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General Vassilios Baltoyannis

Vassilios Baltoyannis (Βασίλειος Μπαλτογιάννης) was a military man and a member of the National Teams of EDES, commander of the III Division of Dodoni of EOEA. After the liberation, he joined the Epirus National Guard Brigade and was demobilized with the rank of General. This post will present excerpts from the diary referring to the "Animals" operation, which took place in the summer of 1943. The battles with the Italian and German divisions and the final victory of the EOEA.

General Vassilis Baltoyannis' diary is included in his book, "National Resistance EOEA-EDES - The Whole Truth", which is very rare to find.

[…] 14. Thus passed the first 15 days of June 1943 and on the 2nd we started the well-known sabotage. I gathered tools and the Headquarters provided me with everything it could. My mission was to collect and use a private craftsman and to destroy the telegraphic communication of the line from Ioannina to the 18th kilometer (Rovilisto). Indeed, the destruction was complete and there was no telegraphic pole left without being cut into at least 3 pieces and wire longer than the distance between two poles.

I transferred my seat from Agia Anastasia to Manoliassan and from there for 4 days (19 to 20, 20 to 21, 21 to 22, and 22 to 23/6/43) as soon as it got dark I went down from Manoliassa to the plain and cut the lines before I was going up to Manoliassa.

Going up on the morning of 22/6/43, I learned from my liaisons that an Italian Battalion of about 1400 Italians left for Kosmira. Without entering the village of Manoliassa I took the ridge on the right and reached Agios Nikolaos Dodonis.

The villages had learned and when I arrived in Agios Nikolaos I found the reserve teams of the villages (Manoliassa, Melinga, Alepochori, Tsarkovisti, Dramesia, Agia Anastasia, Eleftherochori, Psina, Mospina, etc) gathered around 200-2 and other villages had not caught up and were still on the road among which were 5-6 priests armed).

There I learned details from the inhabitants of Kosmira and from an observatory I saw houses burning. I called the Squadrons and the leaders of the reserve teams and after it was decided to beat them, I gave orders and directions and each Squadron started with several reserve teams to occupy its ordered position from which it would leave at the agreed time.

15. Battle of Kosmiras 6/23/43: As I later learned, Nasos Tziallas from Kosmiras, uncle of the lawyer in charge of EAM Pantoulas, warned the Italians that they were circling. This resulted in the Italians not being surprised and the first to start the battle, and at the same time to sympathize with Pedini (Rapsistan) and Douroutis Monastery. Despite the efforts made, it was impossible to approach them and we only got in and out from a distance of 1500 meters.

They left only two dead, 20 individual weapons, and many of their items (mainly liners, water tanks, food pots, etc.) and I had one dead. When my units arrived in Douroutin, the Italians attacked me from Ioannina, and in the meantime the fugitives to Pedini burned within 1/2 hour the whole village of Pedini, using special dust and gasoline. Fortunately, the inhabitants had moved to Ampelian and Ioannina and had buried most of their belongings some time ago.

16. I spent the night with my department in Agios Nikolaos Dodonis and submitted a detailed report to the Headquarters. Despite my misfortune, that I did not manage to circle them and force them to fight, I am happy that the first battle with the conqueror and even outside Ioannina and I drove them away only with the presence and they found themselves in the need to use the Fire of Ioannina. This for the people of Giannio and the opportunists was what was needed. It was spread and believed that the guerrillas were outside Ioannina and the Italians were confined inside Ioannina.

The Reserve Axis of Kosmira, including the popular teachers, the Reserve Axis of Fire Brigade Tziallas, and the Fire Brigadier General Papas Thomas, by a diabolical coincidence that day were in the air to organize a local team. At that very moment, he learned about the battle at the Headquarters and Chief Konstantinidis said the well-known: our house is on fire and you are singing…

Embarrassed, they left and the next day they came to meet me. Also coming to meet me was the then opportunistic Captain Papanikolaou Georgios, who, as is well known, then showed excellent behavior and was our only EO Fireman. The next 24/6/43 with my department they headed to Manoliassan. On that day the then Metropolitan of Ioannina and later Archbishop of Athens and all of Greece Spyridon was sent by the Italian Commander-in-Chief of Ioannina to meet us and tell us that he was not going to send units outside again, but on condition that we leave Ioannina - Prevezis road freely and not to cut off their communication.

