261:, without waiting for I and II Corps to level with TSDM. Papagos angrily rejected the proposal, and issued orders to continue the prescribed plan, with III Corps relegated to a passive role. This decision was later heavily criticized; coupled with the onset of winter, it effectively froze the Greek right wing in place. Despite the atrocious weather and the heavy snowfall, the Greek offensive continued on the left (I and II Corps) throughout December. OMK, now renamed as the
749:
209:, forbade any further retreat, restoring the front. On 19–21 November, the Greeks captured the summit of Morava. Fearing that they would be surrounded and cut off, the Italians retreated towards the Devoll valley during the night, and on 22 November the city of Korçë was captured by 9th Division. By 27 November, TSDM had captured the entire Korçë plateau, suffering 624 dead and 2,348 wounded. Further south and west,
297:, any retreat was likely to end up in disintegration. Advice to retreat before the start of the German attack had been rejected and they petitioned Pitsikas to surrender. Pitsikas forbade such talk but notified Papagos and urged a solution that would secure "the salvation and honour of our victorious Army". The order to retreat, the disheartening news of the Yugoslav collapse and the rapid German advance in
293:, rapidly collapsed and the operation was cancelled. On 12 April, GHQ in Athens ordered the Greek forces on the Albanian front to retreat but the decision was too late. The Greek commanders knew that Italian pressure, the lack of motor transport and pack animals, the physical exhaustion of the Greek army and the poor transport network of
304:
On 16 April, Pitsikas reported to
Papagos that signs of disintegration had also begun to appear among the divisions of I Corps and begged him to "save the army from the Italians". On the next day, TSDM was renamed to III Army Corps and placed under Pitsikas' command. At this juncture, the three corps
193:
Division. Leaving five battalions to secure its rear, III Corps attacked with twenty battalions and 37 artillery batteries. Due to the lack of tanks or anti-tank weapons to counter
Italian armour, the Greeks decided to limit their movement along the mountain ridges, never descending to the valleys.
276:
in mid-January, the Greek advance stalled. Despite the Greek successes in
Albania thus far, in February 1941 dissension within the Greek leadership emerged over strategy towards the expected German attack and the need for a withdrawal in Albania. The front commanders in Albania represented their
301:, led to a breakdown of morale in the Greek troops, many of whom had been fighting without rest for five months and were forced to abandon hard-won ground. By 15 April, the divisions of II Army Corps began to disintegrate, with men and even entire units abandoning their positions.
229:. In the event, the latter option was chosen. TSDM, comprising III Corps and the newly formed "K" Group of Divisions (OMK), would defend their positions on the Greek right and apply pressure on the Italians in front of them, while the reinforced I Corps would move north along the
126:
to withdraw back to
Albania to prevent being encircled. In the meantime, III Corps had undertaken limited advances into Albanian territory, and already on 6 November, it submitted plans for a general offensive. Judged too ambitious for the moment, the Greek commander-in-chief
309:
of
Ioannina, Spyridon, pressured Pitsikas to unilaterally negotiate with the Germans. When he refused, the others decided to bypass him and selected Tsolakoglou, as the senior of the three generals, to carry out the task. On 20 April, Tsolakoglou contacted
249:, evacuated by the Italians, was captured by 13th Division on 30 November. OMK under Lieutenant-General Kosmas (now essentially reduced to the 10th Division) captured the Ostravicë Mountain on 12 December, while III Corps—since 1 December reinforced with
224:
Following the capture of Korçë and the eviction of the
Italian forces from Greek soil, the Greek GHQ faced two options: continue the offensive in the Korçë sector in the direction of Elbasan or shift focus on the left flank and drive towards the port of
205:). The most critical moment for the Greeks came on 18 November, when elements of the 13th Division panicked during an ill-coordinated attack and the division almost retreated; its commander was sacked on the spot and the new commander, Major-General
194:
The offensive was launched on the morning of 14 November, with the corps' three divisions moving on converging lines of attack towards Korçë. To achieve surprise, the attack was not preceded by an artillery barrage.
