The Italian second spring offensive or known as Battle of Epirus in Italy, was an offensive by

Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...

against

Greece Greece, officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. Located on the southern tip of the Balkan peninsula, it shares land borders with Albania to the northwest, North Macedonia and Bulgaria to the north, and Turkey to th ...

from 13 to 23 April 1941, in the final phase of the

Greco-Italian War The Greco-Italian War (), also called the Italo-Greek War, Italian campaign in Greece, Italian invasion of Greece, and War of '40 in Greece, took place between Italy and Greece from 28 October 1940 to 23 April 1941. This conflict began the Balk ...

. The Greek army, which had pushed the Italians back into

Albania Albania ( ; or ), officially the Republic of Albania (), is a country in Southeast Europe. It is located in the Balkans, on the Adriatic Sea, Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean Sea, and shares land borders with Montenegro to ...

, was forced to retreat due to the rapid success of the

German invasion of Greece The German invasion of Greece or Operation Marita (), were the attacks on Kingdom of Greece, Greece by Kingdom of Italy, Italy and Nazi Germany, Germany during World War II. The Italian invasion in October 1940, which is usually known as the Gr ...

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

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 Alexandros Papagos (; 9 December 1883 – 4 October 1955) was a Greek military officer who led the Hellenic Army in World War II and the later stages of the subsequent Greek Civil War. The only Greek army career officer to rise to the rank of Fie ...

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.

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.

Aftermath

Greece originally surrendered to Germany, which Mussolini protested that Greece is also required to surrender to Italy. General

Wilhelm List Siegmund Wilhelm Walther List (14 May 1880 – 17 August 1971) was a German ''Generalfeldmarschall'' (Field Marshal) of the ''Wehrmacht'' during World War II. List was a professional soldier in the Bavarian Army and served as a staff officer o ...

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 Alfred Josef Ferdinand Jodl (; born Alfred Josef Baumgärtler; 10 May 1890 – 16 October 1946) was a German Wehrmacht Heer, Army ''Generaloberst'' (the rank was equal to a four-star full general) and War crime, war criminal, who served as th ...

for Germany, and General Alberto Ferrero for Italy.Cervi 2005, p.253-257

References

Sources

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Italian, second spring offensive Battles of the Greco-Italian War Military history of Italy during World War II April 1941 in Europe 1941 in Greece Battles of World War II involving Italy