Operation Marita
Though he was displeased with Mussolini's decision to invade Greece, Hitler still felt obliged to assist his ally with his troubled campaign in Greece. Hitler made plans for Operation Marita, the German invasion of Greece and seizure of the British bases on Greek islands.
A German Newsreel about the battle against Greece, used for propaganda.
Pre-Battle Arrangements
original: Map of German operations in Greece and Crete in 1940 and 1941 during World War II.
Hitler made an agreement with Bulgaria and Yugoslavia to use them as a path to Greece but later Yugoslavia withdrew from the agreement due to a change in government.
Angry at Yugoslavia for not following through, at the end of March 1941, Hitler signed War Directive No. 25 that stated that Greece and Yugoslavia would be invaded simultaneously and the Russian invasion would be put on hold from May to June of 1941.
Angry at Yugoslavia for not following through, at the end of March 1941, Hitler signed War Directive No. 25 that stated that Greece and Yugoslavia would be invaded simultaneously and the Russian invasion would be put on hold from May to June of 1941.
Battle of Greece
The Battle of Greece started on April 6th. The German troops invaded Greece from Bulgaria in the North while the Italians advanced once again from Albania into Greece on April 11.
"Historical justice obliges me to state that of the enemies who took up
positions against us, the Greek soldier particularly fought with the highest
courage." - Adolf Hitler Reichstag speech May 4, 1941
With multiple unforseen enemies attacking their land and a weak Greek military defense due to the involvement with Italy in the year before, Greek resistance collapsed on April 23, 1941.
Last Greek broadcast before the German occupation