After the liberation of Saranda on December 6, 1940, during the Greco-Italian War, του Λουκόβου στις 7 και του Πικέρασι (Pikerni) on the 8th of the same month, the 3rd Division of the Greek Army moved north and on December 13 had reached the west and northwest of Borsi, on the well-fortified line, hill 613 – Mali e Kiparoit – Mali e Joret – Kutsi neck – Mali Iteras defended by the Italian Siena division.
Tsakalotou's detachment Advanced the i/42nd Battalion to the ftera - Tzora Area to replace the 1st Reconnaissance Group, And the iI/40th To the mali itera Mountain Range to extort the koutsi pass by overrunning It, by occupying the papathia mountain Range.
On December 15, the first attacks of the 12th Infantry Regiment (S.P.) against the heights of Kiparos failed.
Το ύψωμα 613 καταλήφθηκε τελικά, μέσα σε χιονοθύελλα και πολύνεκρο αγώνα εκ του συστάδην, στις 17 Δεκεμβρίου, με αποτέλεσμα ο εχθρός να εγκαταλείψει και το Μάλι Βάριτ βορειότερα. Στις 19 Δεκεμβρίου κατελήφθησαν, με βαριές απώλειες, από το 6ο Σ.Π. το στρατηγικής σημασίας ύψωμα Γκιάμι (βόρεια του Πανόρμου) και το ύψωμα Τσίπι (βόρεια του Πύλιουρι). Ανατολικότερα καταλαμβάνεται από το απόσπασμα Τσακαλώτου το ισχυρά οργανωμένο ύψωμα Μάλι ε Τζόρετ και ο αυχένας Κούτσι μετά από τριήμερο σκληρό αγώνα που απέφερε στη σημαία του 4ου Σ.Π. χρυσό αριστείο ανδρείας.
The 6th Regiment, which controlled the eastern approaches to the Kiparos mountain range (Mali Kiparoit) before advancing towards Himara, placed a battalion on the Tsippi hill to control the road to Pyliouri, while its second battalion marched to liberate the village.
With the opening of the Susitsa Valley and the Tsippi Heights (northwest of Himara) on 21 December, the Italians were forced to evacuate the city of Himara that same night, while a little further on, Pyliouri was liberated. A large number of prisoners (including two lieutenant colonels) and abundant material fell into Greek hands, although the Italians had looted and destroyed everything they could while fleeing.
On the night of Saturday, December 22, 1940, Greek units entered the fortress of Hellenism in Epirus, in the unsubdued Himara, and advanced towards Skoutara, where the Italians would put up strong resistance.
The Greek Army entered Himara with many local Greek guides: Thanasis Koustas, Antonis Kokkavesis, Savvas Priftis, Polymeris Koliakis, P. Bolanos, N. Beleris, G. Dimogiannis, S. Lykokas, G. Brigos, G. Dimas, D. Zotos, N. Ntoukos, Gr. Priftis, P. Goros, etc.
At the same time, the people of Himariot took up arms and dynamically reinforced the Greek Army in the operations.
On Sunday morning, after the first doxology at the old monastery of Agios Kosmas, the people and the army sang "Christ is Risen" on All Saints' Day, even though it was Christmas Eve. A large dance embraced locals and liberators.
Excerpt from the book by Kostis Hatziantoniou, THE CHIMARA
