Draft:Battle of Cepo Monastery
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The Battle of Cepo Monastery (20–23 April 1914) was an armed conflict between Northern Epirote and Albanian forces, and is considered a turning point for the consolidation of the Autonomous Republic of Northern Epirus.
The front
[edit]The front line controlled by the forces of the Autonomous Republic of Northern Epirus, north of Gjirokastër, which was also the seat of the Provisional Government, was located south of the confluence of the Velitsa and Drino rivers and extended to the heights of Çepunë and near the village of Moschochori.
The clash
[edit]In the central sector of the front, north of Gjirokastër, there was an intense risk of collapse as Albanian units had advanced onto the heights of Cepo Monastery and were ready to continue their advance further south. The Northern Epirote side was in a difficult position, scrambling to gather immediate reinforcements.
Heading the defensive formation was Major Vlasis Karachristos, commander of the Delvino Regiment, while the critical situation forced the Minister of Defence of Northern Epirus himself, Dimitrios Doulis, to intervene and deploy the Redshirts Corps of Alexandros Romas and the Independent Company of Labovo, led by Captain Gerasimos Pnevmatikatos, into defensive positions in the area.
The Albanian forces, supported by Dutch officers, launched their main attack in the sector of Cepo Monastery and the nearby heights of Çepunë and Moschochori. They managed to advance significantly and initially capture crucial positions. However, following orders from Vlasis Karachristos, who believed that further retreat would severely jeopardize the future of the Northern Epirote Struggle, a night operation was launched to recapture Cepo Monastery. The surprise attack was ultimately successful, despite the fierce enemy fire directed at the advance.
The Albanian resistance continued for about an hour after the monastery was recaptured, but with the arrival of Northern Epirote reinforcements, the Albanian retreat began. The following day, the Northern Epirote units continued their advance up to the banks of the Velitsa River and the village of Plesat.
The conflict in the area of Cepo Monastery and the success of the Northern Epirotes had a significant positive impact on the continuation of the Northern Epirote Struggle, while the Albanian advance towards Gjirokastër was definitively overturned.
Sources
[edit]- Iakovidis, Savvas (2011). The Autonomist Movement in Northern Epirus (1914) (Master's thesis) (in Greek). Thessaloniki: Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. p. 53.
- Hellenic Army General Staff, Army History Directorate (1997). The Northern Epirote Struggle (in Greek). Athens: Army History Directorate.