Προτομή Συνταγματάρχη Μαρδοχαίου Φριζή Bust

Who was the first high-ranking officer of the Greek Army killed in World War II? Here, before the imposing bust of Colonel Mordechai Frizis, we unearth the tale of a remarkable Greek-Jewish officer and patriot. The bust of Colonel Mordechai Frizis, itself a testament to his bravery, stands as a reminder of a life dedicated to service and sacrifice. Born in Chalcis, Euboea, in 1893, Frizis yearned for a military career, although his family envisioned him as a lawyer. He began his law studies but the call of duty was stronger. In 1916, amidst the turmoil of World War I, he volunteered for the Greek Army. He served with distinction on the Macedonian front and even fought in the Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War. Later, in the Greco-Turkish War, Frizis was captured. The Turks, recognizing his Jewish faith, offered him freedom. But Frizis, loyal to his men, refused to abandon them, choosing captivity until a prisoner exchange in 1923. Back in Greece, his bravery earned him a promotion to Captain and the opportunity to study at the prestigious École Militaire in Paris. He later furthered his military education at the Hellenic Military Academy in Thessaloniki. By the late 1930s, Frizis had ascended to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He requested assignment to the VIII Division in Ioannina, near the Albanian border, sensing the impending conflict. When Italy invaded Greece in 1940, Frizis was at the forefront of the defense. He led a detachment that staunchly resisted the Italian advance. He commanded the “Aoös special detachment” tasked with holding crucial mountain passes against the elite Julia Division. His leadership and tactical brilliance inflicted heavy casualties on the Italians and forced them to retreat. On December 5th, 1940, near Përmet, Albania, Frizis led a daring attack on horseback. Amidst heavy Italian artillery and air fire, he rallied his men, refusing to take cover. He was mortally wounded but remained mounted, a beacon of courage until his last breath. Frizis was posthumously promoted to Colonel and awarded numerous medals for valor. His remains, initially buried in Albania, were later moved to the Jewish Cemetery of Thessaloniki in 2002. The bust of Colonel Mordechai Frizis honors not just a soldier, but a man of unwavering principle, a symbol of Greek Jewry’s contribution to the nation, and a testament to the enduring power of courage and loyalty.