Skra Victory (1918): Greece's Military, Political, and Social Gain

Abstract

This article examines the successful Greek army operation at Skra in May 1918. This battle was the first significant deployment of Greek troops during World War I. For the Greek army, this operation was of utmost importance, as it would demonstrate both its combat capability and its willingness to fight alongside the Entente. Through the utilization of primary and secondary sources, the article analyzes the preparation of the Greek divisions and the execution of the attack. However, the research is not limited to a purely military analysis. The victorious outcome of the battle had multiple ramifications. On an international level, it strengthened Venizelos's credibility with the Allies and gave the Greek army the opportunity to demonstrate its fighting capacity and its willingness to fight alongside the Entente. At the same time, the victory demoralized the Bulgarian soldiers and broke the deadlock on the Macedonian Front. Domestically, the victory at Skra strengthened Venizelos's political position and filled the divided Greek society with pride, mitigating the disagreements of the recent past. Finally, within the Greek army itself, this particular battle acted as a catalyst. It filled it with self-confidence, morale, and faith in its combat capabilities. At the same time, it inspired those loyal to the political neutrality of Constantine, who had been reluctant to participate in the war, to enlist and fight.