Il 6 aprile le forze armate italo-tedesche invasero la Jugoslavia. I tedeschi penetrarono nel territorio jugoslavo attraverso l'Austria, l'Ungheria, la Romania e la Bulgaria. Le nostre truppe varcarono il confine giulio, penetrando prima in Slovenia spingendosi lungo la costa dalmata e congiungendosi con le altre forze italiane provenienti da Zara e dall'Albania. Trovandosi a dover fronteggiare un'invasione lungo all national boundaries, in a few days the Yugoslav army capitulated. The situation in the Balkans
The Yugoslav state was born after World War I by the dissolution of the Hapsburg and Ottoman empires, had included in its territory diverse populations by race, religion and customs (Serbs, Croats, Slovenes, Bosnian Muslims), which inevitably thanks to the oppressive behavior, stupid and arrogant of the Serbs, immediately began to clash with each other. The Serbs are in fact having monopolized the government and the armed forces, implement a real policy of domination and oppression in relation to other nationalities. The first to revolt were the Croats, who formed the famous Ustasha paramilitary units guidate dal nazionalista Ante Pavelic. Proprio per mano degli ustasha nel 1934 venne ucciso in un attentato il re Pietro di Jugoslavia durante una visita in Francia.
I rapporti tra l'Italia e la Jugoslavia
Malgrado la Jugoslavia fosse il principale artefice della nostre mancate rivendicazioni territoriali dopo la prima guerra mondiale, il governo italiano tentò la via diplomatica per instaurare un legame di cooperazione e di amicizia con il governo di Belgrado; grazie alla collaborazione del ministro Stojadinovic, nel 1937 venne firmato addirittura dai due governi un patto di non aggressione, un vero trattato di amicizia dove l'Italia si impegnava a rispettare l'integrità territoriale della Jugoslavia e la Jugoslavia riconosceva il nostro Impero africano and our role as actor in world politics.
This climate of detente, however, lasted little: after the annexation of Austria to the Reich Regent Prince Paul, groped to cozy up to Hitler, now near its border, Stojadinovic replaced at the helm of government, because it was considered too pro-Italian, Cvetkovic was known in his sympathy for Nazi Germany.
Failed diplomatic action, since 1939, after the annexation of Albania (aprile1939) our General Staff had begun to design a plan for the invasion of Yugoslavia after the fall of France in the summer of 1940 the plan was taken once in the hands of the Germans were finished documentation showing that the Belgrade government had made arrangements with France and England for common action against our country.
German intervention
German policy in the Balkans was put once again in different countries against each other: on one hand those winners (Romania, Greece and Yugoslavia) and secondly those defeats (Bulgaria, Hungary and Turkey) of the First World War. Berlin was obviously appealing to the fact that each had territorial claims toward each other, and this was never one that is not reached an agreement that could lead to Understanding the Balkans as an anti-axis. After the defeat of the Allies in 1940, it was easy to penetrate to the Germans militarily, economically and politically in Balkans.
The Germans now a country now helping another, ensures the precious oil Romanian and Hungarian food. All this in the forthcoming Operation Barbarossa (ie the invasion of Russia), whose plans were ready as early as December 1940. To sanction even more political alignment with the axis, intervened accession of most countries in the Tripartite Pact (signed September 28, 1940 from Italy, Germany and Japan), and then the road to the east was open . But the problem remained the Deadlock
Italian along the Albanian border: after the attack in October 1940, the Italian armies were due to retire in Albania even to defend from counter- Greek.
Also in Greece were beginning to flood the British troops and this put in jeopardy the whole Balkan chessboard. With bases in greek territory, the British aircraft could hit the Romanian oil fields and put it in crisis, the German war industry.
Greece was absolutely chapter and the British expeditionary force was to be thrown back into the sea: the directive number 20 of 15 December 1940 was therefore prepared the plans for Operation Marita, namely the invasion of Greece, which was set to begin the spring of 1941.
In Bulgaria and Romania had already piled several German divisions ready to intervene in Greece, and Yugoslavia that Hitler wanted to allow the passage troops and then adhered to the Tripartite Pact to definitively establish its political alignment with the axis.
Betrayal Yugoslav
On March 25, after heavy pressure and the promise of the port of Thessaloniki in Greece, the Yugoslav government joined the Tripartite Pact. On the same day was also taken the decision to delay Operation Barbarossa to four weeks for the invasion of Greece. But the dream did not last long: on the night between 26 and 27 March a group of Serbian officers opposed to the agreement with Hitler's Germany with a military coup overthrew the government of Zvetkovic and the Regent Paul. Ascended the throne, the young Peter II, who entrusted the task of forming a new government to General Simovic. On the streets Belgrade, there were scenes of jubilation for the event, and the windows were exposed British and French flags.
For Italy and Germany, the coup was an unacceptable provocation. Hitler immediately sent out orders to "crush Yugoslavia militarily and politically". Which were summarized in the instruction sheet number 25:
"It 's my intention to invade Yugoslavia with powerful forces in the direction of Belgrade and the region further south, in order both the Yugoslav army to inflict a decisive defeat, is to separate the south from the rest of the country in order to transform it into a base for further operations by land. In particular, I order that: as soon as the merger is completed di forze sufficienti e le condizioni metereologiche lo consentono, tutti gli impianti a terra e la città di Belgrado devono essere distrutti con attacchi aerei continui di giorno e di notte".
Già il 27 marzo era stato inviato da Hitler a Mussolini un telegramma per coordinare le operazioni militari contro la Jugoslavia:
"…Ed ora vi prego cordialmente, Duce di non iniziare altre operazioni in Albania durante i prossimi pochi giorni. Ritengo necessario che voi copriate e proteggiate con tutte le forze disponibili i passi più importanti fra la Jugoslavia e l'Albania….
Ritengo inoltre necessario, Duce, che rinforziate le vostre unità alla frontiera italo-jugoslava con tutti i mezzi disponibili e con la soon as possible. "
Basically asking our forces to offensive action along the border to protect the flank attack giulio of German forces from Austria. Along the greek-Albanian front was necessary to assume a defensive posture in anticipation of junction with the German troops who came from Bulgaria in the direction of Skopje, and then continue south against the British and Greek forces.
The leader said that to Hitler:
"It 's been to me personally gave the order to General Cavallero to suspend the offensive (in Albania Ed) whose beginning was imminent. Infantry units are flowing into the northern border and take a stand on three pillars di un eventuale attacco jugoslavo.Ordini sono stati dati per far affluire verso la frontiera alpina orientale sette divisioni che si uniranno alle altre esistenti, più quindicimila uomini di guardia alla frontiera. Nella stessa zona è pronta ad operare la 2a squadra aerea"
LE FORZE IN CAMPO
Forze italiane
L'attacco italiano contro la Jugoslavia si sviluppò in tre differenti aree: lungo la frontiera giulia, dalla piazzaforte di Zara e dal confine albanese.
