETO)
  Military unit created in the First Army Corps after a decision was taken not to remove citizens with “suspect political beliefs” from the army’s ranks but instead to assign them to units comprised of “undesirables”. From the outset, the First Battalion consisted of soldiers who refused to sign a repentance declaration upon arrival at Makronissos. Over time, many of those persisting in their refusal landed in this battalion, which became known as the “red battalion” or the “Democratic Army of Makronissos”. Conditions changed after the massacre of 29 February–1 March 1948. After its operation at Makronissos, the unit was renamed the First Special Privates Battalion (A ETO). (1947-1953)
• First Special Civilian Rehabilitation School (A ETO-ESAI)First Special Civilian Rehabilitation School (A ETO-ESAI)
  Military camp for political exiles that was administered by the A ETO. It was set up after the end of the Greek Civil War in October 1949, along with the Organisation of Makronissos Rehabilitation Centres (OAM), through which the army officially assumed the “political reform” of civilians. (1949-1950)
• Special Women’s Rehabilitation School (ESAG)Special Women’s Rehabilitation School (ESAG)
  Military camp for female political exiles that was under the administration of the A ETO. The ESAG was created within the operational framework of the Organisation of Makronissos Rehabilitation Centres (OAM) and received female political detainees from Trikeri in January 1950.
• Officers Presentation Centre COfficers Presentation Centre C
  Military camp at Makronissos for permanent and reserve officers of the prewar army who had joined the Greek People’s Liberation Army (ELAS) during wartime occupation. (1947-1948)
• Military Hospital of Makronissos (SNM) (1949-1953)
• Third Sappers Battalion (Third Special Privates Battalion, C ETO)Third Sappers Battalion (Third Special Privates Battalion, C ETO)
  Military unit created in the Third Army Corps after a decision was taken not to remove citizens with “suspect political beliefs” from the army’s ranks but instead to assign them to units comprised of “undesirables”. Under the command of Captain Panagiotis Skaloumbakas, it was the harshest and most brutal unit at Makronissos. Because such a large number of soldiers serving in the unit signed repentance declarations, it was dubbed the “blue battalion” and “the pool of Siloam”. Subsequent to its stationing at Makronissos, it was renamed the Third Special Privates Battalion (C ETO). (1947-1953)
• Athens Military Prison (SFA)Athens Military Prison (SFA)
  Facility used for the detention of soldiers and officers facing charges stemming from political and criminal infractions. (1947-1950)

Α΄ Ειδικό Τάγμα Οπλιτών και Ειδικό Σχολείο Αναμόρφωσης Ιδιωτών 1949

The topographic maps of Nikos Margaris offer a panorama of the Makronissos camps as they operated throughout time. Thanks to these sketches, it is possible today to reposition and reconstruct the locations of buildings and facilities.