Changes

On 20 December, the Italian Army in Albania were nearly defeated. The Greek Army continued to attack, knowing that the Italians were disorganized. The Italian invaders were back at the original positions north of Himara, Kalarat and Benca.

On 20 December, the Italian Army in Albania were nearly defeated. The Greek Army continued to attack, knowing that the Italians were disorganized. The Italian invaders were back at the original positions north of Himara, Kalarat and Benca.

In December, for his part in the failed invasion General Pietro Badoglio was fired and replaced by General Ugo Cavallero as commander of forces in the Greek-Albanian theater of operations. Cavallero mounted a solid defense in the winter of December-February though his ''Primamera'' Offensive failed to defeat Greeks in March.  

In December, for his part in the failed invasion General Pietro Badoglio was fired and replaced by General Ugo Cavallero as commander of forces in the Greek-Albanian theater of operations. Cavallero mounted a solid defense in the winter of December–February though his ''Primamera'' Offensive failed to defeat Greeks in March.  

==Stalemate==

==Stalemate==

==German invasion==

==German invasion==

At the start of Operation ''Marita'' (the German invasion of Greece) which began on April 6 1941, the bulk of the Greek Army was fighting in Albania, with the Italians preparing a second spring offensive. The German Army invaded through Bulgaria overrunning the undermanned Metaxas Line. Despite being reinforced with Elite Greek Evzones Regiments, the Greek Army in Albania, which was already suffering from poor morale, proved unable to defend Klisura and Koritza.<ref>"… generals Pitsikas and Bakos … warned of ‘a danger of a complete collapse’ of the army’s morale. Papagos at first was inclined to dismiss the fears”. The Defence and Fall of Greece 1940-1941, John Carr, p. 218, Pen and Sword, 2013</ref><ref>"More seriously, outbreaks of mutiny occurred in the 5th (Cretan) and 6th Divisions. A few dozen deserters were caught at the Mertzani Bridge on the border and promptly executed, but that didn’t stop the rot. Amid these signs of an army’s disintegration, on 14 April Major General Katsimitros of the much-bloodied 8th Division appealed to Pitsikas to consider an armistice with the Germans merely to keep some of the army intact.” The Defence and Fall of Greece 1940-1941, John Carr, p. 219, Pen and Sword, 2013</ref><ref>"“All efforts at regaining control with the 5th Greek Division failed and … its divisional commander was sacked .. and by morning 16 April what was  left of the division was an unorganised mass in the vicinity of Petrani-Fourka.” Swastika over the Acropolis: Re-interpreting the Nazi Invasion of Greece in World War II, p. 258, Craig Stockings, Eleanor Hancock, BRILL, 2013</ref>

At the start of Operation ''Marita'' (the German invasion of Greece) which began on April 6, 1941, the bulk of the Greek Army was fighting in Albania, with the Italians preparing a second spring offensive. The German Army invaded through Bulgaria overrunning the undermanned Metaxas Line. Despite being reinforced with Elite Greek Evzones Regiments, the Greek Army in Albania, which was already suffering from poor morale, proved unable to defend Klisura and Koritza.<ref>"… generals Pitsikas and Bakos … warned of ‘a danger of a complete collapse’ of the army’s morale. Papagos at first was inclined to dismiss the fears”. The Defence and Fall of Greece 1940-1941, John Carr, p. 218, Pen and Sword, 2013</ref><ref>"More seriously, outbreaks of mutiny occurred in the 5th (Cretan) and 6th Divisions. A few dozen deserters were caught at the Mertzani Bridge on the border and promptly executed, but that didn’t stop the rot. Amid these signs of an army’s disintegration, on 14 April Major General Katsimitros of the much-bloodied 8th Division appealed to Pitsikas to consider an armistice with the Germans merely to keep some of the army intact.” The Defence and Fall of Greece 1940-1941, John Carr, p. 219, Pen and Sword, 2013</ref><ref>"“All efforts at regaining control with the 5th Greek Division failed and … its divisional commander was sacked .. and by morning 16 April what was  left of the division was an unorganised mass in the vicinity of Petrani-Fourka.” Swastika over the Acropolis: Re-interpreting the Nazi Invasion of Greece in World War II, p. 258, Craig Stockings, Eleanor Hancock, BRILL, 2013</ref>

On 17 April, British General Henry Maitland Wilson wrote that Greek defeatism, ''"was now getting widespread"''. That evening the Greek Prime Minister, Alexander Korizis, retired into his study and shot himself after telling the Greek King II that ''"he felt he had failed him in the task entrusted to him"''.

On 17 April, British General Henry Maitland Wilson wrote that Greek defeatism, ''"was now getting widespread"''. That evening the Greek Prime Minister, Alexander Korizis, retired into his study and shot himself after telling the Greek King II that ''"he felt he had failed him in the task entrusted to him"''.

==Aftermath==

==Aftermath==

The Italian losses amounted to 13,755 killed, 50,874 wounded and 25,067 captured or missing. Italian losses during the second spring offensive in April were 1,000 killed and 4,000 wounded.<ref>[http://digilander.libero.it/lacorsainfinita/guerra2/40/greciabers.htm CAMPAGNA DI GRECIA]</ref>German losses in the invasion of Greece were 1,500 killed (including 200 Luftwaffe pilots) and 3,700 wounded.

The Italian losses amounted to 13,755 killed, 50,874 wounded and 25,067 captured or missing. Italian losses during the second spring offensive in April were 1,000 killed and 4,000 wounded.<ref>[http://digilander.libero.it/lacorsainfinita/guerra2/40/greciabers.htm CAMPAGNA DI GRECIA]</ref> German losses in the invasion of Greece were 1,500 killed (including 200 Luftwaffe pilots) and 3,700 wounded.

The Greeks suffered 13,408 killed, 42,485 wounded and 270,000 captured.

The Greeks suffered 13,408 killed, 42,485 wounded and 270,000 captured.

<ref>"The Greek Army sustained 13,408 killed, 42,485 wounded, and 270,000 prisoners." World War II: The Definitive Encyclopedia and Document Collection (5 volumes), Spencer C. Tucker, p. 735, UNSW Press, 2016</ref>The British forces reported losing 12,000 killed, wounded or captured.

<ref>"The Greek Army sustained 13,408 killed, 42,485 wounded, and 270,000 prisoners." World War II: The Definitive Encyclopedia and Document Collection (5 volumes), Spencer C. Tucker, p. 735, UNSW Press, 2016</ref> The British forces reported losing 12,000 killed, wounded or captured.

Some historians argue that Operation ''Marita'' was decisive in determining the outcome of the Second World War, resulting in the delay of ''Operation Barbarossa'' (the German invasion of Russia) and the defeat of the Axis powers. Others hold that the British decision to reinforce Greece allowed the ''Afrika Korps'' to cross the Mediterranean Sea and prolong the North African Campaign. Nevertheless, the Axis occupation of Greece and Yugoslavia and resulting anti-partisan operations, deeply affected the Axis war effort in North Africa and the Eastern Front.

Some historians argue that Operation ''Marita'' was decisive in determining the outcome of the Second World War, resulting in the delay of ''Operation Barbarossa'' (the German invasion of Russia) and the defeat of the Axis powers. Others hold that the British decision to reinforce Greece allowed the ''Afrika Korps'' to cross the Mediterranean Sea and prolong the North African Campaign. Nevertheless, the Axis occupation of Greece and Yugoslavia and resulting anti-partisan operations, deeply affected the Axis war effort in North Africa and the Eastern Front.