A nord agì la 2a Armata (comprendente 5 corpi d'armata) del generale Vittorio Ambrosio. A Zara c'erano circa 9.000 uomini che vennero elevati al rango di divisione.
Sul confine albanese vennero impegnate la 9a Armata del generale Pirzio Biroli e l'11a Armata del generale Geloso.
All'inizio di marzo la 2a Armata comprendeva:
l'XI° Corpo d'Armata (divisioni di fanteria Re, Isonzo e 3° Gruppo Alpini)
il V° Corpo d'Armata (divisioni di fanteria Sassari, Bergamo e Lombardia)
La 1a divisione celere
Alcuni reparti della Guardia alla Frontiera rinforzati con battaglioni di camicie nere
Prima dell'inizio delle operazioni ricevette di rinforzo altri 3 corpi d'Armata, 3 divisioni di fanteria (Assietta, Ravenna e Piave) e altri reparti.
Il VI° Corpo d'Armata (divisione di fanteria Friuli)
Il Corpo d'Armata autotrasportabile (divisione corazzata Littorio, divisioni di fanteria Pasubio e Turin)
The rapid Corps (division Eugene of Savoy, Filiberto Emauele and Principe Amedeo Duca d'Aosta).
German forces
The Germans invaded Yugoslavia from the north with the 2nd Army Maj. Gen. Maximilian von Weichs:
the XLIX and LI Corps Austria Corps;
the XLVI Panzer Corps Hungary.
From the north-east with the 12th Army Field Marshal List:
The First Armored Squadron under the command of General Ewald von Kleist consisted of three corps: the motorized XLI Corps (which included the SS Division Das Reich) had to move from Romania with the goal to aim towards Belgrade. The
XI and the XIV Corps from Bulgaria con l'obiettivo di puntare su Nis e poi convergere anch'essi su Belgrado.
Più a sud e sempre dalla Bulgaria dovevano muoversi l'XL°, il XVIII° e il XXX° Corpo d'Armata (comprendente la divisione SS Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler di Sepp Dietrich) con l'obiettivo di portare a termine l'operazione Marita.
Forze satelliti
L'Ungheria prese parte alle operazioni dall'11 al 13 aprile, con la 3a Armata (tre Corpi d'Armata) che comprendevano complessivamente 8 divisioni di fanteria e 2 brigate motorizzate.
La Romania e la Bulgaria non parteciparono direttamente al conflitto, permettendo solo il transito delle truppe tedesche.
Forze nemiche
L'esercito jugoslavo disponeva in totale di circa 30 divisioni di fanteria e 3 di cavalleria, oltre a qualche reggimento corazzato. Le forze comprendevano:
il 1° Gruppo d'Armate (7a e 4a Armata), agli ordini del generale Petrovic, attestato lungo i confini con l'Italia e l'Austria;
il 2° Gruppo d'Armate (1a e 2a Armata), agli ordini del generale Milutin Nedic lungo i confini ungheresi e rumeni;
il 2° Gruppo d'Armate (3a, 5a, 6a Armata e 3a Armata territoriale), agli ordini del generale Milan Nedic lungo il confine rumeno meridionale, bulgaro, greco e albanese.
L'armamento dell'esercito di Belgrado era scadente ed antiquato se rapportato a quello dell'esercito germanico, ma non così scarso se rapportato con quello del nostro esercito. L'armamento pesante risaliva alla prima guerra mondiale ed i pochi carri a disposizione erano antiquati (per lo più carri francesi FT) ed assegnati in modo disorganico alle varie unità di fanteria. Non migliore era la situazione dell'aviazione, che poteva contare su circa 500 aerei efficienti, ma che per la maggior parte vennero distrutti al suolo all'inizio delle ostilità dalla Luftwaffe rendendo così vano il loro eventuale apporto operativo.
FUOCO SU BELGRADO
All'alba del 6 aprile la Luftwaffe tedesca diede inizio all'operazione Castigo, nome in codice dato al bombardamento della capitale jugoslava: ondate di caccia bombardieri Stukas rovesciarono il loro letale carico di morte su Belgrado colpendola repeatedly for three nights and three days by reducing entire neighborhoods to rubble. The German planes were able to act undisturbed since it was declared the capital city, open and devoid of air defense.
addition, the Yugoslav air force no longer existed, because as mentioned before most of the aircraft had been systematically destroyed by the Luftwaffe on the ground.
The massive bombing of Belgrade had been ordered by Hitler as "punishment" for the turnaround of the Yugoslav government and to force him to surrender to avoid the use of ground troops. The Yugoslav government would instead continue to resist hoping maybe some help from Western powers, which at that time, however, would not be potuto arrivare in nessun modo. Vennero diramate quindi alle truppe di terra italo-tedeshe, le direttive per l'invasione.
L'INVASIONE
Il piano di invasione prevedeva un'azione convergente su Belgrado, condotta contemporaneamente da nord e da nord est dalla 2a Armata di von Weichs e da sud dal Corpo corazzato di von Kleist. Ad ovest avrebbe agito la 2a Armata italiana del generale Ambrosio. Le altre forze della 12a Armata di List dovevano invece puntare su Skoplje, in Macedonia ed unirsi alle forze italiane provenienti dall'Albania.
Il 9 aprile le divisioni tedesche attestate in Austria, Ungheria e Romania invasero il territorio jugoslavo. Il 10 aprile Zagabria era già in mano tedesca: nel capoluogo croato i tedeschi furono accolti come liberators, and the next day proclaimed Slavko Kvaternik indipendedenza Croatia.
Italian troops have been working since April 7 episodes offensive across the border, hampered only by the massive fire of enemy artillery but could not slow the eastward movement.
April 11, two platoons of the 11th Regiment riflemen motorcyclists preceded the entry of the German columns in Ljubljana: the operation conceived by General Roatta was primarily a political and propaganda success. The capital of Slovenia, was part in the Italian opera, but some of our agents had reported the advance of a German motorized column to the city. General Roat, recovering all the resources Arrange a motorized column throwing at full speed towards Ljubljana. Great was the surprise of the Slovenes when shortly before 18 o'clock instead of the Germans enter first saw Italian soldiers in the city. Shortly after they arrived in Ljubljana
other departments of the 11th regiment of riflemen and tanks The Armored Group San Giusto, thereby completing the occupation of the city.
On April 12, in the early hours of dawn, the 12th regiment, reinforced by a battalion of sharpshooters occupied Blackshirts Karlovac operating the junction with the German forces also arrived in the Croatian town.
After reaching the goals established in the east of the offensive line with the command Germanic troops the Italian 2nd Army begins to go along the Dalmatian coast, to continue to cover the right side of the offensive Germanic. It was necessary also to prevent Yugoslav forces en route to reach the so-called "reduced Bosnian", an ideal area to organize a resistance to the bitter end, because of its morphology. Also needed to operate the junction with the forces from the defense of Zadar and take behind the Yugoslav forces stationed along the northern border of Albania. THE CONQUEST OF BELGRADE
departments of German XLI Panzer Corps from Romania after reaching 10 Pancevo, continued en route to the Yugoslav capital.