Also on the same day, Chief Konstantinidis and the Head of the English Mission, Brigadier General Mueller, arrived in Drames. They met with Spyridon in Drama, but unfortunately, I was notified very late with a note from the Chief and so when I arrived I did not catch Spyridon, who was in a hurry to return to Ioannina. I learned that Dimitriadis, Pantoulas, etc. were asking Spyridon to mediate for me to leave the area and for them to take over. I also learned that he talked for many hours with Miller and instead, Spyridon demanded that the guerrillas be organized more and that the liberation be accelerated.

I arrived on the night of 24/6/43 very late in Dramesos where Konstantinidis and Müller were waiting for me. After they congratulated me, I told them in detail about the battle. Miller was upset that I did not catch prisoners for information, but, as he said, he hoped that Baltogiannis would catch prisoners very soon. They promised him, we would eat together in the evening and I mentioned to them the need to form another guerrilla group because there were men and because the area was very extensive and open. They agreed with me and Miller ordered 30 30 to be given for starting the organization of the newly named 5th Battalion.

I was told that the two battalions would be under my command, but I told them that Manoliassa had Papanikolaou, Jiallan, and Papan and that the command of the new battalion should be assigned to my oldest Captain Papanikolaou. Konstantinidis hesitated and did not have confidence, but I objected and told him I take responsibility and I am sure that Papanikolaou's Corps will become better than mine. They accepted and the next day he gave the money to Papanikolaou for the formation of the company based in Kastanian. After two days, the company began to form.

18. On 28/6/43, following an Order from the Headquarters, I went to the Headquarters to be notified by the Director of a confidential nature. There I was ordered to make a reconnaissance in the alley Roviliasto, where I would carry out an ambush mission. The Leventis, Giotopoulos, and Moulia Corps would be available to me in addition to my strength. Immediately the next day I returned to my seat and alone the following day 30/6/43 I acted in recognition. I notified the above Battalion Commanders and they also took their Squadrons and we acted in recognition all together with the Axis. In the meantime, the Executive Order was received and it was agreed on the afternoon of 4/7/43 that all the rank-holders (up to the team leader) should be recognized so that they know exactly where each of them will go.

I had defined the areas of the Battalions and defined the motto of the beginning of the battle and that of the withdrawal. Indeed, on 4/7/43 the departments approached and the ordered reconnaissances took place. Before 5/7/43 dawned, everyone was in their seats and we were waiting for the arrival of the first Italian phalanx. The order was not to allow the Italians to move from Ioannina to Preveza and vice versa.

19. 5/7/43. At 05.10 the first phalanx appeared from Ioannina and was at the height of Bizani. Everything is ready and we are waiting. At 05.12 the first vehicle arrived at the entrance of the alley Roviliasto (Hani Vryoni) and 05.14 at the entrance was the last vehicle. The first projectile of my only bullet is fired after my command (that was the slogan) and immediately the fire spreads.

The Italians are surprised and do not manage to take positions. They get out of the vehicles and take up positions around them. They shout, beg, pray. My first guerrillas are coming down. They capture the first prisoners and collect plenty of loot. The phalanx consists of 12 large vehicles, 2 races, and 2 two-wheelers. The first 4 vehicles are on fire. I see 2 phalanxes arriving from Ioannina (1st of 40 and 2nd of about 50 vehicles with a distance between 1000-1500 meters). The first one stops at a distance of 1500 m. From my observatory (Profitis Ilias Theriakisiou, who is at the entrance of the alley and is about 150 m. From Hani tou Vryonis), takes battle positions and begins to surround the hills of the alley.

Many guerrillas were on my way and grabbed them as much as possible and arrested prisoners. It will take at least 10 minutes for all the prisoners to gather. I just managed to collect 25 and they, except, were injured. They just ran 500-1000m. they exhaled 4-5 of them. All my units couldn't collapse in the direction of Manoliasis Theriakisiou and that is why the battalions on the east side of the road collapsed towards Moules and Lagatouran. The next day they managed to cross the road to Hani Ftelia (between Roviliasto and Emin Aga) and met me in Manoliassa. The Italians organized in the alley, the next day, and remained there until 26/7/43.

This was the reason for me to stay in the hills between Manoliassa and Theriakisi and as I mentioned in the Headquarters it was impossible to recapture the Roviliasto hills (they were constantly and strongly occupied). On the street, they had set fire and mortars and were constantly attacking the hills occupied by my divisions.

20. Battle of Agia Anastasia: It is known that on 20/7/43 German forces arrived in Ioannina. On the evening of 7/21/43, I returned to Agia Anastasia and on the evening of 7/22/43, I was informed that a German force of about 2000 men was spending the night in Kosmiran, which intended to move from Savvan to Paramythian. I warn Papanikolaou and ask him if they move, to be beaten by Kastanianis and I will defend Agia Anastasian.

