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It is with great emotion and national pride that we gathered here today at the Park of the Fallen and Missing of the 33rd Commando Squadron in Mari, to celebrate the annual national memorial of the officers, non-commissioned officers and commandos of the squadron who died fighting during the Turkish invasion of 1974.
To honor those who fought with unparalleled courage, offering their lives as a sacrifice on the altar of our country's freedom.
Those who, knowing full well that they would face the superior forces of the lawless criminal invader, with courage and self-denial found themselves fighting in the bottomless depths of the darkness caused by the Turkish invasion, declaring themselves thunderously "present" to the call of duty and honour.
We therefore commemorate and present wreaths of honour and gratitude to the legendary "debt unmoved" green berets of the 33rd Commando Squadron.
First of all, I would like to thank the Association "33rd Commando Squadron 1974 - Pellapais" for the honourable invitation to greet today's event.
The place where we are today, a sacred place, a place of self-knowledge, reflection and prayer, reminds all of us that it is our duty and mission to commit ourselves to the national goal, which is none other than the liberation of our occupied land.
On the occasion of today's event, I welcome to Cyprus the family of the heroic commander of the Squadron Georgios Katsanis, as well as Vassilios Rocca, then commander of the 33rd Combat Company, and I express our gratitude to them for their heroism and bravery.
I also welcome the commandos General Konstantinos Trachanatzis, who served in the squadron after the military operations of 74, and Demosthenes Roukas, who served in the squadron before the Turkish invasion and subsequently returned to Cyprus, as an Officer of the 1st Commando Squadron in operation "NIKI".
The moving accounts of the 33rd Commando Squadron's lockeys, who fought alongside their officers in the critical battles that were fought, describe the ethos, fortitude, leadership and unparalleled heroism they displayed on the field of honour and duty.
As those who lived through them testify, when they came face to face with death they did not faint and never for a moment thought of abandoning their sacred weapons.
They remained there, to the very end, leading the way on the front line.
There, while the fire was burning.
On the day of the Turkish invasion of 1974, the National Guard Commando Squadrons were ordered to implement the "LAVIDA Plan". It provided for the occupation of the heights of the Pentadaktylos, which surrounded the Ayrta crossing, in order to destroy the Turkish outposts and prevent the beachhead of the invasion forces from connecting with the Turkish Cypriot enclave of Kioneli.
In the afternoon, the 33rd Squadron advanced to the dispersal areas, which were the starting point of the night action, targeting the Petromouthkia, Pavlidis Tower, Gamila and Agios Ilarion heights.
At 11 p.m. the operation began. The Squadron Commander marched in front, along with the 1st Company. At two o'clock on Sunday morning, July 21, after three hours of stormy fighting, the first two heights were captured. The next objective was St. Hilarion, which by the early hours of the morning was placed in the possession of our brave lockeys.
And while everyone expected the replacement of the Rangers with Infantry units, as was foreseen in the plans, this never happened. The light of the next day found the fighters of the Commando Squadron defending themselves against the fierce attack of the Turkish invader, now reinforced with special forces units.
Unfortunately, during the next day, when the ammunition level began to drop dangerously and the Turks continued to reinforce themselves with additional forces in the fierce battle that ensued, the order was given to abandon the occupied heights and return to the dispersal areas.
The disengagement effort unfolded with fierce fighting and a barrage of fire from the Turks. At nine o'clock on the morning of July 21, the commander of the squadron crossed the threshold of the pantheon of our nation's immortal heroes in tears. He fell fighting a sniper's bullet. Standing, unarmed, unscathed.
The repeated attempts of his comrades-in-arms to reach him to give him the necessary assistance proved fruitless. Due to the sheer volume of fire they were receiving, they were forced to seek safe escape to the rear to rescue themselves, unfortunately leaving fellow soldiers dead on the battlefield.
In the following days, despite the grief and bitterness over the tragic death of their commander, and the unpleasant feeling of frustration at not having fulfilled their mission, the brave commandos of the 33rd Squadron continued to undertake missions and fight with all their might.
On 22 July, the 33rd Strike Company of Lieutenant Vasilios Rocca and the 31st of the late Lieutenant Nikolaos Katounta were ordered to proceed to Agios Georgios Kyrenia, with the mission of intercepting the Turkish forces attempting to reinforce and expand the established beachhead.
The force was led by the deputy commander of the squadron, Captain Evangelos Mantzouratos, who after the death of Georgios Katsanis took over the command of the squadron. The fight quickly evolved into an unequal but heroic battle against the Turkish forces, who in the intervening time succeeded in landing a large number of tanks and armoured vehicles.
They were quickly surrounded and fought an epic stand-off in all directions, displaying unparalleled bravery and valour, but suffering many casualties.
In addition to the thrilling events that were unfolding at Pentadaktylos, the 32nd Combat Company, led by Lieutenant Christos Kotsalis, fought fiercely at Nicosia Airport.
The 32nd Combat Company, led by Lieutenant Christos Kotsalis, fought fiercely at Nicosia Airport. Having at their side the 1st Commando Squadron, which arrived in Cyprus with the NORATLAS of operation "NIKI", they successfully repelled the continuous attacks of the Turkish forces, preventing the occupation of the airport, before it was finally surrendered to the UN forces.
On 23 July, after the decision for a ceasefire, the squadron went to its camp and then to Nicosia for reconstruction, remaining there until the beginning of the second phase of the invasion, when it continued its epic struggle first at the Panagra crossing, replacing the 31st Squadron, and then at Agia Marina Skylura.
In the battles fought in July 74, the 33rd Commando Squadron paid a heavy blood toll.
Sixty-nine officers and privates have fallen or are missing to this day, having deeply rooted in their hearts the motto "O Tolmon Nika" and the saying of the last Byzantine Emperor Constantine Palaiologos "All of them died of their own free will and do not fear for their lives", did not think for a moment to abandon their positions, but remained there until the end, until the last moment.
Along with the commandos we also commemorate the five reserve infantry privates who followed the 33rd Squadron and who fought and lost their lives at Pentadaktylus. Their remains were found in 2017 in the group grave where the remains of Georgios Katsanis were found and identified in 2020, as part of the work of the Missing Persons' Committee.
Reflecting today on the greatness of the sacrifice of those we commemorate today, we are called upon to understand our own debt to our homeland.
The wounds of the Turkish invasion and prolonged occupation have remained open and unhealed for 49 years.
We experience them every day. We see the pain and despair in the eyes of the families of our fallen, the families of our missing.
A historical debt reflected through the heroism and sacrifice of the souls we honour today.
To fight to the bitter end to protect what is in danger and to claim what belongs to us.
For our part, we state clearly that we will not compromise with the unacceptable status quo.
We cannot compromise with the occupation.
The priority of the President of the Republic, Mr. The priority of President Nicos Christodoulides is to break the deadlock and resume the process of talks to find a solution to the Cyprus problem.
A solution that will allow all our fellow Cypriots to prosper in conditions of coexistence and peace, without anachronistic dependencies and without a system of guarantees.
Only when we succeed in liberating our long-suffering homeland will we be able to justify the sacrifice of the heroically fallen of the 33 Commando Squadron.
Only then will we be able to repay our debt to those who, by their example, illuminated the difficult path of responsibility and struggle.
Honor and glory to the brave commandos.
Honor and glory to those who watered the tree of freedom of our homeland with their blood.
May their memory be eternal.
We pray to the Most High for the determination of the fate of our missing brothers and sisters.
We pray to the Most High for the determination of the fate of our missing brothers and sisters.
Thank you.
(AF/EXP)
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs to PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
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