On April 12 the SS-Hauptsturmführer Fritz Klingenberg the second company of the battalion motorcyclists SS Das Reich division crossed the Danube and with just nine men obtained the surrender of Belgrade. For this, as Klingenberg was awarded the Knight's Cross.
the same day the Hungarian troops recaptured almost without a fight their ancient territories south of the Drava and Danube lost after the First World War. From Bulgaria
the other two bodies (XI and XIV) Armored Corps von Kleist, April 9 and 10 arrived in Nis in Krusevac. From there, they too began to go to Belgrade over the course of the Morava, April 12 in Mount Avala clashed with some departments Yugoslavs who opposed a strong resistance. For nearly two days the Kleist's panzers were stopped by enemy fire, until he stepped in the Balkan Air Force now master of the skies to destroy enemy resistance. The 13 columns of armored von Kleist reached Belgrade.
Further south by Bulgaria, the other forces of the German 12th Army List, after some fierce battles with enemy units, reached Skopje on April 7, then going along the border to Monastir greek and working here, too, joining with the Italian forces from Albania.
THE FACE OF ZARA
The Italian garrison of Zadar, after the coup in Belgrade is located just in front. In the fortress there were about 9,000 men under the command of Brigadier General Emilio Giglioli. Our services had indicated as early as March 28 that there were significant enemy forces and artillery positions in various localized around the city. On April 2, was prepared to evacuate the civilian population and then the defenses were reinforced. Against the Italian garrison was deployed at the forefront of the division Jadranska and ready to intervene divisions Mostar and Sibenik.
had come from the Supreme Command ordered to resist to the bitter end. Groped to loosen the grip of the enemy around the city on April 8, an air raid was ordered by our air force on enemy positions. In retaliation the enemy aircraft he made raids on the city itself, which caused damage mainly to houses. Since then, the general Giglioli required the continued presence of our fighters on the sky of the city to prevent further enemy air raids.
The situation changed radically after April 11: With the Axis forces already in Croatia departments enemies around Zara began to retreat inland. It was so ordered by the Supreme Commander offensive action in enemy territory to Knin to undermine the entire deployment opponent. General Giglioli formed a column of attack, under the command of Colonel Eugene Morris, including a battalion of riflemen "Zara", a battalion of infantry lorry, a group of artillery autotrainato, a company floats and other departments minori.
La colonna, appoggiata da un intenso fuoco di artiglieria mosse all'alba del 12 aprile raggiungendo subito Zemonico inferiore. Il giorno dopo la colonna in direzione di Rudele venne fatta segno di un violento fuoco di artiglieria nemica. Il generale Giglioli, che aveva raggiunto nel frattempo i suoi uomini, ordinò al colonello Morra di mandare avanti i carri. Seguirono furiosi combattimenti che videro impegnati i bersaglieri del battaglione Zara contro forze nemiche superiori appoggiate anche dall'aviazione. Ci furono molti caduti e feriti gravi, tra i quali lo stesso colonello Morra; il comando della colonna venne assunto dal maggiore dei bersaglieri Pietro Testa.
Durante tutta la notte del 13 e il mattino del 14 aprile, i reparti italiani dovettero difendersi dai ripetuti attacchi della divisione Jadranska.
Il crollo jugoslavo
Il 14 aprile, i reparti della divisione Torino dopo aver ottenuto la resa della guarnigione di Gracac, si spinsero velocemente verso le posizioni tenute dalla colonna del Giglioli, costringendo il menico alla fuga. Le forze così congiunte proseguirono la loro avanzata verso Knin. Dopo aver perso il controllo di tutti gli avamposti avanzati, la guarnigione di Knin si arrese alle forze italiane.
Il 15 aprile di fronte alla catastrofe imminente, il giovane re Pietro fuggì in Grecia per sottomettersi alla protezione britannica; nello stesso giorno un reggimento della divisione Torino raggiunse Sebenico mentre gli altri reaparti della divisione presero Spalato.
Il April 16 German forces entered Sarajevo completing the annihilation of the Yugoslav army.
On 17 April, the Corps entered the truck driver in Ragusa, meeting the Italian units of the XVIII Corps from Albania. Also on 17 was also taken Mostar, the ancient capital of Herzegovina.
operations on the front greek-Albanian
Like Hitler Mussolini had expressed the positive outcome of the operation depended mainly by Martita seal of Italian troops along the Albanian-Yugoslav border.
Immediately after the worsening political situation in Yugoslavia, our military commanders had ordered the reinforcement of the defensive line along the border between Albania and Yugoslavia, where he was expected to secure enemy offensive action. The commander of Italian forces in Albania, General Ugo Cavallero He attracted reinforcements in men and equipment across the border since the enemy fielded a force comprising about 130,000 soldiers. Already
April 6, attacked enemy units in the area of \u200b\u200bShkodra (served by the XVII Corps), supported by heavy artillery fire. In the field of Puka, was overwhelmed with the Morina border post, despite the brave resistance of our troops, to prevent the enemy to penetrate more deeply was blown up the bridge over the river Lumes.
The next day the enemy attacks became more intense, but our soldiers held the positions egregiamente contrattaccando all'arma bianca. Nel settore di Kukes per la forte pressione nemica i nostri dovettero però indietreggiare: Kukes fu abbandonata e il ponte sul fiume Drin venne fatto saltare. Intervenne la nostra aviazione che effettuò diversi attacchi dal cielo a volo radente per tentare di far indietreggiare il nemico. Nei giorni successivi nei settori di Puka e Kukes si ripeterono ininterrottamente gli assalti nemici, che vennero però tutti respinti grazie al sacrificio dei nostri soldati e grazie anche ad alcuni contrattacchi portati dai carri della divisione corazzata Centauro.
Il 13 aprile il nemico scatenò nel settore di Scutari una nuova massiccia offensiva con la fanteria e l'appoggio dei carri. Contro di essi si lanciarono i carri of Centaur and our other departments fighting furiously until sunset, when the enemy was forced to withdraw.
Another enemy attack in the field of Tarabosh was arrested by soldiers of the division of Messina to the white counter.
On April 15, ran the offensive against the enemy positions: department of the 31st regiment of the Centaur battle despite the intense fire of enemy artillery will be successful and betting over the Yugoslav border. The enemy was already at the limit of his strength, and the same day of 15, was presented by General Petrovic, commander of the division Zetska the proposal for an armistice. The commander of the Centaur, the general reserves to meet Pizzolato, e dopo un incontro con il generale Cavallero venne deciso di non accettare nessun armistizio ma solo la resa incondizionata. Venne così ripresa l'offensiva: con le forze italiane dislocate nel settore di Scutari vennero formate due colonne, una denominata nord comprendente la divisione Centauro e la Marche con l'obiettivo di puntare su Ragusa ed una sud comprendente la divisione Messina con l'obiettivo di puntare su Cattaro.