Before dawn on 7/23/43 (the anniversary of my birth, my name in Anth / gon, my marriage, and the beginning of our national struggle) I see the phalanx coming from Savvan and smaller (every three on both sides). After 45 minutes, they approach a distance of 100m and the battle begins. They move upright and despite the enormity of the losses they do not stop anywhere and are determined to capture St. Anastasia.

The battle started at 06.00 and 11.45, the Siafaka and Charalambopoulou Squads bent, and the contraction of the Russians began. I am also forced to order the contraction of Elias Nikos. Papanikolaou is under pressure and is concentrated in Eleftherochori. The Germans are attacking me with their ordered Fire (in Agios Georgios on the road between Savvas and Agia Anastasia) and from a distance of 2000-2500m.

I managed to gather the company at a distance of 1000-1500m. from Agia Anastasia between Bausia and Agia Anastasia. The Germans stop there and burn the village. The Headquarters orders a contraction at 17.00 and I contract on the neck of Baussia. He sends in my reinforcement and under my orders a company and 1 Squadron of machine guns and orders me to keep my neck. Indeed, I am settling in the neck, and around 18.00 everyone is in their places and we expect the continuation of the German attack.

21. I am informed that the crossing of the two mountains of Olytsika is strongly occupied by our departments (Karabas, Kolliodimitrai, Theodoros Zikos, and others). The Headquarters is sure of that. Surprisingly, however, around 22.00 on 23/7/43, the crossing was occupied by the Germans, and the leader Konstantinidis, being in Gratsana, was forced to retreat to Lippan. Fortunately, before leaving, he ordered by phone and in person to the underling my contraction in Katamachin. It happened normally from 23.30 and at 05.00 on 24/7/43 I arrived in Katamachin.

On the evening of 7/24/43, I was ordered to stop from 20.00 hours by the route Katamachi - Elafotopos to Derviziani, where I would meet the Headquarters. Siafakas loses his temper with 1/2 of the men of his Squad and Elias Nikou disobeys and follows a western route (between Elafotopos and Romanos). With 1/2 of my strength, I collapse and on the domestication of 25/7/43, I meet the Headquarters outside the Dervizans. Around noon, the wandering unruly Elias Nikos arrives, who also apologizes to me. Out of my 135 men, I gathered about 90. Siafakas Nicol was the first to be absent.

22. The Headquarters in this mess and with a force not exceeding 200-250 (because Zotos, Nassis, Kolliodimitrai, Halimas, and others) remained in Souli was processed to Tzoumerka by the known route. The Germans were chasing us on foot. On the way, Charalambopoulos's cowardice in Agia Anastasian was confirmed and because he was not able to keep his part, I sent him a note to Chief Konstantinidis, who detained him at the Headquarters and I was left alone with Elias Nikos as the Rear Headquarters. On 24/7/43 we arrived in Nisitsa and then in Platanousa. I stayed there for a few days and on 5/8/43 I went to Pestiana after doing a reconnaissance, I occupied the alley of Kiafa (Ammotopo) where I stayed for 15 days, with Manos on my right side and Tzoumerkiotis or Maltezon on my left. […]

* Article by Giannis Athanasopoulos, Historian, Graduate of the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Ioannina, and Head of the historical archive of the Panhellenic Association of National Resistance "EDES-EOEA - Nap. Zervas". 

 George Baltoyannis (1941-2021)

George Baltoyannis (Γεώργιος Μπαλτογιάννης) was born in Athens in 1941. He studied architecture in Rome, Italy (Sapienza Università) and took part in many Art Exhibitions (Margutta - San Luca - Artecom - Palazzo Delle Esposizioni, etc.).

He returned to Athens in 1970 and dealt with Architecture as a freelancer with more than 200 villas and commercial buildings in his resume. At the same time, George worked as an employee in succession at the Greek Ministry of Defense (Pentagon), the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), and the Autonomous Building Officers Organization (AOOA).

One of the Architectural problems of the Ancient world that concerned architect and author George Baltoyannis as a student of Architecture in Rome, was the Arch, specifically the Architectural solution to supporting large openings in construction. According to his professors, the Arch was a Roman invention, unknown in the Ancient Greek World, but having visited many Greek archeological sites, something did not feel right. We had all witnessed the use of the Arc in Greek temples and constructions, long before the Roman Civilization. Could it be that George’s old university professors were wrong? Could the Arc be a Greek invention after all?

This simple question evolved into eleven years of research that kept bringing up new questions that needed answers. Finally, the books and theories of architect and author George Baltoyannis have been embraced by the scientific community, both by the University of Ioannina in Greece and the Università Degli Studi dell’Aquila in Italy, where he was invited to give lectures to the students.

