Share to: share facebook share twitter share wa share telegram print page

Balkans campaign (World War II)

Balkans campaign
Part of Mediterranean and Middle East theatre of the Second World War

German paratroopers on Crete in 1941
Date28 October 19401 June 1941
(7 months and 4 days)
Location
Result

Axis victory

Territorial
changes
Yugoslavia and Greece come under Axis control
Belligerents

Axis:
 Italy

 Germany (from April 1941)
 Hungary (from April 1941)
Allies:
 Greece
 Yugoslavia (from April 1941)
 United Kingdom
 Australia
 New Zealand
Commanders and leaders
Fascist Italy Pietro Badoglio
Fascist Italy Ubaldo Soddu
Fascist Italy Ugo Cavallero
Fascist Italy Vittorio Ambrosio
Nazi Germany Wilhelm List
Nazi Germany Maximilian von Weichs
Nazi Germany Kurt Student
Kingdom of Hungary (1920–1946) Elemér Gorondy-Novák
Kingdom of Greece Ioannis Metaxas
Kingdom of Greece Alexandros Papagos
Kingdom of Yugoslavia Dušan Simović
Kingdom of Yugoslavia Milorad Petrović
United Kingdom Henry Wilson
Dominion of New Zealand Bernard Freyberg
Strength
Fascist Italy 565,000
Nazi Germany 680,000
Kingdom of Hungary (1920–1946) 80,000
Total: 1,325,000
Kingdom of Greece 430,000
Kingdom of Yugoslavia 850,000
United Kingdom 62,612
Total: 1,342,612

The Balkans campaign of World War II began with the Italian invasion of Greece on 28 October 1940. In the early months of 1941, Italy's offensive had stalled and a Greek counter-offensive pushed into Albania. Germany sought to aid Italy by deploying troops to Romania and Bulgaria and attacking Greece from the east. Meanwhile, the British landed troops and aircraft to shore up Greek defences. A coup d'état in Yugoslavia on 27 March caused Adolf Hitler to order the conquest of that country.

The invasion of Yugoslavia by Germany and Italy began on 6 April 1941, simultaneously with the new Battle of Greece; on 11 April, Hungary joined the invasion. By 17 April the Yugoslavs had signed an armistice, and by 30 April all of mainland Greece was under German or Italian control. On 20 May Germany invaded Crete by air, and by 1 June all remaining Greek and British forces on the island had surrendered. Although it had not participated in the attacks in April, Bulgaria occupied parts of both Yugoslavia and Greece shortly thereafter for the remainder of the war in the Balkans.

Background

After World War I, with the complete collapse of the Ottoman Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Albanians looked to the Kingdom of Italy for protection against its traditional enemies. In 1919, Albania's territorial integrity was confirmed at the Paris Peace Conference after United States President Woodrow Wilson opposed a plan by the European powers to divide Albania amongst its neighbors. However, after 1925, Italian dictator Benito Mussolini sought to dominate Albania. In 1928, Albania became a kingdom under Zog I, who was a clan chief and former Prime Minister. Zog failed to stave off Italian ascendancy in Albanian internal affairs. On 7 April 1939, Mussolini's troops occupied Albania, overthrew Zog, and annexed the country to the Italian Empire.

Campaign

Balkan boundary changes 1938 to 1941
Axis advances in the Balkans during early 1941
Division of Yugoslavia after its invasion by the Axis powers.
  Areas assigned to Italy: the area constituting the province of Ljubljana, the area merged with the province of Fiume and the areas making up the Governorate of Dalmatia
  Area occupied by Nazi Germany
  Areas occupied by Kingdom of Hungary

Greco-Italian War

The Italian invasion of Greece lasted from 28 October 1940 to 30 April 1941. Italian forces invaded Greece and made limited gains. But soon the Greeks counter-attacked and the Italians were driven back to the Albanian border. In this period the United Kingdom was supporting the Greeks with the Royal Air Force, but the arrival of British and Commonwealth ground troops in Greece was delayed due to operations in North Africa. The Italians spent much of the winter stabilizing a line which left them in control of only about two-thirds of Albania. A much anticipated Italian offensive in March 1941 resulted in few territorial gains. Germany, led by Adolf Hitler, intervened in April and invaded Greece after the successful invasion of Yugoslavia.