La colonna Nord dopo aver occupato Niksic giunse a Ragusa alle 13,30 del giorno 17. La sud dopo l'occupazione di Cettigne, l'antica capitale del Montenegro, raggiunse Cattaro il 18 aprile.
Anche nel settore tenuto dal XIV° Corpo d'Armata (divisione Puglie, Cuneense, Firenze ed altri reparti), più a sud a nord west of Lake Ohrid, our forces went on the offensive since April 9. On 11 April, the company's motorcycles 4th sharpshooters joined the union in Ohrid working with German units from Bulgaria.
With the army now in disarray, the plenipotentiaries of Yugoslavia in Belgrade signed the act of surrender that came into effect at noon on April 18. For Yugoslavia signed the General Kalafatovik to Italy signed the Military Attache Colonel Bonfatti already in Belgrade, for Germany, General von Weichs.
Operation Marita
The invasion of Yugoslavia had amended the plans for the invasion of Greece, the German plan ORIGINATING provided that the offensive action Bulgaria doveva puntare contro la linea Metaxas (un impressionante complesso di bunker e trincee che si estendeva dalla valle del Vardar lungo il confine tra la Macedonia e la Bulgaria) e verso Salonicco. La possibilità di entrare in territorio jugoslavo offrì alle forze tedesche il vantaggio di aggirare la linea Metaxas passando per Skoplje e tagliare in due lo schieramento avversario.
Il grosso delle forze greche (1a Armata Greca) era dislocato lungo il confine albanese intento a fronteggiare le forze italiane. Lungo il confine con la Jugoslavia c'erano 4 divisioni greche ed il Corpo di spedizione inglese del generale Maitland Wilson, comprendente 4 divisioni inglesi (di cui una neozelandese ed una australiana) ed una Brigata Polacca. A difesa della linea Metaxas there were three divisions of the second half and the Greek Army.
The invasion of Greece began on April 6 by the German Army General List XII. The Mountain Division of the XVIII Corps under General Metaxas Boehme attacked the front line near the pass Rupel, while the second Panzer Division wandered focusing on the same line of fortifications Strumica. On April 9 the Germans reached Thessaloniki.
Despite strong resistance, the Greek forces were overwhelmed by the force of the German armies, bowing to the firepower of the panzers and Stukas. The British
Maitland Wilson barricaded groped for Mount Olympus to stop the German resistance, then intervened SS Panzer Division Adolf Hitler, after fierce fighting forced the British to flee to Thermopylae. Here Maitland Wilson, the only division of the New Zealand temporarily halted the German advance to give time to the remaining troops of the British Expeditionary Force to embark and escape capture. As in Dunkerque, a year earlier, the British tried to escape by sea. On 24 after a massive attack on the Allies retreated Thebes, establishing a new defensive line, which was overwhelmed April 26 forcing the department to withdraw UK ports of southern Greece.
the same day of the 26 departments of German paratroopers occupied the bridge of Corinth, allowing ground troops to enter the Peloponnese. Thanks to the strength
General Maitland Wilson, Admiral Cunningham was able to evacuate about 43,000 soldiers out of 60,000 before the Germans occupied all ports of Attica and the Peloponnese. Remained in German hands and a large amount of material and heavy weaponry including 11,000 prisoners.
at the same time the German troops in Greece, even those located along the Italian-Albanian border greek (XIa Army) began its offensive against the Greek 1st Army. On April 14, was taken Korçë and was finally conquered the infamous 731 fee to Monastir, where they had clashed several times in fierce and bloody fighting the Greek and Italian soldiers, our troops then stormed into the valley Deisnizza. The 18 aprile i nostri reparti entrarono ad Argirocastro.
Il 23 aprile, dopo una serie di contatti e discussioni tra gli alti comandi militari italiani e tedeschi, venne firmato a Salonicco l'atto di resa dell'esercito ellenico. Per l'Italia firmò il generale Ferrero, per la Grecia il generale Tsolakoglou e per la Germania il generale Jodl. Nella stessa giornata il re Giorgio fuggì a Creta desideroso di continuare la lotta contro le forze dell'asse.
Il 28 aprile le truppe tedesche e italiane fecero il loro ingresso trionfale ad Atene.
Ai soldati impegnati sul fronte greco il duce inviò il seguente messaggio:
"La vittoria consacra i vostri sanguinosi sacrifici, specialmente gravi per le forze terrestri, e illumina di nuova gloria le vostre bandiere. La Patria è come non mai fiera di voi. In questo momento il popolo italiano ricorda e saluta commosso i suoi eroici figli caduti nella battaglia d'Albania ed esprime a voi, che li avete vendicati, la sua gloria imperitura".
Il 30 aprile il 2° battaglione paracadutisti comandati dal Maggiore Zanninovich partì da Lecce per procedere all'occupazione delle isole greche dello Ionio. Alle tredici e quaranta i primi reparti vennero paracadutati su Cefalonia e, dopo poche ore, il tricolore sventolò sul campanile di Argostoli, capoluogo dell'isola. Il giorno dopo, nuclei di paracadutisti, trasformati per l'occasione in fanteria da sbarco, procedettero all'occupazione delle isole di Zante ed Itaca ed in tre giorni l'intero arcipelago era nelle mani dei nostri paracadutisti.
Restava l'isola di Creta, ancora in mano nemica, ma di lì a poco ci pensarono i paracadutisti tedeschi del generale Kurt Student, a sloggiare definitivamente le forze inglesi dall'isola.
Spartizione della Jugoslavia
Dopo l'armistizio il territorio jugoslavo fu così ripartito tra i vari occupanti. Alla Germania andarono la Slovenia settentrionale, la Stiria e la Carinzia, l’amministrazione del Banato orientale (abitato da minoranze rumene) e la costituzione di un regime militare in Serbia che fu ricondotta ai confini del 1914.
L’Italia ottenne parte della Dalmazia e la provincia Kotor. The southern Ljubljana Slovenia was annexed directly to the national territory. Some areas of Macedonia and Kosovo were incorporated in Albania Italian. The territory of Montenegro was declared independent under the Italian protectorate.
Croatia with Slavonia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Dalmatia formed part of the Independent State of Croatia, under the double influence of Italian (the West) and German (the east). On May 15, 1941 Croatia, was built in the kingdom, and Prime Minister Ante Pavelic offered the crown to Savoy, the Duke Aimone of Spoleto. Other
"edges" of the Yugoslav territory went to Bulgaria (most of Slavic Macedonia) and Hungary (Half of Vojvodina and other areas).
Partition of Greece
The Germans occupied militarily the central and eastern Macedonia, with the important port of Thessaloniki and the island of Crete.
