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Italy in World War II (view source)
Revision as of 23:04, February 22, 2017
, 23:04, February 22, 2017→Balkans
==Balkans==
==Balkans==
For Mussolini, the Balkans, offered tremendous mineral wealth and strategic geographical position, but more importantly, he wanted to keep pace with Hitler who had already annexed [[Sudeten]] and Czechoslovakia.
For Mussolini, the Balkans, offered tremendous mineral wealth and strategic geographical position, but more importantly, he wanted to keep pace with Hitler who had already annexed Czechoslovakia.
On April 7, 1939, in response to Hitler’s conquest of Prague, Benito Mussolini’s troops, invaded and occupied Albania.
On October 28, 1941 the Italians invaded Greece, expecting a quick victory. The Greeks, retired from several advanced posts to previously prepared positions. The Italian forces on the Greco-Albanian frontier comprised seven divisions, with a considerable amount of artillery and tankettes, but without proper air support. This allowed Greek forces to hold their own and counterattack the Italians in Albania, overrunning one-quarter of the country.
On October 28, 1941 the Italians invaded Greece, expecting a quick victory. The Greeks, retired from several advanced posts to previously prepared positions. The Italian forces on the Greco-Albanian frontier comprised seven divisions, with a considerable amount of artillery and tankettes, but without proper air support. This allowed Greek forces to hold their own and counterattack the Italians in Albania, overrunning one-quarter of the country.
The Italians reinforced their positions with a total of 28 divisions(4 Alpine, 1 Armoured and 23 Infantry) totalling 526,000 men. On March 9, 1941 their ''Operazione Primavera'' (Operation Spring) used seven divisions in a determined attack between the Vijose River and Mount Tommorit. The 14 Greek divisions holding the Albanian front gave some ground until the attack was called off on 19 March after heavy casualties on both sides. This remained the position until April when the second spring offensive captured Koritza and moved through the Pindus, sealing the Greek Army in Albania.
The Italians reinforced their positions with a total of 28 divisions(4 Alpine, 1 Armoured and 23 Infantry) totalling 526,000 men. On March 9, 1941 their ''Operazione Primavera'' (Operation Spring) used seven divisions in a determined attack between the Vijose River and Mount Tommorit. The 14 Greek divisions holding the Albanian front gave some ground until the attack was called off on 19 March after heavy casualties on both sides. This remained the position until April when the second spring offensive captured Koritza and moved through the Pindus, sealing the Greek Army in Albania.
Italian military operations in the Balkans, compared with the Germans in the rest of Europe, had not gone well. Italy had invaded Greece in October but was pushed back into Albania. Germany then put pressure on Yugoslavia to join the Axis, as Romania, Hungary and Bulgaria had done earlier. Prince Regent Paul of Yugoslavia relented and signed the pact on March 25, 1941.
However, nationalist forces opposed the alliance and carried out a coup. That led Hitler to view Yugoslavia as a hostile state; he decided to bomb Belgrade in retribution. On April 6, 1941, the Axis Powers (Italy, Hungary led by Germany) invaded Yugoslavia, killing thousands of soldiers and civilians and capturing another quarter million; Yugoslav forces were unable to stop the [[Regia Aeronautica]] bombardments or the advance of Italian ground forces. The Axis invasion ended with the unconditional surrender of the Royal Yugoslav Army on April 17.
==East Africa==
==East Africa==