Invasion of Yugoslavia

The invasion of Yugoslavia (also known as "Operation 25") began on 6 April 1941 and ended with the unconditional surrender of the Royal Yugoslav Army on 17 April. The invading Axis powers (Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, and Hungary) occupied and dismembered the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. By cobbling together Bosnia and Herzegovina, some parts of Croatia, and Syrmia, the "Independent State of Croatia" (Nezavisna Država Hrvatska, NDH) was created by Germany and Italy. In some of the territory of the former Kingdom of Serbia and the Banat, the German-occupied Territory of the Military Commander in Serbia, the Germans appointed a puppet government, the Government of National Salvation led by Milan Nedić. Montenegro remained under Italian occupation, and Bulgaria was permitted to annex eastern areas of Yugoslavia, including most of modern-day North Macedonia.

Battle of Greece

Hitler began planning to invade Greece in November 1940, after the British occupied Crete and Lemnos. He ordered the invasion of Greece — code-named Unternehmen Marita (Operation Marita) — on 13 December 1940 for execution in March 1941. The stated aim of the operation was to prevent the British from getting air bases within striking range of the Romanian oilfields.[1] On 6 April 1941, the German Army invaded northern Greece, while other elements launched an attack against Yugoslavia. Breaking through the Yugoslav lines in southern Yugoslavia allowed Germany to send reinforcements to the battlefields of northern Greece. The German army out-flanked the Greek Metaxas Line fortifications and, despite the assistance provided by a British expeditionary corps, set out to capture the southern Greek cities. The Battle of Greece ended with the German entry into Athens and the capture of the Peloponnese, although about 40,000 Allied soldiers were evacuated to Crete, prompting one of the largest airborne attacks in the history of warfare: Operation Merkur, or the Battle of Crete.

Battle of Crete

On 20 May 1941, German paratroopers were dropped over the airfields of northern Crete to occupy the island. They were met by heavy resistance from Allied forces and the local Cretan population but eventually the defenders were overwhelmed by the German forces. The British Government ordered an evacuation on 27 May and the remaining forces surrendered on 1 June. However, 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.

Result

Situation in Europe by May/June 1941 at the conclusion of the Balkans campaign, immediately before Operation Barbarossa

By 1 June 1941, all of Albania, Yugoslavia and Greece were under Axis control. Greece was placed under triple occupation, and Yugoslavia was dissolved and occupied. Germany had gained a significant strategic advantage: direct access to the Mediterranean.

Bulgarian occupation

On 6 April 1941, despite having officially joined the Axis Powers, the Bulgarian government did not participate in the invasion of Yugoslavia and the Battle of Greece. On 20 April, the Bulgarian Army occupied most of Western Thrace and the Greek province of Eastern Macedonia, which had been already conquered by Germany, with the goal of restoring its pre-World War I outlet to the Aegean Sea. Bulgarian troops also occupied much of eastern Serbia, where Vardar Banovina was divided between Bulgaria and the Italians.

Resistance movements

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 in the three countries, denying them to the other fronts. Especially in Yugoslavia after 1943, the threat of an Allied invasion and the activities of the partisans necessitated large-scale counter-insurgency operations, involving several divisions.

See also

References

  • Wards, Ian (2000). "The Balkan Dilemma". In Crawford, John (ed.). Kia Kaha: New Zealand in the Second World War. Auckland, NZ: Oxford. pp. 20–35. ISBN 0-19-558438-4.
  1. ^ Walther Hubatsch, Hitlers Weisungen fuer die Kriegfuehrung 1939-1945, Weisung Nr. 20, 2nd Edition, Bernard & Graefe Verlag, 1983

External links

Baca informasi lainnya yang berhubungan dengan : article

Article 19 Article 20

Read other articles:

Madagaskar är indelat i 22 regioner (faritra): [1] Dessa ersatte 2007 de tidigare provinserna.[2] Regionerna är i sin tur är indelade i 119 distrikt. Distrikten är indelade i &&&&&&&&&&&01597.&&&&&01 597 communes.[3] Madagaskars regioner Nr Region Provins Huvudstad Invånare Yta (km²) 1 Diana Antsiranana Antsiranana 485 800 19 266 2 Sava Antsiranana Sambava 805 300 25 518 3 Itasy Antananarivo Miarinariv…

Minister of TransportMinistre des TransportsIncumbentPablo Rodriguezsince 26 July 2023Transport CanadaStyleThe HonourableMember ofCabinetPrivy CouncilReports toParliamentPrime MinisterAppointerMonarch (represented by the governor general)on the advice of the prime ministerTerm lengthAt His Majesty's pleasurePrecursorMinister of Railways and Canals Minister of MarineInaugural holderC. D. HoweFormation2 November 1936DeputyDeputy Minister of TransportSalary$279,900 (2022)[1]Websitewww.…

