Book Review Greece 1941: The Death Throes of Blitzkrieg by Jeffrey Plowman

Discussion in 'Books, Films, TV, Radio' started by Jonathan Ball, Mar 19, 2019.

  1. Jonathan Ball

    Jonathan Ball It's a way of life.

    Did the Battle for Greece in 1941 signal the death throes of Blitzkrieg? Well, on the 172nd and final page (excluding the appendices and index) of this narrative by the New Zealand Historian, Jeffrey Plowman, the author ambiguously states that the German performance in Greece was ‘also less than spectacular. Nor did that stop them from continuing their blitzkrieg approach. However, Russia was too vast for it to work properly..’

    And that’s it really. If you’re wanting a book theorising on armoured warfare then this volume is distinctly not one for you. It certainly does not do what it says on the tin. However, should you want an anecdotally rich, fairly detailed study of the fighting retreat through Greece the Anzacs made until salvation came in the shape of the Royal Navy and another evacuation then this is going to be of interest.

    Of course, the force sent to Greece was simply not up to the task envisaged. The British, still lacking in men and material lost in France the previous summer now relied on the forces of the Commonwealth, predominantly India, Australia and New Zealand to bolster Middle East Command. That’s where they should have stayed and certainly where Wavell wanted them. Instead, buoyed by the fight the Greeks took to a hopelessly incompetent Italian Army, the decision was made to send the troops and armour from the Western Desert. Not enough, as Plowman identifies, to provide offensive action but certainly enough to provoke the Germans who were looking to secure their southern flank ahead of the anticipated attack on the Soviet Union.

    So it was that the Allies started to land their Men and Armour at Piraeus. The locals came out to enjoy the spectacle, as did the staff of the German Embassy carefully noting who and what came ashore. The Germans didn’t give their opponents the chance to settle in and they soon struck, first through Yugoslavia and then into Northern Greece. Piraeus itself was bombed by the Luftwaffe and the SS Clan Fraser was hit, carrying enough ammunition onboard that when it detonated she was blown apart in an explosion that took seven other merchantmen in the harbour with her.

    What followed starting in northern Greece is well described. A fiercely defended fighting withdrawal by troops who had only just arrived there. These were men who had come from the desert and were sent up in to the high mountain passes still blanketed by snow. Lines were drawn on the map and were to be held until the last moment before falling back, actions which Plowman captures very well with the use of well chosen and vivid eye witness testimony. However, and it’s a big ‘however’, lines also needed to be drawn on the maps within the book. In all honesty, the maps provided are of little use and seriously detract from the story being told. It’s all very well being told that the line being held along a river was vital but if the accompanying map doesn’t show the river in question you really are struggling. With really good maps, the detail Plowman has extracted from the archives and the testimony of those who fought to hold back the Panzers would have produced an excellent, fast paced story which the more intrepid traveller could enjoyably use on the ground to the follow the Anzacs on their retreat southwards.

    So in conclusion and to return to the main point. Did the Battle for Greece in 1941 signal the death throes of Blitzkrieg? Well, the fact that it took just 10 days from the Germans invading Greece on 6 April to the start of the evacuation lifting the Allies from the Beaches on 16 April tends to pretty much alone contradict the statement made on the cover.

    This isn’t a bad book at all but could and should have been much better.

    Greece 1941

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    hucks216, bofors, Chris C and 2 others like this.

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