288:
on 6 April, Papagos ordered TSDM to launch an attack towards
Elbasan, in conjunction with Yugolav forces. The attack began on 7 April and the 13th Division made some progress but the Yugoslav army, also
842:
237:–Valona axis. II Corps would form the pivot of the movement, securing the connection between I Corps and TSDM, as well as advancing in step with its western neighbour in the direction of
197:
The
Italian forces were indeed taken by surprise, allowing the Greeks to force several breaches in the Italian positions on 14–16 November. On 17 November, III Corps was reinforced with
277:
views to GHQ in Athens and in early March, Papagos moved to replace virtually the entire leadership in the
Albanian front. As a result, Pitsikas was moved from TSDM to command the
139:
852:
847:
119:
253:, which replaced 13th Division—completed its occupation of the Kamia massif and secured possession of Pogradec. On 2 December, Papagos, accompanied by Crown Prince
213:
and II Corps had moved to evict the
Italians from Greek territory, which they achieved by 23 November. II Corps further moved across the border line, capturing
322:
206:
201:, and on the next day, with 11th Division, which along with the 10th Division formed a new command, the "K" Group of Divisions or OMK (Lieutenant-General
326:(LSSAH) brigade, to offer surrender. The protocol of surrender was signed at 18:00 of the same day between Tsolakoglou and Dietrich. Presented with the
84:), each of two infantry divisions and an infantry brigade. The total forces available to TSDM on the outbreak of war consisted of
710:
166:
river. The plateau lay behind the Morava and Ivan mountains on the Greco-Albanian frontier, which were held by the 29th
731:
684:
73:
837:
250:
198:
155:
151:
147:
241:. Despite its role being limited to pinning down the Italian front in its sector, TSDM's 10th Division captured
803:
257:, visited the front. Generals Pitsikas and Tsolakoglou urged him to order an immediate attack on the strategic
179:
143:
111:
122:—managing to stabilize the situation by 30 October, and on 3 November began a counter-attack that forced the
95:
Following the Italian attack, TSDM played a crucial role in reversing the initial Italian penetration in the
285:
115:
100:
697:(1978). "Ο Πόλεμος του 1940/1941". In Christopoulos, Georgios A. & Bastias, Ioannis K. (eds.).
273:
77:
290:
69:
134:
By 14 November, with the Greek mobilization almost complete, TSDM's II Corps, deployed in the
262:
210:
81:
313:
8:
815:
809:
741:
694:
306:
278:
723:
Swastika over the Acropolis: Re-interpreting the Nazi Invasion of Greece in World War II
675:
Gedeon, Dimitrios (2001). "Ο Ελληνοϊταλικός Πόλεμος 1940–41: Οι χερσαίες επιχειρήσεις".
779:
298:
128:
791:
727:
706:
680:
269:
and secure the connection between II and III Corps, which remained in its positions.
57:
45:
699:Ιστορία του Ελληνικού Έθνους, Τόμος ΙΕ΄: Νεώτερος Ελληνισμός από το 1913 έως το 1941
162:
plateau, which controlled access to the interior of Albania along the valley of the
773:
96:
65:
721:
202:
785:
767:
254:
163:
21:
230:
142:
and the Cavalry Brigade), and III Corps in western Macedonia proper comprised
831:
756:
327:
317:
281:(comprising I and II Corps), leaving TSDM to II Corps Commander Tsolakoglou.
41:
99:, where the weak Pindus Detachment was retreating against the elite Italian
266:
258:
703:
History of the Greek Nation, Volume XV: Modern Hellenism from 1913 to 1941
158:
assembling in its rear. III Corps' main objective was the capture of the
628:
577:
265:, but still comprising only the 10th Division),managed to advance up to
234:
752:
159:
37:
242:
214:
748:
246:
218:
226:
843:
Military units and formations of Greece in the Greco-Italian War
330:, Pitsikas was informed an hour later and resigned his command.