Este artículo o sección necesita referencias que aparezcan en una publicación acreditada.Este aviso fue puesto el 7 de mayo de 2023. Salsa de siete capas Ingredientes frijoles refritos[editar datos en Wikidata] La salsa de siete capas es el nombre de un aperitivo estadounidense basado en los ingredientes comunes en la gastronomía Tex-Mex. El plato por lo general incluye: Frijoles refritos Guacamole Crema agria Salsa picante, pico de gallo o tomates picados Queso rallado Cheddar, qu…

2006 British game show television series This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.Find sources: Unanimous British TV series – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (March 2010) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) UnanimousPresented byAlex HumesCountry of originUnited KingdomNo. of episodes8…

بهاء الدين السبكي معلومات شخصية اسم الولادة أحمد بن علي بن عبد الكافي بن تمام السبكي الميلاد 7 أغسطس 1319[1]  القاهرة[2]  الوفاة 7 يناير 1372 (52 سنة) [2]  مكة المكرمة[2]  الأب تقي الدين السبكي  إخوة وأخوات تاج الدين السبكي  الحياة العملية تعلم لدى تقي الدي…

هذه المقالة يتيمة إذ تصل إليها مقالات أخرى قليلة جدًا. فضلًا، ساعد بإضافة وصلة إليها في مقالات متعلقة بها. (نوفمبر 2019) غريغ موريارتي   معلومات شخصية الميلاد 4 أبريل 1964 (59 سنة)  بريزبان  مواطنة أستراليا  الحياة العملية المدرسة الأم جامعة أستراليا الغربية (الشهادة:بكال

Esta página cita fontes, mas que não cobrem todo o conteúdo. Ajude a inserir referências. Conteúdo não verificável pode ser removido.—Encontre fontes: ABW  • CAPES  • Google (N • L • A) (Julho de 2022) Fluminense versus Boca Juniors Torcidas de Fluminense e Boca. Informações gerais Fluminense 3 vitória(s), 11 gol(s) Boca Juniors 3 vitória(s), 12 gol(s) Empates 2 Total de jogos 8 Total de gols 23 Primeira partida Resultado…

Pulau Kelor Pulau KherkofPulauLuas • Total0,008 km2 (0,003 sq mi)Ketinggian1 - 1,5 m (−3,9 ft) Pulau Kelor dahulu dikenal dengan nama Pulau Kerkhof merupakan pulau yang berada pada gugusan Kepulauan Seribu. Secara administratif termasuk dalam wilayah Kabupaten Administratif Kepulauan Seribu provinsi DKI Jakarta. Pulau Kelor terletak berdekatan dengan gugusan yang sama dengan Pulau Petondan Besar, Pulau Petondan Kecil, Pulau Kelapa, Pulau Onrust, Pulau Cipur…

Rinke KhannaRinke Khanna pada tahun 2015Lahir27 Juli 1977 (umur 46)Mumbai, Maharashtra,  IndiaTahun aktif1999–2004Suami/istriSameer Saran (8 Februari 2003 – sekarang) Rinke Khanna (nama lahir Rinkle Khanna pada 27 Juli 1977) adalah seorang aktris India. Ia adalah putri sulung dari aktris Dimple Kapadia dan aktor Rajesh Khanna, saudari dari Twinkle Khanna dan satudari ipar dari aktor Akshay Kumar. Ia membuat debut filmnya dengan Pyaar Mein Kabhie Kabhie (1999), mengubah nama pa…

1983 board game This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.Find sources: Empires in Arms – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (February 2013) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) The cover of the original AH Empires in Arms board game Empires in Arms is an out-of-print board game by Harry Rowlan…

Educational system of Ethiopia from 330 AD to 1908 This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.Find sources: Traditional education in Ethiopia – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (July 2022) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) Modern painting of Saint Yared with his disciples singing to Axumite…

Bistum Nîmes Karte Bistum Nîmes Basisdaten Staat Frankreich Kirchenprovinz Montpellier Metropolitanbistum Erzbistum Montpellier Diözesanbischof Nicolas Brouwet Emeritierter Diözesanbischof Robert Wattebled Gründung 5. Jahrhundert Fläche 5880 km² Pfarreien 392 (31.12.2007 / AP2009) Einwohner 623.125 (31.12.2007 / AP2009) Katholiken 364.523 (31.12.2007 / AP2009) Anteil 58,5 % Diözesanpriester 135 (31.12.2007 / AP2009) Ordenspriester 34 (31.12.2007 / AP2009) Katholiken je Priester 2157…

