The First Balkan War begun in October 1912. After the rejection of the Greek ultimatum to the Ottoman government, the Greek army in Thessaly occupied Elassona, Kozani and Grevena. Then, it was decided to occupy Thessaloniki. The decisive battle took place in Giannitsa on October 19-20. The defeat of the Turkish army opened the way towards Thessaloniki. On October 26th 1912 the officers of the Greek army Ioannis Metaxas and Victor Dousmanis signed at the Command Headquarters of Thessaloniki the protocol of surrendering the city to the Greek army. In the same night two evzon battalions of the 7th division entered the city,  while the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th division with the rest of the troops from the 7th division took position on the hills around the city.