 Nevertheless, the ELAS command welcomed them and assigned them various commands.The same happened with nearby Gendarmerie units that flocked to the battle, including the entire Gendarmerie garrison of Servia, under its commander Charalambos Koutalakis, as well as the guard installed by the Germans at the Aliakmon bridge.On the morning of March 5, the Italians managed to cross the Aliakmon bridge and reach the defile where their supply convoy had been captured.