2001 novel by Kage Baker The Graveyard Game First Edition coverAuthorKage BakerCover artistKelly NelsonCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishSeriesThe CompanyGenreScience fictionPublisherHarcourtPublication dateJanuary 2001Media typePrint (Hardcover)Pages288ISBN0-15-100449-8OCLC43615632Dewey Decimal813/.54 21LC ClassPS3552.A4313 G73 2001Preceded byMendoza in Hollywood Followed byThe Life of the World to Come  The Graveyard Game is a science fiction novel by Americ…

De Triple Crown is een prijs in rugby. Vanaf 1883 speelden de Home Countries Engeland, Schotland, Wales en Ierland een jaarlijks Zeslandentoernooi. Als een van de landen alle andere wist te verslaan, werd de winnaar tot drager van de Triple Crown uitgeroepen. De Triple Crown hoeft dus niet elk jaar gewonnen te worden door een team. Na 1910 werd het toernooi uitgebreid met Frankrijk en later ook Italië, maar de eretitel bleef bestaan. Frankrijk en Italië kunnen de Triple Crown niet winnen. Als …

American football stadium in Berkeley, California California Memorial StadiumCalifornia Memorial Stadium[1]Strawberry CanyonView northwest, with Sather Tower in the distanceBerkeleyLocation in the United StatesShow map of the United StatesBerkeleyLocation in CaliforniaShow map of CaliforniaAddress210 Stadium Rim WayLocationUniversity of CaliforniaBerkeley, CA 94720[2]Coordinates37°52′16″N 122°15′3″W / 37.87111°N 122.25083°W / 37.87111; -122.250…

Chinese chess player For the judoka, see Xu Yuhua (judoka). In this Chinese name, the family name is Xu. Xu YuhuaXu Yuhua in 2008CountryChinaBorn (1976-10-29) 29 October 1976 (age 47)[1]Jinhua, Zhejiang, ChinaTitleGrandmaster (2006)Woman Grandmaster (2001)Women's World Champion2006–08FIDE rating2465 (December 2023) [inactive]Peak rating2517 (April 2006) Xu YuhuaTraditional Chinese許昱華Simplified Chinese许昱华TranscriptionsStandard MandarinHanyu PinyinXǔ Yùh…

2023 TV series created by Anna Winger and Daniel Hendler TransatlanticPromotional posterCreated by Anna Winger Daniel Hendler Based onThe Flight Portfolioby Julie Orringer[1]Directed by Stéphanie Chuat [fr] Véronique Reymond [fr] Mia Meyer Starring Gillian Jacobs Lucas Englander Cory Michael Smith Ralph Amoussou Deleila Piasko Amit Rahav Grégory Montel Corey Stoll Country of origin Germany France Original languages English German French No. of episodes7Produc…

Chen YufeiChen Yufei, 2022Informasi pribadiLahir1 Maret 1998 (umur 25)Hangzhou, Zhejiang, TiongkokTinggi171 m (561 ft 0 in)Tahun aktif2013–sekarangPeganganKananTunggal putriRekor307 menang, 95 kalahPeringkat tertinggi1 (17 Desember 2019)Peringkat saat ini3 (27 Desember 2022[1]) Rekam medali   Olimpiade Tokyo 2020 Tunggal Putri Profil di BWF Chen Yufei (Hanzi: 陈雨菲; lahir 1 Maret 1998) adalah pemain bulu tangkis asal China. Dulunya ia pemain j…

Three days fasting and prayer, quarterly It has been suggested that Quarter tense and Quarter days be merged into this article. (Discuss) Proposed since July 2023. An Ymber Day Tart, cooked by following a medieval English recipe from the book Forme of Cury, a Middle English cook book stored in John Rylands Library. The recipe was originally made for King Richard II. Liturgical seasons Pre-Christmas Advent (Western) Nativity Fast (Byzantine) Annunciation (Syriac) Christmas Epiphany Ordinary Time …

Malayalam movie Meesha MadhavanVCD coverDirected byLal JoseWritten byRanjan PramodProduced byMaha SubairSudhishStarringDileepKavya MadhavanIndrajith SukumaranJagathy SreekumarNarrated byRanjithCinematographyS. KumarEdited byRanjan AbrahamMusic byVidyasagarProductioncompanyMoviekshetraDistributed byKalasangham FilmsKasVarnachithraRelease date 4 July 2002 (2002-07-04) Running time160 minutesCountryIndiaLanguageMalayalamBudget₹1.45 crore (US$180,000)[1] Meesha Madhavan (lit…

Kembali kehalaman sebelumnya