Italian second spring offensive (1941)

Italian second spring offensive
Part of the Greco-Italian War and Battle of Greece of World War II
Italian soldiers advancing in Albania, April 1941
Date 13 - 23 April 1941 Location Southern Albania and Epirus Result Italian victory Territorial changes Italian forces recaptures southern Albania
Belligerents
Italy	Greece
Commanders and leaders
Ugo Cavallero Carlo Geloso Alessandro Pirzio Biroli	Alexandros Papagos Georgios Tsolakoglou   Ioannis Pitsikas
Units involved
11th Army 9th Army	Epirus Army Section Western Macedonia Section
Casualties and losses
5,747 [1]	Unknown

The Italian second spring offensive or known as Battle of Epirus in Italy, was an offensive by Italy against Greece from 13 to 23 April 1941, in the final phase of the Greco-Italian War. The Greek army, which had pushed the Italians back into Albania, was forced to retreat due to the rapid success of the German invasion of Greece since 6 April. The retreating Greek forces were attacked by the Italians, who pressed south and recovered southern Albania. The German and Italian pressure brought about the capitulation of the Greek army in Epirus on 22 April.

Background

After the failed Italian spring offensive in March 1941. Mussolini ordered Cavallero, that the Italian forces in Albania must stay on defensive posture as the German invasion of Greece is getting prepared. On April 4, Hitler insisted Mussolini that the Italian defence in Albania would be the outmost importance of the Operation Marita. Since the first weeks of April. The Greek Commander-in-Chief Alexandros Papagos launched attacks towards Elbasan, Berat and Valona. Despite some success, the Greek forces in Albania lost the offensive capacity as the Italian defences was stiffened. As the German invasion of Greece was launched. Cavallero ordered Biroli, commander of the 9th Army to launch an offensive towards Western Macedonia, while Geloso's 11th Army would launch an attack aiming towards Argirocastro. ^[2]

Battle

On 13 April, the Italian forces began the second spring offensive. The Italian offensive was slowed due to the Greek rearguard troops left by the retreating Greeks in Albania. The town of Koritza was taken on 14th, Bilishti on 15th, but Erseke fell on 17th which the Greek troops offered resistance, Klisura fell on the same day. The advance was then aimed towards Leskovik to Ponte Perati, where Italian troops faced stiff opposition from Greek forces. The XXV Army Corps entered the Greek territory on 21 April. ^{[3] [4]}

Aftermath

Greece originally surrendered to Germany, which Mussolini protested that Greece is also required to surrender to Italy. General Wilhelm List spoke to Mussolini that another surrender agreement will be drawn with the Italians.

The surrender agreement was formally signed on 23 April. General Tsolakoglou for Greece, General Alfred Jodl for Germany, and General Alberto Ferrero for Italy. ^[5]

References

1. ...between 14 and 22 April, 9th Army had lost only 927 men while the 11th Army lost 4,820 men. Montanari, Campagna di Grecia, p.735-749
2. Ibid, p. 724-725, p. 742-743
3. Ibid, p.732
4. Montanari, Campagna di Grecia, p.735
5. Cervi 2005, p.253-257

Sources

• Cervi, Mario (2005). Storia della guerra di Grecia (in Italian). Rizzoli. ISBN   88-17-86640-7.
• Carrier, Richard (2021). Mussolini's Army against Greece: October 1940-April 1941. New York: Routledge. ISBN   978-1-138-58128-9.