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War in SouthEastern Europe

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The Balkan states were becoming increasingly under German influence... German troops raise the Nazi flag over the Acropolis of Athens on April 27th 1941 ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: War in SouthEastern Europe


1
War in South-Eastern Europe
2
Recap what were the key features of the military
action between Italy and Britain in Africa,
September 1940 February 1941?
3
  • What was achieved?
  • Italians, led by Graziani, attacked Egypt from
    Libya
  • Italians 300,000 vs British and Commonwealth
    36,000
  • British commander Sir Archibald Wavell, decided
    to throw everything he had at the Italians.
  • British took the offensive, forcing Italians into
    retreat, and British captured Italian bases at
    Sidi Barrani, Bardia, Tobruk, El Algheila and
    Benghazi in Libya.
  • In 1941 the British had also overrun Mussolinis
    East African Empire of Somaliland, Eritrea and
    Abyssinia.
  • By May 1941, the Italians had surrendered and
    Haile Selassie, the deposed ruler of Abyssinia
    was restored to power.

4
Emperor Haile Selassie of Abyssinia
(Ethiopia) Reigned 1930-1974 Exiled to England
(1936-41)
5
(No Transcript)
6
Engaging the enemy
  • In less than a year, Mussolini had lost his
    Italian Empire in North/East Africa.
  • For the British, the war in North Africa and
    Southern Europe was one of the only ways that
    they could engage the enemy on land in 1940/1941.

7
Italy the thorn in Hitlers side?
  • From the outset, Italy proved a poor ally to
    Germany, and this was a contributory factor
    (albeit a minor one) in Hitlers eventual
    failure. (Jeremy Black)
  • Not only was Italy suffering at the hands of the
    British in North Africa, and had had suffered the
    blow of the attack on Taranto, but they also
    faced defeat in Southern Europe simultaneously.

8
Greece
  • While fighting the British in North Africa,
    Mussolini also launched an invasion of Greece in
    October 1940.

9
Why did Mussolini want to invade Greece?
  • The main oil supplies for Germany came from
    Ploesti, in Romania so this was important for
    them to protect.
  • The Balkan states were becoming increasingly
    under German influence both Germany and Italy
    were intervening to resolve conflict between
    Hungary and Romania in summer 1940 and fearing
    the influence of the Soviets in Russia, Hitler
    sent a military mission to Romania under the
    pretence of trying to bring Romanian troops up to
    German standards.

10
Why did Mussolini want to invade Greece?
  • The real task of course, was to protect the
    Romanian oil districts and to prepare the Germans
    and Romanians for possible conflict against the
    Soviets.
  • Mussolini became outraged at Hitler by his taking
    action in the Balkans without consulting him, and
    disregarding any Italian interests the Italians
    then began planning the invasion of Greece.
  • Greece was the next country of interest in
    Southern Europe in the Italian vision, as they
    had already taken Albania, next door.

11
Italian attacks on Greece from neighbouring
Albania were repulsed by the Greek army. The
Italians were driven back across the border.
12
The invasion of Greece, Oct 1940
  • The Italians launched a two-stage campaign from
    Albania on 28 October 1940.
  • However, like in N.Africa, the Italian army were
    quickly in trouble, as the Greeks began to fight
    back.
  • In November/December 1940 the invasion was
    repelled and the Greeks began to advance into
    southern Albania, the Italian colony.
  • The poorly trained and commanded Italian troops
    were outfought by the more resilient, better
    trained and more motivated Greek troops.
  • The Greek strategy was also far better, and
    reflected more superior generalship.

13
Italy in trouble
  • With Italy facing humiliation in both Africa and
    Southern Europe, Hitler decided to intervene.
  • The Germans wanted to protect the oilfields in
    Romania and protect the southern flank of Europe
    from falling under British or Soviet control.
  • However, with the Italians losing so badly in
    North Africa simultaneously, the Germans were
    concerned about the stability of Axis power in
    the Mediterranean region as the British
    dominance increased at Italian expense.
  • By the end of 1940, the Germans had to send
    troops to both North Africa and the Balkans to
    assist the Italians.

14
British wartime propaganda poster in praise of
the Greek resistance.
Henceforth we will not say that the Greeks
fought like heroes. We shall say that heroes
fight like Greeks. W.S Churchill
15
The Germans in Southern Europe
  • Hungary, Bulgaria and Romania were pressurised to
    ally themselves to Germany,
  • Yugoslavia refused to ally, and in spring 1941,
    the Germans invaded and occupied the country.
    From Yugoslavia they then also invaded Greece.
  • The Germans invaded Greece on 6 April.

16
German troops raise the Nazi flag over the
Acropolis of Athens on April 27th 1941
17
Significance of German intervention?
  • In early 1941 Hitler was well into his plans for
    Operation Barbarossa (invasion of Russia) which
    was intended to begin in May 1941.
  • By sending troops to the Balkans and helping the
    Italians in Greece, Hitler had to delay his plans
    for Barbarossa by 6 weeks which set back the
    start date to 22 June 1941.
  • Some historians have speculated that this 6 week
    delay affected the outcome of the entire war as
    in Russia the Germans got caught up in a winter
    war and their failures in Russia were vital in
    leading to the final outcome of the war.

18
The British try to come to the rescue!
  • In early 1941, the British forces were meeting
    with much success in driving back the Italians
    and taking their land in North Africa.
  • Given their success, the British had an
    opportunity to win the war in North Africa
    however, at the crucial moment, Churchill ordered
    the troops in North Africa to divide with some
    being diverted to go to help the Greeks fight
    against Italy and Germany, while the remains
    continued in Africa.

19
Despite heavy losses, German parachute troops
overwhelmed the island of Crete and forced a
British evacuation back to Egypt.
20
German forces in Crete
21
The British in Greece
  • About 58,000 British and Australian forces sent
    to Greece but made little impact against the
    invading German army
  • They were forced to evacuate to the island of
    Crete and then to Egypt. (this was the third
    evacuation since Norway and Dunkirk)
  • Greek partisans (rebels) continued a Guerrilla
    war against the Germans with British money and
    weapons for the next four years.

22
British mistake?
  • Importance of the British intervention in Greece
    . a huge strategic mistake by sending some
    troops to Greece when they were in a winning
    position in Africa, took the pressure off the
    Italians, and arguably cost the British the
    chance to win the war in N.Africa at this point.
  • Meanwhile, the Germans sent Erwin Rommel and his
    Afrika Korps to help the Italians in North
    Africa. The war in North Africa would last
    another two years.
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