The division began being raised in September 1916[1] by the Provisional Government of National Defence, as part of its efforts to create its own army for service alongside the Allies on the Macedonian front.

[2] Initial planning called for the establishment of four infantry divisions to be recruited in the areas controlled by the National Defence government (Crete, the Aegean islands, and Macedonia).

Further difficulties were encountered due to the lack of weapons and qualified NCOs, leading to the establishment of an NCO training centre in Mytilini.

[4][5] From 1 May on, it began its move to the front, and by 18 May 1917 the division had assembled around the village of Kladorachi in the Florina area, and placed under the command of the French Armée d'Orient.

[5] The Archipelago Division remained in eastern Macedonia until May 1919, when it was shipped to Asia Minor to take up occupation duties in the Smyrna Zone.

[17] The Greek occupation immediately faced armed resistance by irregular forces, and was hampered due to political considerations: as the Smyrna Zone was still officially Ottoman territory, Turkish officials remained in place, censorship was not imposed, and even the disarming of the civilian population (including demobilized Ottoman soldiers) was prohibited by the Allies.

[19] The problems faced by the Greek forces in Asia Minor resulted in a first wave of reinforcements, including the rest of the Arcipelago Division.

[20] On 18 June 1919 Colonel (later Major General) Charalambos Tseroulis assumed command of the division,[21] which now held the northernmost part of the Greek occupation zone around Bergama and Ayvalık.

[28] The division's sector remained relatively calm, except for occasional firefights and artillery shots during December, with almost complete quiet in the early months of 1920.

[31] During the 1920 summer offensive, the division captured Akhisar, Kırkağaç, Soma, Balikesir, and Bursa, establishing defensive positions east of the latter.