The Army of the Evros was formed following the
defeat and evacuation of the
Army of Asia Minor from
Anatolia in August 1922. Hostilities between Greece and Turkey ceased with the
Armistice of Mudanya, but the Armistice obliged the Greek army to evacuate
Eastern Thrace (awarded to Greece with the
Treaty of Sèvres in 1920) and withdraw behind the
Evros river.
Negotiations for a final peace treaty began between Greece, Turkey and the
Allied Powers in
Lausanne, but the resumption of warfare in a new Greco-Turkish war remained a possibility as irreconcilable differences separated the Greek and Turkish positions, especially in the matter of
war reparations demanded by the Turkish delegation. The revolutionary military government that had
seized control of Greece in September 1922 immediately set about reorganizing the remnants of the Army of Asia Minor as the "Army of the Evros". This task was undertaken by the capable Lt. General
Theodoros Pangalos, who quickly managed to restore order and discipline in the army and form a capable fighting force comprising the
II,
III and
IV Corps. Plans were even prepared for the crossing of the Evros and the recapture of Eastern Thrace, where the local Turkish forces were considerably outclassed. In the event, the signature of the
Treaty of Lausanne on 24 July 1923 pre-empted the resumption of war, and the Army of the Evros was disbanded soon after. The decision was vehemently opposed by Pangalos, who likened Lausanne to another "
Treaty of Antalcidas". ==References==