On this day in 1940, during the Greco-Italian War, the 11th Infantry Regiment under the command of Colonel Ioannis Koudounas, which belonged to the IV Division, after fierce battles, arrived in the Valtista - Kastaniani - Kerasovo area, with the aim of entering the fight and replacing the III Division.
The 11th Regiment was stationed in the Muzhina area, where it was ready to replace the 12th Regiment.
The Division, upon reaching the front line, intended to organize three groups, with its final direction being Gjirokastra.
would organize three groups. On the right, the 8th Regiment, minus a battalion and an Artillery squadron, with a direction of action parallel to the Argirokastro carriage road and west of it, on the fringes of the main ridge.
The Greek divisions moved with difficulty due to the very difficult weather conditions and the difficult terrain.
As early as December 5, 1940, the 1st Army Corps organized a complex in the Kakavia area with the strength of the II/42 Infantry Battalion, two field artillery batteries and one Anti-Tank Artillery Battery and Commander Cavalry Colonel Ioannis Papathanasiou, which had as its mission the anti-tank cover of the divisions operating towards Gjirokastra.
So today, on December 7, 1940, the said Army Group was advanced to Dervitsani, Dropoli, which is located near Gjirokastra.
The next day, information arrived that the enemy had evacuated the city of Gjirokaster since the previous night.
The city of Gjirokaster passed under Greek administration without causing any damage, while the entry of Greek troops caused great excitement among the city's residents.
They decorated the city with flags and the Metropolitan of Ioannina, Spyridon Vlachos, ascended to the Metropolitan Church near the historic castle where he celebrated the Doxology.
Metropolitan Spyridon was a member of the Autonomous Government of George Christakis Zografou in 1913 and participated with great joy in the celebrations, having at his side the Metropolitan of Gjirokastër Panteleimon.
