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The blow of Italy
An Italian force of 70,000 soldiers invades Greece.Greece says No to axis.It marked the beginning of the Balkan campaign of WW2 -
Period: to
WW2
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The first success.
The Italian invasion force is in full retreat repelled by a combined Greek resistance and RAF effort.After just two weeks the Greek Army marched into Aldanian territory.It was the first successful land campain against the Axis in the war -
The invasion of Greece and Yugoslavia
Operation Marita -the dual Germany invasion of Greece and Yugoslavia -is put into action.Twenty-four total divisions are invelved including 1200 tanks. -
The first defeat
The German 12th Army enriches and defeats the Greek defensive line known on "Metaxas line" -
The attack in Thessaloniki
The German Αrmy moves on and captures the strategic port city of Thessaloniki. -
Battle at the Aliakmon Line
Three divisions of British, Australian and N. Zeeland troops at the Aliakmon Line in the Vermion Mountains are defeated -
Allied troops at Olympus
Vermion Line Allied troops are now redeployed to defensive positions around Mount Olympus -
Allied forces in Greece are in full retreat
Allied forces in Greece are in full retreat at the request of Greek General Alexander Papagos who sees value is less fightining to save his country from destruction. British Prime Minister Winston Churchill accepts the request -
The Greek Army surrenders to the enemy
The Greek Army surrenders to the Germans and Italians -
The bridge is lost in the attact
German airborme elements attempt to capture the bridge over the Corinth Canal in the attept to enrircle the retreating allies. The bridge is lost in the attact while the Allies have already moved on. -
Athens occupation
Axis forces official occupy Athens effectively signaling the end of Greek resistance. -
27-30 April
Operatiom Deman is activated covering the evacution of some 51,000 Allied troops from southern Greece via the Royal Navy -
The battle of Crete
Between 1:30 and 2:00 pm, the Second wave of German airborne troops take off from Greece towards drop zones in Crete. Thousands of German paratsoopers took part in landings around the island. Allied air defenses proved deadly are first, where some 50% of German transports were being destroyed in the air. By the end of May the German took control of the Island of Crete. It wasn't an easy compaign for Wehrmacht.