I provide you with the Bulgarian Thrace, north-eastern region of Greece, while the rest of the greek territory came under the administration of the Italian military.
Athens greek military government was instituted under the control of Germany and Italy, led by General Tsolakoglu.
The Yugoslav state was born after World War I by the dissolution of the Hapsburg and Ottoman empires, had included in its territory diverse populations by race, religion and customs (Serbs, Croats, Slovenes, Bosnian Muslims), which inevitably thanks to the oppressive behavior, stupid and arrogant of the Serbs, immediately began to clash with each other. The Serbs are in fact having monopolized the government and the armed forces, implement a real policy of domination and oppression in relation to other nationalities. The first to revolt were the Croats, who formed the famous Ustasha paramilitary units guidate dal nazionalista Ante Pavelic. Proprio per mano degli ustasha nel 1934 venne ucciso in un attentato il re Pietro di Jugoslavia durante una visita in Francia.
I rapporti tra l'Italia e la Jugoslavia
Malgrado la Jugoslavia fosse il principale artefice della nostre mancate rivendicazioni territoriali dopo la prima guerra mondiale, il governo italiano tentò la via diplomatica per instaurare un legame di cooperazione e di amicizia con il governo di Belgrado; grazie alla collaborazione del ministro Stojadinovic, nel 1937 venne firmato addirittura dai due governi un patto di non aggressione, un vero trattato di amicizia dove l'Italia si impegnava a rispettare l'integrità territoriale della Jugoslavia e la Jugoslavia riconosceva il nostro Impero africano and our role as actor in world politics.
This climate of detente, however, lasted little: after the annexation of Austria to the Reich Regent Prince Paul, groped to cozy up to Hitler, now near its border, Stojadinovic replaced at the helm of government, because it was considered too pro-Italian, Cvetkovic was known in his sympathy for Nazi Germany.
Failed diplomatic action, since 1939, after the annexation of Albania (aprile1939) our General Staff had begun to design a plan for the invasion of Yugoslavia after the fall of France in the summer of 1940 the plan was taken once in the hands of the Germans were finished documentation showing that the Belgrade government had made arrangements with France and England for common action against our country.
German intervention
German policy in the Balkans was put once again in different countries against each other: on one hand those winners (Romania, Greece and Yugoslavia) and secondly those defeats (Bulgaria, Hungary and Turkey) of the First World War. Berlin was obviously appealing to the fact that each had territorial claims toward each other, and this was never one that is not reached an agreement that could lead to Understanding the Balkans as an anti-axis. After the defeat of the Allies in 1940, it was easy to penetrate to the Germans militarily, economically and politically in Balkans.
The Germans now a country now helping another, ensures the precious oil Romanian and Hungarian food. All this in the forthcoming Operation Barbarossa (ie the invasion of Russia), whose plans were ready as early as December 1940. To sanction even more political alignment with the axis, intervened accession of most countries in the Tripartite Pact (signed September 28, 1940 from Italy, Germany and Japan), and then the road to the east was open . But the problem remained the Deadlock
Italian along the Albanian border: after the attack in October 1940, the Italian armies were due to retire in Albania even to defend from counter- Greek.
Also in Greece were beginning to flood the British troops and this put in jeopardy the whole Balkan chessboard. With bases in greek territory, the British aircraft could hit the Romanian oil fields and put it in crisis, the German war industry.
Greece was absolutely chapter and the British expeditionary force was to be thrown back into the sea: the directive number 20 of 15 December 1940 was therefore prepared the plans for Operation Marita, namely the invasion of Greece, which was set to begin the spring of 1941.
In Bulgaria and Romania had already piled several German divisions ready to intervene in Greece, and Yugoslavia that Hitler wanted to allow the passage troops and then adhered to the Tripartite Pact to definitively establish its political alignment with the axis.
Betrayal Yugoslav
On March 25, after heavy pressure and the promise of the port of Thessaloniki in Greece, the Yugoslav government joined the Tripartite Pact. On the same day was also taken the decision to delay Operation Barbarossa to four weeks for the invasion of Greece. But the dream did not last long: on the night between 26 and 27 March a group of Serbian officers opposed to the agreement with Hitler's Germany with a military coup overthrew the government of Zvetkovic and the Regent Paul. Ascended the throne, the young Peter II, who entrusted the task of forming a new government to General Simovic. On the streets Belgrade, there were scenes of jubilation for the event, and the windows were exposed British and French flags.
For Italy and Germany, the coup was an unacceptable provocation. Hitler immediately sent out orders to "crush Yugoslavia militarily and politically". Which were summarized in the instruction sheet number 25:
"It 's my intention to invade Yugoslavia with powerful forces in the direction of Belgrade and the region further south, in order both the Yugoslav army to inflict a decisive defeat, is to separate the south from the rest of the country in order to transform it into a base for further operations by land. In particular, I order that: as soon as the merger is completed di forze sufficienti e le condizioni metereologiche lo consentono, tutti gli impianti a terra e la città di Belgrado devono essere distrutti con attacchi aerei continui di giorno e di notte".
Già il 27 marzo era stato inviato da Hitler a Mussolini un telegramma per coordinare le operazioni militari contro la Jugoslavia:
"…Ed ora vi prego cordialmente, Duce di non iniziare altre operazioni in Albania durante i prossimi pochi giorni. Ritengo necessario che voi copriate e proteggiate con tutte le forze disponibili i passi più importanti fra la Jugoslavia e l'Albania….
Ritengo inoltre necessario, Duce, che rinforziate le vostre unità alla frontiera italo-jugoslava con tutti i mezzi disponibili e con la soon as possible. "
Basically asking our forces to offensive action along the border to protect the flank attack giulio of German forces from Austria. Along the greek-Albanian front was necessary to assume a defensive posture in anticipation of junction with the German troops who came from Bulgaria in the direction of Skopje, and then continue south against the British and Greek forces.
The leader said that to Hitler:
"It 's been to me personally gave the order to General Cavallero to suspend the offensive (in Albania Ed) whose beginning was imminent. Infantry units are flowing into the northern border and take a stand on three pillars di un eventuale attacco jugoslavo.Ordini sono stati dati per far affluire verso la frontiera alpina orientale sette divisioni che si uniranno alle altre esistenti, più quindicimila uomini di guardia alla frontiera. Nella stessa zona è pronta ad operare la 2a squadra aerea"
LE FORZE IN CAMPO
Forze italiane
L'attacco italiano contro la Jugoslavia si sviluppò in tre differenti aree: lungo la frontiera giulia, dalla piazzaforte di Zara e dal confine albanese.
A nord agì la 2a Armata (comprendente 5 corpi d'armata) del generale Vittorio Ambrosio. A Zara c'erano circa 9.000 uomini che vennero elevati al rango di divisione.
