During World War I it fought in the Macedonian front, and then participated in the Asia Minor Campaign.

[1] After liberation from the German occupation, II Army Corps was re-established in 1946 at Larissa and took part in the Greek Civil War.

[1] From 1 January 1998, the Corps ceased to be a territorial formation, and was transformed into a rapid reaction and strategic reserve force under the operational command of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff.

On 1 July 2002, the Corps became a combined arms headquarters, and was renamed four months later into the Reaction, Reinforcement, Reserve Forces Headquarters (Στρατηγείο Δυνάμεων Αντίδρασης, Ενίσχυσης, Εφεδρείας Stratiyio Dynameon Adidrasis, Enischysis, Efedrias [ΣΔΑΕΕ (Β’ΣΣ)]).

Spartan mothers would utter the phrase to their sons before they went to war, reminding them to return victorious with the shield, or be brought back dead upon it.