Hill 1142 – The sacrifice of Greek Army Captain Konstantinos Nicolacopoulos, 34th Infantry Brigade on March 10, 1941

WW2

By Pierre Kosmidis

Photo and info submitted by Mr. Charles Koutras and used by permission.

The Spring Offensive,  also known as Operazione Primavera (Operation Spring), was an offensive by the Italians during the Greco-Italian War that lasted from 9 to 16 March 1941.

The offensive was the last Italian attempt of the war to defeat the Greek forces, which had already advanced deep into Italian-controlled Albania.

It resulted into a fiasco, as the Italian Army did not succeed in breaching the Greek defense lines.

Mr. Charles Koutras, an American of Greek descent, is on a quest to pinpoint the precise area where his grandfather, Greek Army Captain Konstantinos Nicolacopoulos fell and where his remains are located.

Mr. Koutras said to www.ww2wrecks.com:

My brother and sister and I have been on a months-long quest to find out where our mother’s father, a Greek Army officer, was killed and where his remains are located.

According to the Army General Staff, Konstantinos Nicolacopoulos was a Captain in the 34th Infantry Brigade, Second Infantry Division, during the Battle of Hill 731.

His death record indicates that he died on March 10, 1941, on Hill 1142 near Pistani (Peshtan), Albania.

Do you know how we might find the location of Hill 1142?

I have reviewed topographical maps and seen that there are eligible hills to the south and east of Hill 731, but I am unable to narrow it down further.

The Army General Staff’s maps show that the 2nd Infantry Division was always to the south and west of Hill 731, but I’m unsure how accurate those maps are.

Do you know of any resources I can consult in order to ascertain Hill 1142’s location?

In the back right is my grandfather, Konstantinos. Next to him is my grandmother Vasso, and the two young children in front are my Uncle Dimitri and my mother Helen.