Can anyone help me about military operations in the Balkans during WW2? I am interested only in the history of operations after 1943, by western armies (I believe mainly British). Thanks Max
At 1943 the Soviet Red Army is already in Bulgaria and now the Bulgarian army have the mission to cut the retriteing germans who pass from Ygoslavia when the Bulgarian army succes they are send to Liberate Hungary they succed there too.The British army is fighting against the Germans in Greece who are retraiting passing the Ygoslavia but they are cut and they get in a trap there is even SS devision or battalion there i think but i dont know who.
Didn't the 7. SS-Freiwilligen-Gebirgs-Division Prinz Eugen make the gap for the retreating German army from Greece and the Aegean?
Doesen't Remamber but i read that there were SS.In Ygoslavia is also build one of the Hitlers shoting range (i dont know it on english) for the Hitler yough
The British sent a couple of divisions to Greece to try and cope with the chaos of the civil war, which included teh 3rd Greek Mountain Brigade and the 2nd Parachute Brigade. The British and Americans also sent air units from Italy for interdiction operations in Yugoslavia, which included most of the Monarchist Italian Air Force. They were reluctant to fly in Italy and bomb their own soil and get into air battles with Mussolini's air force, so they were sent to Yugoslavia, to support the "Garibaldi" Division of Italians who deserted to Tito. Most of the captured Italian arms were also sent to Tito, as his men were operating on captured stocks themselves.
Thanks for your answers. About British operations in Greece, is there a web site clearing that matter? What territories were occupied by British/Allied in Albania/Greece before may 1945? Regards Max
After the British defeat in Greece/Crete in 1941 there is no large scale British military involvement in the Balkans till the end of 1944 in Greece. In Yugoslavia there was British support for resistance groups mainly the communists because the British decided to support the ones doing most of the fighting. Towards the end this was on a large scale and British commandos raided along the Adriatic coast after the invasion of Italy. In Albania resistance groups were helped with most of the aid going to the Communists who seem to have used it mainly against their opponents. Accusations have been made that this was because the British SOE section dealing with Albania had been infiltrated by Communists. British involvement in Bulgaria was tiny, the British dropped some agents in who established contact with partisan bands. In Greece the British left behind radio sets so were fairly well informed on the country. Agents were dropped in and tried to get the Greek resistance factions to co-operate. British operatives were landed for sabotage missions and there was a lot of small scale activity around the Aegean sea. A large scale British assault on the Dodecanese islands was defeated by the Germans in 1943. By the end of 1944 the Communists were the dominant resistance group. British troops landed in Greece and captured Patras on October 4 1944 a few days later more forces captured aerodromes at Elevsis and Megars. A joint British Greek squadron dropped anchor in the Piraeus on October 14 and disembarked most of the British 3rd Corps. The British seem to have decided not to undertake military operations beyond Athens and Attica. Fighting started between the Communist forces and the British on December 3rd and a truce was signed on January 11 by which time the British controlled Athens and Attica. There was also American OSS activity in the region. Churchill in his memoirs goes into the Greek events of late 1944 in some detail but it has to be remembered he could have a selective memory.
Thanks Stephen, good summary. Can you develope more the "large scale British assault on the Dodecanese islands " and landings in october 1944? I am particularly interested in finding areas were allied air bases were built. Thank you in advance Max
The only airbase I know of built by the British was on the Island of Vis to help Tito's partisans. The campaign to capture the Dodecanese Islands could be called Britains forgotten defeat losses by the Royal Navy were high. There are a few web sites around which will tell you about the campaign one very good one I found was a New Zealand one, just type in Dodecanese Islands WW2. This was an all British operation as the Americans refused to have anything to do with it. Their reasoning for staying out of it seems to be that they regarded it as possibly the first step by the British in starting a campaign in the eastern Mediteranean and maybe bringing Turkey into the war something Churchill seems to have been a bit obsessed with maybe because of Galipoli in WW1. This could have been another major diversion after Italy maybe forcing a cancellation of D Day. The Americans seem to have had a suspicion the British were less than whole hearted about confronting a large German army head on in northern France.
Thanks again Stephen. But I'll answer with another question. I know that under Balkan air force the AHQ Greece was raised, with no. 337 Wing under it. So I believe that more than 2 or 3 squadrons were besed in Greece at least from november 1944. Why else having AHQ Greece? Max EDIT: and I just found this article: http://www.venturapublications.com/news/publish/spitfire-32-sqn-RAF-greece.shtml that says that RAF bases were at Kalamaki (Zante island) and Araxos (on mainland).
I would guess the British were using captured German or Italian airfields. The first British landings were I think by airborne and commando units which would capture the airfields and harbour facilities needed to bring in large forces. I would be suprised if the British set about building new airfields as their main forces did not stay that long and repairing the existing airfields was probably enough. Greece was a British sphere of interest Stalin seems to have stuck to the agreement he made with Churchill and the Americans had no interest at that time apart from some criticism that the British were acting as an imperialist power. Without British intervention ELAS would probably have won.
I have an interesting article on the british campaign in the aegean by Ian Gooderson if anyone is interested. Certainly one of the forgotten campaigns. Actually a mate of mine is looking to wargame this campaign quite soon. Ross
Ross, is Your article available in electronic format? Is it possible to have it by mail or posted here? Thanks Max