Sul confine albanese vennero impegnate la 9a Armata del generale Pirzio Biroli e l'11a Armata del generale Geloso.
All'inizio di marzo la 2a Armata comprendeva:
l'XI° Corpo d'Armata (divisioni di fanteria Re, Isonzo e 3° Gruppo Alpini)
il V° Corpo d'Armata (divisioni di fanteria Sassari, Bergamo e Lombardia)
La 1a divisione celere
Alcuni reparti della Guardia alla Frontiera rinforzati con battaglioni di camicie nere
Prima dell'inizio delle operazioni ricevette di rinforzo altri 3 corpi d'Armata, 3 divisioni di fanteria (Assietta, Ravenna e Piave) e altri reparti.
Il VI° Corpo d'Armata (divisione di fanteria Friuli)
Il Corpo d'Armata autotrasportabile (divisione corazzata Littorio, divisioni di fanteria Pasubio e Turin)
The rapid Corps (division Eugene of Savoy, Filiberto Emauele and Principe Amedeo Duca d'Aosta).
German forces
The Germans invaded Yugoslavia from the north with the 2nd Army Maj. Gen. Maximilian von Weichs:
the XLIX and LI Corps Austria Corps;
the XLVI Panzer Corps Hungary.
From the north-east with the 12th Army Field Marshal List:
The First Armored Squadron under the command of General Ewald von Kleist consisted of three corps: the motorized XLI Corps (which included the SS Division Das Reich) had to move from Romania with the goal to aim towards Belgrade. The
XI and the XIV Corps from Bulgaria con l'obiettivo di puntare su Nis e poi convergere anch'essi su Belgrado.
Più a sud e sempre dalla Bulgaria dovevano muoversi l'XL°, il XVIII° e il XXX° Corpo d'Armata (comprendente la divisione SS Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler di Sepp Dietrich) con l'obiettivo di portare a termine l'operazione Marita.
Forze satelliti
L'Ungheria prese parte alle operazioni dall'11 al 13 aprile, con la 3a Armata (tre Corpi d'Armata) che comprendevano complessivamente 8 divisioni di fanteria e 2 brigate motorizzate.
La Romania e la Bulgaria non parteciparono direttamente al conflitto, permettendo solo il transito delle truppe tedesche.
Forze nemiche
L'esercito jugoslavo disponeva in totale di circa 30 divisioni di fanteria e 3 di cavalleria, oltre a qualche reggimento corazzato. Le forze comprendevano:
il 1° Gruppo d'Armate (7a e 4a Armata), agli ordini del generale Petrovic, attestato lungo i confini con l'Italia e l'Austria;
il 2° Gruppo d'Armate (1a e 2a Armata), agli ordini del generale Milutin Nedic lungo i confini ungheresi e rumeni;
il 2° Gruppo d'Armate (3a, 5a, 6a Armata e 3a Armata territoriale), agli ordini del generale Milan Nedic lungo il confine rumeno meridionale, bulgaro, greco e albanese.
L'armamento dell'esercito di Belgrado era scadente ed antiquato se rapportato a quello dell'esercito germanico, ma non così scarso se rapportato con quello del nostro esercito. L'armamento pesante risaliva alla prima guerra mondiale ed i pochi carri a disposizione erano antiquati (per lo più carri francesi FT) ed assegnati in modo disorganico alle varie unità di fanteria. Non migliore era la situazione dell'aviazione, che poteva contare su circa 500 aerei efficienti, ma che per la maggior parte vennero distrutti al suolo all'inizio delle ostilità dalla Luftwaffe rendendo così vano il loro eventuale apporto operativo.
FUOCO SU BELGRADO
All'alba del 6 aprile la Luftwaffe tedesca diede inizio all'operazione Castigo, nome in codice dato al bombardamento della capitale jugoslava: ondate di caccia bombardieri Stukas rovesciarono il loro letale carico di morte su Belgrado colpendola repeatedly for three nights and three days by reducing entire neighborhoods to rubble. The German planes were able to act undisturbed since it was declared the capital city, open and devoid of air defense.
addition, the Yugoslav air force no longer existed, because as mentioned before most of the aircraft had been systematically destroyed by the Luftwaffe on the ground.
The massive bombing of Belgrade had been ordered by Hitler as "punishment" for the turnaround of the Yugoslav government and to force him to surrender to avoid the use of ground troops. The Yugoslav government would instead continue to resist hoping maybe some help from Western powers, which at that time, however, would not be potuto arrivare in nessun modo. Vennero diramate quindi alle truppe di terra italo-tedeshe, le direttive per l'invasione.
L'INVASIONE
Il piano di invasione prevedeva un'azione convergente su Belgrado, condotta contemporaneamente da nord e da nord est dalla 2a Armata di von Weichs e da sud dal Corpo corazzato di von Kleist. Ad ovest avrebbe agito la 2a Armata italiana del generale Ambrosio. Le altre forze della 12a Armata di List dovevano invece puntare su Skoplje, in Macedonia ed unirsi alle forze italiane provenienti dall'Albania.
Il 9 aprile le divisioni tedesche attestate in Austria, Ungheria e Romania invasero il territorio jugoslavo. Il 10 aprile Zagabria era già in mano tedesca: nel capoluogo croato i tedeschi furono accolti come liberators, and the next day proclaimed Slavko Kvaternik indipendedenza Croatia.
Italian troops have been working since April 7 episodes offensive across the border, hampered only by the massive fire of enemy artillery but could not slow the eastward movement.
April 11, two platoons of the 11th Regiment riflemen motorcyclists preceded the entry of the German columns in Ljubljana: the operation conceived by General Roatta was primarily a political and propaganda success. The capital of Slovenia, was part in the Italian opera, but some of our agents had reported the advance of a German motorized column to the city. General Roat, recovering all the resources Arrange a motorized column throwing at full speed towards Ljubljana. Great was the surprise of the Slovenes when shortly before 18 o'clock instead of the Germans enter first saw Italian soldiers in the city. Shortly after they arrived in Ljubljana
other departments of the 11th regiment of riflemen and tanks The Armored Group San Giusto, thereby completing the occupation of the city.
On April 12, in the early hours of dawn, the 12th regiment, reinforced by a battalion of sharpshooters occupied Blackshirts Karlovac operating the junction with the German forces also arrived in the Croatian town.
After reaching the goals established in the east of the offensive line with the command Germanic troops the Italian 2nd Army begins to go along the Dalmatian coast, to continue to cover the right side of the offensive Germanic. It was necessary also to prevent Yugoslav forces en route to reach the so-called "reduced Bosnian", an ideal area to organize a resistance to the bitter end, because of its morphology. Also needed to operate the junction with the forces from the defense of Zadar and take behind the Yugoslav forces stationed along the northern border of Albania. THE CONQUEST OF BELGRADE
departments of German XLI Panzer Corps from Romania after reaching 10 Pancevo, continued en route to the Yugoslav capital.
