Balkans campaign (World War II)
The Italian invasion of Greece began on the 28th of October 1940. Italian forces crossed the border and made limited gains in the initial days. Soon Greek troops counter-attacked with force. They drove Italian units back to the Albanian border. This reversal stalled Axis progress for months. The United Kingdom supported the Greeks with Royal Air Force assets during this period. British ground troops arrived later due to operations in North Africa. Italy spent much of the winter stabilizing a line that left them controlling only about two-thirds of Albania. A major offensive launched by Italy in March 1941 resulted in few territorial gains.
A coup d'état occurred in Yugoslavia on the 27th of March 1941. Adolf Hitler ordered the conquest of that country immediately after learning of the political shift. The invasion of Yugoslavia began on the 6th of April 1941 alongside renewed attacks on Greece. Hungary joined the invasion of Yugoslavia on the 11th of April. By the 17th of April the Yugoslav army signed an armistice. Germany and Italy created the Independent State of Croatia from parts of Bosnia, Herzegovina, and Croatia. The Germans appointed Milan Nedić as head of a puppet government in Serbia. Montenegro remained under Italian occupation while Bulgaria annexed eastern areas including most of modern-day North Macedonia. All mainland Greece fell under German or Italian control by the 30th of April 1941.
Hitler began planning to invade Greece in November 1940. He issued orders for Operation Marita on the 13th of December 1940 for execution in March 1941. The stated aim was to prevent British forces from getting air bases within striking range of Romanian oilfields. The German Army invaded northern Greece on the 6th of April 1941. Other elements launched an attack against Yugoslavia simultaneously. Breaking through Yugoslav lines allowed Germany to send reinforcements to northern Greek battlefields. The German army out-flanked the Greek Metaxas Line fortifications despite assistance provided by a British expeditionary corps. They set out to capture southern Greek cities. The Battle of Greece ended with the German entry into Athens and the capture of the Peloponnese. About 40,000 Allied soldiers were evacuated to Crete during this phase.
On the 20th of May 1941 German paratroopers were dropped over the airfields of northern Crete. They aimed to occupy the island quickly. Heavy resistance came from Allied forces and the local Cretan population. Eventually defenders were overwhelmed by German forces. The British Government ordered an evacuation on the 27th of May. Remaining forces surrendered on the 1st of June. The heavy losses incurred by the paratroopers convinced the Supreme Command of the Wehrmacht to abandon large-scale airborne operations for the remainder of the war. This decision marked a turning point in how future invasions would be planned. Operation Merkur became known as one of the largest airborne attacks in history yet proved too costly to repeat.
Despite officially joining the Axis Powers, the Bulgarian government did not participate in the invasion of Yugoslavia or the Battle of Greece on the 6th of April 1941. On the 20th of April the Bulgarian Army occupied most of Western Thrace and the Greek province of Eastern Macedonia. These areas had already been conquered by Germany. Bulgaria sought to restore its pre-World War I outlet to the Aegean Sea through these gains. Bulgarian troops also occupied much of eastern Serbia where Vardar Banovina was divided between Bulgaria and Italy. This occupation continued for the remainder of the war in the Balkans without direct combat involvement in earlier campaigns.
Throughout the remainder of the war active Yugoslav, Greek, and Albanian resistance movements forced Germany and its allies to garrison hundreds of thousands of soldiers permanently. These forces denied troops to other fronts across Europe. Especially in Yugoslavia after 1943 the threat of an Allied invasion necessitated large-scale counter-insurgency operations involving several divisions. The activities of partisans tied down significant Axis resources throughout the conflict. Resistance groups operated within their own countries while facing overwhelming military pressure from occupying powers. Their persistent actions disrupted supply lines and communication networks across the region.
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Common questions
When did the Italian invasion of Greece begin?
The Italian invasion of Greece began on the 28th of October 1940. Italian forces crossed the border and made limited gains in the initial days before Greek troops counter-attacked with force.
What was the stated aim of Operation Marita during the Balkans campaign?
The stated aim of Operation Marita was to prevent British forces from getting air bases within striking range of Romanian oilfields. Hitler issued orders for this operation on the 13th of December 1940 for execution in March 1941.
How many Allied soldiers were evacuated to Crete during the Battle of Greece?
About 40,000 Allied soldiers were evacuated to Crete during the phase ending with the German entry into Athens. This evacuation occurred after the German army out-flanked the Greek Metaxas Line fortifications despite assistance provided by a British expeditionary corps.
Why did the Supreme Command of the Wehrmacht abandon large-scale airborne operations?
Heavy losses incurred by paratroopers during the invasion of Crete convinced the Supreme Command of the Wehrmacht to abandon large-scale airborne operations for the remainder of the war. The decision marked a turning point in how future invasions would be planned following Operation Merkur.
Which areas did Bulgaria occupy on the 20th of April 1941?
On the 20th of April the Bulgarian Army occupied most of Western Thrace and the Greek province of Eastern Macedonia. These areas had already been conquered by Germany before Bulgaria sought to restore its pre-World War I outlet to the Aegean Sea through these gains.