Colonel Konstantinos Davakis as a Pioneering Greek Theorist of the Conduct of War

Colonel Konstantinos Davakis was a prominent figure in Greek military affairs during the interwar period. Educated on contemporary developments in the conduct of military operations, out of personal interest and "enthusiasm", he tried through his writings to motivate the body of Greek officers, especially the young ones, to engage with the new operational and doctrinal possibilities offered by the introduction of motorized and armored vehicles. Through his two main writings, as well as a multitude of military regulations, campaign manuals, articles in the Military Review and official memoranda, he sought to promote military art in Greece, formulating pioneering views on the issues of the mechanization of military forces, the use of tanks on the battlefield, but as a consistent Infantry officer and on issues of organizing and conducting the struggle at the level of a simple fighter. His premature and unexpected death during the Occupation deprived post-war Greece of his valuable knowledge, creating an irreplaceable void.