On April 12 the SS-Hauptsturmführer Fritz Klingenberg the second company of the battalion motorcyclists SS Das Reich division crossed the Danube and with just nine men obtained the surrender of Belgrade. For this, as Klingenberg was awarded the Knight's Cross.
the same day the Hungarian troops recaptured almost without a fight their ancient territories south of the Drava and Danube lost after the First World War. From Bulgaria
the other two bodies (XI and XIV) Armored Corps von Kleist, April 9 and 10 arrived in Nis in Krusevac. From there, they too began to go to Belgrade over the course of the Morava, April 12 in Mount Avala clashed with some departments Yugoslavs who opposed a strong resistance. For nearly two days the Kleist's panzers were stopped by enemy fire, until he stepped in the Balkan Air Force now master of the skies to destroy enemy resistance. The 13 columns of armored von Kleist reached Belgrade.
Further south by Bulgaria, the other forces of the German 12th Army List, after some fierce battles with enemy units, reached Skopje on April 7, then going along the border to Monastir greek and working here, too, joining with the Italian forces from Albania.
THE FACE OF ZARA
The Italian garrison of Zadar, after the coup in Belgrade is located just in front. In the fortress there were about 9,000 men under the command of Brigadier General Emilio Giglioli. Our services had indicated as early as March 28 that there were significant enemy forces and artillery positions in various localized around the city. On April 2, was prepared to evacuate the civilian population and then the defenses were reinforced. Against the Italian garrison was deployed at the forefront of the division Jadranska and ready to intervene divisions Mostar and Sibenik.
had come from the Supreme Command ordered to resist to the bitter end. Groped to loosen the grip of the enemy around the city on April 8, an air raid was ordered by our air force on enemy positions. In retaliation the enemy aircraft he made raids on the city itself, which caused damage mainly to houses. Since then, the general Giglioli required the continued presence of our fighters on the sky of the city to prevent further enemy air raids.
The situation changed radically after April 11: With the Axis forces already in Croatia departments enemies around Zara began to retreat inland. It was so ordered by the Supreme Commander offensive action in enemy territory to Knin to undermine the entire deployment opponent. General Giglioli formed a column of attack, under the command of Colonel Eugene Morris, including a battalion of riflemen "Zara", a battalion of infantry lorry, a group of artillery autotrainato, a company floats and other departments minori.
La colonna, appoggiata da un intenso fuoco di artiglieria mosse all'alba del 12 aprile raggiungendo subito Zemonico inferiore. Il giorno dopo la colonna in direzione di Rudele venne fatta segno di un violento fuoco di artiglieria nemica. Il generale Giglioli, che aveva raggiunto nel frattempo i suoi uomini, ordinò al colonello Morra di mandare avanti i carri. Seguirono furiosi combattimenti che videro impegnati i bersaglieri del battaglione Zara contro forze nemiche superiori appoggiate anche dall'aviazione. Ci furono molti caduti e feriti gravi, tra i quali lo stesso colonello Morra; il comando della colonna venne assunto dal maggiore dei bersaglieri Pietro Testa.
Durante tutta la notte del 13 e il mattino del 14 aprile, i reparti italiani dovettero difendersi dai ripetuti attacchi della divisione Jadranska.
Il crollo jugoslavo
Il 14 aprile, i reparti della divisione Torino dopo aver ottenuto la resa della guarnigione di Gracac, si spinsero velocemente verso le posizioni tenute dalla colonna del Giglioli, costringendo il menico alla fuga. Le forze così congiunte proseguirono la loro avanzata verso Knin. Dopo aver perso il controllo di tutti gli avamposti avanzati, la guarnigione di Knin si arrese alle forze italiane.
Il 15 aprile di fronte alla catastrofe imminente, il giovane re Pietro fuggì in Grecia per sottomettersi alla protezione britannica; nello stesso giorno un reggimento della divisione Torino raggiunse Sebenico mentre gli altri reaparti della divisione presero Spalato.
Il April 16 German forces entered Sarajevo completing the annihilation of the Yugoslav army.
On 17 April, the Corps entered the truck driver in Ragusa, meeting the Italian units of the XVIII Corps from Albania. Also on 17 was also taken Mostar, the ancient capital of Herzegovina.
operations on the front greek-Albanian
Like Hitler Mussolini had expressed the positive outcome of the operation depended mainly by Martita seal of Italian troops along the Albanian-Yugoslav border.
Immediately after the worsening political situation in Yugoslavia, our military commanders had ordered the reinforcement of the defensive line along the border between Albania and Yugoslavia, where he was expected to secure enemy offensive action. The commander of Italian forces in Albania, General Ugo Cavallero He attracted reinforcements in men and equipment across the border since the enemy fielded a force comprising about 130,000 soldiers. Already
April 6, attacked enemy units in the area of \u200b\u200bShkodra (served by the XVII Corps), supported by heavy artillery fire. In the field of Puka, was overwhelmed with the Morina border post, despite the brave resistance of our troops, to prevent the enemy to penetrate more deeply was blown up the bridge over the river Lumes.
The next day the enemy attacks became more intense, but our soldiers held the positions egregiamente contrattaccando all'arma bianca. Nel settore di Kukes per la forte pressione nemica i nostri dovettero però indietreggiare: Kukes fu abbandonata e il ponte sul fiume Drin venne fatto saltare. Intervenne la nostra aviazione che effettuò diversi attacchi dal cielo a volo radente per tentare di far indietreggiare il nemico. Nei giorni successivi nei settori di Puka e Kukes si ripeterono ininterrottamente gli assalti nemici, che vennero però tutti respinti grazie al sacrificio dei nostri soldati e grazie anche ad alcuni contrattacchi portati dai carri della divisione corazzata Centauro.
Il 13 aprile il nemico scatenò nel settore di Scutari una nuova massiccia offensiva con la fanteria e l'appoggio dei carri. Contro di essi si lanciarono i carri of Centaur and our other departments fighting furiously until sunset, when the enemy was forced to withdraw.
Another enemy attack in the field of Tarabosh was arrested by soldiers of the division of Messina to the white counter.
On April 15, ran the offensive against the enemy positions: department of the 31st regiment of the Centaur battle despite the intense fire of enemy artillery will be successful and betting over the Yugoslav border. The enemy was already at the limit of his strength, and the same day of 15, was presented by General Petrovic, commander of the division Zetska the proposal for an armistice. The commander of the Centaur, the general reserves to meet Pizzolato, e dopo un incontro con il generale Cavallero venne deciso di non accettare nessun armistizio ma solo la resa incondizionata. Venne così ripresa l'offensiva: con le forze italiane dislocate nel settore di Scutari vennero formate due colonne, una denominata nord comprendente la divisione Centauro e la Marche con l'obiettivo di puntare su Ragusa ed una sud comprendente la divisione Messina con l'obiettivo di puntare su Cattaro.