With more than 30 years of Historical research on the relationship between Ancient Architecture and Ancient Religion, George Baltoyannis is the whiter of the Best Seller books:

Dionysus Revelation

One of the Architectural Problems of the Ancient World, which puzzled me as a student of Architecture in Rome, was the Arch. That is the Architectural Solution, which for my professors was a Roman invention, unknown to the Ancient Greek World.

The same opinion prevails today, after 35 years. I noticed this on my last trip to Italy, where the Taormina tour guide repeated, that the Arch was a Roman invention. So I decided to deal with the matter and find out the truth, since, from the first moment, I felt that something special happened in the Greek Ancient World, whose achievements we see today with our logic, without following the mentality of the ancient times.

Passing through the process of research with the eyes of the Ancients, I encountered unknown places and secret cults, that played a leading role in the shaping of Architecture and were a cosmic model, with Axes and Shapes, through which the ancients satisfied their religious Needs. At the same time, they attempted to convert the Theory into Reality, with constructions and Symbols, placing the Sacraments in specific points, with axial relations between them.

Here I met a world where Art was a component of a Global Logic, which should keep up as a Unity. Thus, was suggested that, behind the ancient wars and the struggles, there was a Constitutional Authority, that had the wisdom to impose the advice, having Religion as its tool.

Therefore, wanting to solve the problem of the Ancient Logic only with the findings, unilaterally without putting one's imagination to work and without entering in their shoes, it is like working on a modern computer only to make subtractions. This is the main reason for the successes that many amateurs had against the professionals, such as the Schliemann case.

Acropolis through the blue eyes of the goddess Athena

Before we move towards the Sacred Rock of Acropolis, we must be mentally transported with our imagination to the 5th century B.C. Because this place, as all in the Ancient World, with the broader Geographical meaning of the term, we're in a different dimension than ours.

Inside the words and actions of the Ancient World were embedded in the Symbols and the Mythology. People of the time took these under serious consideration since they were all about their religion. Moving an object now, for example, has only a practical meaning, instead of the Ancients was a combination of practical + symbolical action. So, an imminent war between two regiments could be postponed if the Gods did not approve of sacrifices. Sacrifices were the Contact and Dialogue between man and God.

With this logic, we will ascent the Sacred Rock of Acropolis and we will investigate the antiquities of the 5th century B.C. with the spirit of the Ancient.

This way we will the space back to life, even for a little while. But when we depart from this Sacred place, we will have understood that the Imagination of modern cinematic movies derives directly from the Mythology of the Ancient World.

We will also discover that other than the imagination, a Construction can be placed in Time and be connected with religion and facts, which gives that construction a fixed Location with a given Orientation.

We will also understand how this Construction combines with the Structural Logic of surrounding buildings, serving specific needs so that all of the Sacred places work as an interrelated Unity.

Sacred Architecture

As a Christian, researching a dead religion like the Olympian Pantheon feels like something foreign that doesn’t affect you emotionally. However, when you are reading mythology, you start to wonder how thousands of years ago people could engage in deeper reasoning than you, and thus you are led to places where face riddles impossible to imagine. Reading mythology you realize that you stand in front of a great religion, which you quickly become familiar with and you start to become enchanted by the wealth of Knowledge. Things that held no meaning for you to come to life in front of your eyes, and the rocks, the mountains, or rivers acquire speech and grace, making your fantasy travel far away. You then start to realize that your ancestors did not live in a wild environment, but in an enchanting world, a paradise; your differences with them are minor and superficial. Then, you follow them in time, which slowly approaches you and comes to your religion which you believe in and love.

However, all of a sudden fear is born and you want to explore your own space out of curiosity. You know that all the angels are watching you strictly from above, and you waver.

You know that someday you will die and you don’t want to depart wondering if there is or what is life after death. And so you start to explore your religion, going over every subject, opening books on the table, searching endlessly, and returning to the start, worrying that you might have reasoned incorrectly.

You are afraid that you will be disappointed, but you have confidence, knowing that whatever happens in the end, you will face it with courage. And as the ball of yarn unwinds, faces that act through history appear before you. You join their pieces like a mosaic in your thoughts, trying to figure out why your ancestor did this particular action or some other. You now compose their image, while struggling to know them in your time. It is they who once determined your future with a command before you even existed on Earth.

These are your thoughts as a man. If, however, you are also an architect, when you are tasked with constructing the temple of God, among your many other thoughts you will also have to create with your construction the relationship between God and the faithful.

