When did the German invasion of Greece begin?
German forces attacked the Metaxas Line starting on the 6th of April 1941. This attack involved one infantry unit and two divisions of the XVIII Mountain Corps.
Questions about German invasion of Greece
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who ordered the German intervention in Greece during World War II?
Adolf Hitler decided to intervene on the 4th of November 1940 after British troops arrived at Crete and Lemnos. He feared that British aircraft based in Greece would bomb Romanian oil fields which were critical for his planned invasion of the Soviet Union.
What happened to the Greek army after Italian forces invaded through Albania?
Within three weeks, the Greek army launched a counter-offensive into Albanian territory and captured significant cities including Korça and Sarandë. Neither changes in Italian command nor substantial reinforcements improved the position of the Italian army.
How many soldiers were evacuated from Greece by the 30th of April 1941?
By the 30th of April 1941, the evacuation of about 50,000 soldiers was completed though heavily contested by the German Luftwaffe. At least 26 troop-laden ships were sunk during the operation and Germans captured around 8,000 Empire and Yugoslav troops in Kalamata who had not been evacuated.
Why did Adolf Hitler forbid further large-scale airborne operations after the Battle of Crete?
In light of heavy casualties suffered by the elite 7th Fliegerdivision, Hitler forbade further large-scale airborne operations on the 1st of June 1941. General Kurt Student would dub Crete the graveyard of the German paratroopers and a disastrous victory.