La colonna Nord dopo aver occupato Niksic giunse a Ragusa alle 13,30 del giorno 17. La sud dopo l'occupazione di Cettigne, l'antica capitale del Montenegro, raggiunse Cattaro il 18 aprile.
Anche nel settore tenuto dal XIV° Corpo d'Armata (divisione Puglie, Cuneense, Firenze ed altri reparti), più a sud a nord west of Lake Ohrid, our forces went on the offensive since April 9. On 11 April, the company's motorcycles 4th sharpshooters joined the union in Ohrid working with German units from Bulgaria.
With the army now in disarray, the plenipotentiaries of Yugoslavia in Belgrade signed the act of surrender that came into effect at noon on April 18. For Yugoslavia signed the General Kalafatovik to Italy signed the Military Attache Colonel Bonfatti already in Belgrade, for Germany, General von Weichs.
Operation Marita
The invasion of Yugoslavia had amended the plans for the invasion of Greece, the German plan ORIGINATING provided that the offensive action Bulgaria doveva puntare contro la linea Metaxas (un impressionante complesso di bunker e trincee che si estendeva dalla valle del Vardar lungo il confine tra la Macedonia e la Bulgaria) e verso Salonicco. La possibilità di entrare in territorio jugoslavo offrì alle forze tedesche il vantaggio di aggirare la linea Metaxas passando per Skoplje e tagliare in due lo schieramento avversario.
Il grosso delle forze greche (1a Armata Greca) era dislocato lungo il confine albanese intento a fronteggiare le forze italiane. Lungo il confine con la Jugoslavia c'erano 4 divisioni greche ed il Corpo di spedizione inglese del generale Maitland Wilson, comprendente 4 divisioni inglesi (di cui una neozelandese ed una australiana) ed una Brigata Polacca. A difesa della linea Metaxas there were three divisions of the second half and the Greek Army.
The invasion of Greece began on April 6 by the German Army General List XII. The Mountain Division of the XVIII Corps under General Metaxas Boehme attacked the front line near the pass Rupel, while the second Panzer Division wandered focusing on the same line of fortifications Strumica. On April 9 the Germans reached Thessaloniki.
Despite strong resistance, the Greek forces were overwhelmed by the force of the German armies, bowing to the firepower of the panzers and Stukas. The British
Maitland Wilson barricaded groped for Mount Olympus to stop the German resistance, then intervened SS Panzer Division Adolf Hitler, after fierce fighting forced the British to flee to Thermopylae. Here Maitland Wilson, the only division of the New Zealand temporarily halted the German advance to give time to the remaining troops of the British Expeditionary Force to embark and escape capture. As in Dunkerque, a year earlier, the British tried to escape by sea. On 24 after a massive attack on the Allies retreated Thebes, establishing a new defensive line, which was overwhelmed April 26 forcing the department to withdraw UK ports of southern Greece.
the same day of the 26 departments of German paratroopers occupied the bridge of Corinth, allowing ground troops to enter the Peloponnese. Thanks to the strength
General Maitland Wilson, Admiral Cunningham was able to evacuate about 43,000 soldiers out of 60,000 before the Germans occupied all ports of Attica and the Peloponnese. Remained in German hands and a large amount of material and heavy weaponry including 11,000 prisoners.
at the same time the German troops in Greece, even those located along the Italian-Albanian border greek (XIa Army) began its offensive against the Greek 1st Army. On April 14, was taken Korçë and was finally conquered the infamous 731 fee to Monastir, where they had clashed several times in fierce and bloody fighting the Greek and Italian soldiers, our troops then stormed into the valley Deisnizza. The 18 aprile i nostri reparti entrarono ad Argirocastro.
Il 23 aprile, dopo una serie di contatti e discussioni tra gli alti comandi militari italiani e tedeschi, venne firmato a Salonicco l'atto di resa dell'esercito ellenico. Per l'Italia firmò il generale Ferrero, per la Grecia il generale Tsolakoglou e per la Germania il generale Jodl. Nella stessa giornata il re Giorgio fuggì a Creta desideroso di continuare la lotta contro le forze dell'asse.
Il 28 aprile le truppe tedesche e italiane fecero il loro ingresso trionfale ad Atene.
Ai soldati impegnati sul fronte greco il duce inviò il seguente messaggio:
"La vittoria consacra i vostri sanguinosi sacrifici, specialmente gravi per le forze terrestri, e illumina di nuova gloria le vostre bandiere. La Patria è come non mai fiera di voi. In questo momento il popolo italiano ricorda e saluta commosso i suoi eroici figli caduti nella battaglia d'Albania ed esprime a voi, che li avete vendicati, la sua gloria imperitura".
Il 30 aprile il 2° battaglione paracadutisti comandati dal Maggiore Zanninovich partì da Lecce per procedere all'occupazione delle isole greche dello Ionio. Alle tredici e quaranta i primi reparti vennero paracadutati su Cefalonia e, dopo poche ore, il tricolore sventolò sul campanile di Argostoli, capoluogo dell'isola. Il giorno dopo, nuclei di paracadutisti, trasformati per l'occasione in fanteria da sbarco, procedettero all'occupazione delle isole di Zante ed Itaca ed in tre giorni l'intero arcipelago era nelle mani dei nostri paracadutisti.
Restava l'isola di Creta, ancora in mano nemica, ma di lì a poco ci pensarono i paracadutisti tedeschi del generale Kurt Student, a sloggiare definitivamente le forze inglesi dall'isola.
Spartizione della Jugoslavia
Dopo l'armistizio il territorio jugoslavo fu così ripartito tra i vari occupanti. Alla Germania andarono la Slovenia settentrionale, la Stiria e la Carinzia, l’amministrazione del Banato orientale (abitato da minoranze rumene) e la costituzione di un regime militare in Serbia che fu ricondotta ai confini del 1914.
L’Italia ottenne parte della Dalmazia e la provincia Kotor. The southern Ljubljana Slovenia was annexed directly to the national territory. Some areas of Macedonia and Kosovo were incorporated in Albania Italian. The territory of Montenegro was declared independent under the Italian protectorate.
Croatia with Slavonia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Dalmatia formed part of the Independent State of Croatia, under the double influence of Italian (the West) and German (the east). On May 15, 1941 Croatia, was built in the kingdom, and Prime Minister Ante Pavelic offered the crown to Savoy, the Duke Aimone of Spoleto. Other
"edges" of the Yugoslav territory went to Bulgaria (most of Slavic Macedonia) and Hungary (Half of Vojvodina and other areas).
Partition of Greece
The Germans occupied militarily the central and eastern Macedonia, with the important port of Thessaloniki and the island of Crete.
I provide you with the Bulgarian Thrace, north-eastern region of Greece, while the rest of the greek territory came under the administration of the Italian military.
Athens greek military government was instituted under the control of Germany and Italy, led by General Tsolakoglu.
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