604:
294:
135:
107:
61:
705:] (in Greek). Athens: Ekdotiki Athinon. pp. 411–453.
640:
567:
565:
468:
466:
451:
238:
114:, and progressively assigned more forces as they arrived—the
746:
616:
562:
550:
526:
463:
418:
394:
60:
prior to the Italian attack on 28 October 1940. Based at
652:
594:
592:
478:
441:
439:
437:
435:
433:
406:
372:
370:
368:
366:
351:
178:
divisions. The Italians were later reinforced by the
853:
Military units and formations disestablished in 1941
589:
538:
514:
502:
490:
677:Ο Ελληνικός Στρατός και το Έπος της Βορείου Ηπείρου
430:
382:
363:
339:
848:Military units and formations established in 1940
829:
719:
634:
610:
583:
320:, the commander of the nearest German unit, the
720:Stockings, Craig; Hancock, Eleanor (2013).
693:
646:
622:
571:
556:
532:
472:
457:
400:
138:sector, comprised 1st Infantry Division,
131:postponed the offensive for 14 November.
64:, it was commanded by Lieutenant-General
26:Τμήμα Στρατιάς Δυτικής Μακεδονίας, ΤΣΔΜ
830:
674:
658:
598:
544:
520:
508:
496:
484:
445:
424:
412:
388:
376:
357:
345:
745:
118:, 5th Brigade, and the newly formed
13:
14:
864:
189:Division, and 30–50 tanks of the
30:Tmima Stratias Dytikis Makedonias
747:
56:The command was established in
804:Eastern Macedonia Army Section
798:Western Macedonia Army Section
18:Western Macedonia Army Section
1:
679:. Periskopio. pp. 4–35.
333:
323:Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler
635:Stockings & Hancock 2013
611:Stockings & Hancock 2013
584:Stockings & Hancock 2013
7:
305:commanders, along with the
284:Following the start of the
10:
869:
667:
92:batteries (seven heavy).
51:
763:
286:German invasion of Greece
154:Infantry Divisions, with
25:
637:, pp. 282–283, 382.
586:, pp. 225–227, 282.
818:(1947–48, 1952–present)
291:attacked by the Germans
274:Capture of Klisura Pass
838:Field armies of Greece
199:13th Infantry Division
74:Dimitrios Papadopoulos
427:, pp. 22–23, 24.
112:1st Infantry Division
695:Koliopoulos, Ioannis
245:on 24 November, and
180:2nd Alpine Division
140:5th Infantry Brigade
106:. TSDM assigned the
82:Georgios Tsolakoglou
80:(Lieutenant-General
72:(Lieutenant-General
810:Epirus Army Section
649:, pp. 448–450.
460:, pp. 420–421.
307:metropolitan bishop
279:Epirus Army Section
217:on 21 November and
780:Army of Asia Minor
207:Sotirios Moutousis
129:Alexandros Papagos
68:and comprised the
44:active during the
825:
824:
792:Army of the Evros
712:978-960-213-111-4
661:, pp. 33–34.
487:, pp. 24–25.
415:, pp. 23–24.
360:, pp. 19–21.
314:Obergruppenführer
221:on the next day.
58:western Macedonia
46:Greco-Italian War
860:
774:Army of Thessaly
751:
743:
742:
737:
716:
690:
662:
656:
650:
647:Koliopoulos 1978
644:
638:
632:
626:
623:Koliopoulos 1978
620:
614:
608:
602:
596:
587:
581:
575:
572:Koliopoulos 1978
569:
560:
557:Koliopoulos 1978
554:
548:
542:
536:
533:Koliopoulos 1978
530:
524:
518:
512:
506:
500:
494:
488:
482:
476:
473:Koliopoulos 1978
470:
461:
458:Koliopoulos 1978
455:
449:
443:
428:
422:
416:
410:
404:
401:Koliopoulos 1978
398:
392:
386:
380:
374:
361:
355:
349:
343:
116:Cavalry Division
97:Battle of Pindus
91:
87:
66:Ioannis Pitsikas
27:
868:
867:
863:
862:
861:
859:
858:
857:
828:
827:
826:
821:
770:(1897, 1912–13)
759:
740:
734:
713:
687:
670:
665:
657:
653:
645:
641:
633:
629:
625:, pp. 448.