Holy Sacramental Journey to Greece

Entering the "METRO" station of Athens from Syntagma Square, in the large atrium of a stairway, on the right hand on the wall, there is a huge stratigraphy of the area. Suddenly then, you begin to realize that going forward to enter the train, you are on the ground of the 7th century B.C. Then, your eyes start to move up, until the stratigraphy brings you to your own time. Thus you understand that there is a thick layer of civilization beneath the streets of Athens, and there are very few cities in this world where people have this luxury.

So you start to think, recreating history…Down here is where Solon the Athenian used to walk, who relieved anyone who was in debt from the Damoclean Sword of slavery with the “Seisactheia”. Slightly above Democritus of Abdera used to walk, who taught the atomic theory, and Zeno of Elea, the teacher of Pericles. But also Protagoras of Abdera, who was condemned by the Athenians for atheism, together with Socrates, Alcibiades, and Plato with his student, Aristotle. A little higher above taught Chrysippus of Cilicia, on the same streets that the cynic Diogenes of Sinope used to walk. Somewhere there Epicurus of Samos could be found, who taught the release from the fear of death through "ataraxia".

There is a lot to remember while you observe, in the various heights of the stratigraphy, pottery of various eras, and graves of people, who once existed and lived just like you, but more dynamic. Now they are there, remaining still in the ground, but their spirit roams in the great hall, the shape of which gives the impression of a large box, in which many people race to catch the "metro" train. This "Metro" station is a miniature of Greece, which resembles Pandora’s box, which once opened, releases many good and bad things, in a time sequence of consecutive civilizations, that draw from each other, and their logic should be sought. So you exit the "Metro" station looking for the traces of these civilizations in the archaeological sites, each of which is a pebble of a mosaic that you should compose.

So then, you begin to observe that this mosaic is huge. It descends into the chthonic space and ascends to the celestial, and it keeps expanding into the cardinal points. Its composition is a time-consuming process that requires patience, perseverance, method and practice, the experience of an old man, and the flexibility of the young, but above all a spherical knowledge and great imagination, to get objective results. There will be errors and misfires, but these will start to become limited the less dogmatic you become. It is by this logic that we should enter each archaeological site, trying to comprehend the logic of the Ancients.

Sacred Astronomy

Every night, the celestial dome dominates over our Earth, and he who possesses it automatically becomes the Master of the Earth. In this book, we will examine how the spread of Hellenism in the geographical space, was the result of the conquest of the Astral dome, a fact which positioned the Greeks in the advantageous position of acquiring a geo-strategical logic.

One can easily perceive, that all of this, has happened over a long period and we are nowadays unprepared to understand its importance, as the knowledge of the operation of the Celestial Dome is a subject bypassed in modern education, and we jump straight into Space, ignoring that our current space successes are still based on the functions of the ancient Celestial dome.
It is a work spanning many centuries, which was carried out by many Greek Astronomers, of which we know only 188. However, we can acquire a completed education, by starting with common logic. During our study, however, we will be proceeding spherically around Knowledge, because the World of the Ancients is multidimensional, and each of their conquests was also extended and applied to their social life.

This way we will discover our spiritual proximity to our ancient ancestors, even if we are separated by thousands of years. Even our worship is the projection of our own decisions, as the ancient world was a world of research on all fields of human activity. If we accept as a fact that the World leader of today is situated in Washington, we will seek the answers to the questions, who was the previous World leader, where was he, and what was his association with the modern world?

The whole process of research creates complex emotions, as we transition from one historical site to the other and from one dimension to another. And this is because the Celestial dome essentially does not exist; it is a fictional impression of the visual system, which the Ancient ancestor turned into a real and functional one, for future generations.

When, during a starlit night, we find ourselves away from the city lights and turn our gaze to the sky, we will see that it is filled with stars. The spectacle is amazing, however, everyone deals with it differently, depending on the emotion of the moment and his knowledge regarding the Earth. The initiated, when looking at the sum of constellations, he will start to point to Ursa Major and Ursa Minor, Draco, Cepheus, and Cassiopeia, and everyone will listen to him with bewilderment. Because we all know great movie stars like Greta Garbo, James Dean, Humphrey Bogart, and many others. But who might the stars in the sky be and who placed them there?

Academic Involvement - Publications

The books and theories of George Baltoyannis have been embraced by the Università Degli Studi dell'Aquila in Italy, where he was invited several times to give lectures to the students. Theories of the book Sacred Architecture have been integrated into the curriculum of the lesson "Elements of Geometry" at the University of Ioannina in Greece. Many of his articles have been published in the magazine ek magazine (Ελληνικές Κατασκευές), reddot official media partners.