Title: War in SouthEastern Europe
1War in South-Eastern Europe
2Recap 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.
4Emperor Haile Selassie of Abyssinia
(Ethiopia) Reigned 1930-1974 Exiled to England
(1936-41)
5(No Transcript)
6Engaging 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.
7Italy 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.
8Greece
- While fighting the British in North Africa,
Mussolini also launched an invasion of Greece in
October 1940.
9Why 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.
10Why 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.
11Italian attacks on Greece from neighbouring
Albania were repulsed by the Greek army. The
Italians were driven back across the border.
12The 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.
13Italy 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.
14British 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
15The 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.
16German troops raise the Nazi flag over the
Acropolis of Athens on April 27th 1941
17Significance 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.
18The 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.
19Despite heavy losses, German parachute troops
overwhelmed the island of Crete and forced a
British evacuation back to Egypt.
20German forces in Crete
21The 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.
22British 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.