621:
617:
609:
605:
597:
590:
582:
578:
570:
563:
555:
551:
543:
539:
531:
527:
519:
515:
507:
503:
495:
491:
483:
479:
471:
464:
456:
452:
444:
431:
423:
419:
411:
407:
399:
395:
387:
383:
375:
364:
356:
352:
344:
340:
336:
203:Georgios Kosmas
174:, and the 49th
120:Cavalry Brigade
104:Alpine Division
89:
88:battalions and
85:
54:
12:
11:
5:
866:
856:
855:
850:
845:
840:
823:
822:
820:
819:
813:
807:
801:
795:
789:
786:Army of Thrace
783:
777:
771:
768:Army of Epirus
764:
761:
760:
739:
738:
732:
717:
711:
691:
685:
671:
669:
666:
664:
663:
651:
639:
627:
615:
613:, p. 258.
603:
588:
576:
574:, p. 446.
561:
559:, p. 444.
549:
537:
535:, p. 442.
525:
513:
501:
489:
477:
475:, p. 421.
462:
450:
429:
417:
405:
403:, p. 420.
393:
381:
362:
350:
337:
335:
332:
110:sector to the
78:III Army Corps
53:
50:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
865:
854:
851:
849:
846:
844:
841:
839:
836:
835:
833:
817:
814:
811:
808:
805:
802:
799:
796:
793:
790:
787:
784:
781:
778:
775:
772:
769:
766:
765:
762:
758:
757:Hellenic Army
754:
750:
744:
735:
733:9789004254596
729:
725:
724:
718:
714:
708:
704:
700:
696:
692:
688:
686:960-86822-5-8
682:
678:
673:
672:
660:
655:
648:
643:
636:
631:
624:
619:
612:
607:
601:, p. 33.
600:
595:
593:
585:
580:
573:
568:
566:
558:
553:
547:, p. 32.
546:
541:
534:
529:
523:, p. 28.
522:
517:
511:, p. 27.
510:
505:
499:, p. 26.
498:
493:
486:
481:
474:
469:
467:
459:
454:
448:, p. 24.
447:
442:
440:
438:
436:
434:
426:
421:
414:
409:
402:
397:
391:, p. 22.
390:
385:
379:, p. 23.
378:
373:
371:
369:
367:
359:
354:
348:, p. 10.
347:
342:
338:
331:
329:
328:fait accompli
325:
324:
319:
318:Sepp Dietrich
316:
315:
308:
302:
300:
296:
292:
287:
282:
280:
275:
270:
268:
264:
260:
256:
252:
251:17th Division
248:
244:
240:
236:
232:
228:
222:
220:
216:
212:
208:
204:
200:
195:
192:
188:
184:
183:
177:
173:
169:
165:
161:
157:
156:11th Division
153:
149:
145:
141:
137:
132:
130:
125:
121:
117:
113:
109:
105:
103:
98:
93:
83:
79:
75:
71:
70:II Army Corps
67:
63:
59:
49:
47:
43:
42:Hellenic Army
39:
35:
31:
23:
19:
797:
776:(1897, 1912)
753:Field armies
722:
702:
698:
676:
654:
642:
630:
618:
606:
579:
552:
540:
528:
516:
504:
492:
480:
453:
420:
408:
396:
384:
353:
341:
321:
311:
303:
283:
271:
267:Mount Tomorr
263:V Army Corps
259:Klisura Pass
223:
196:
190:
186:
181:
175:
171:
167:
133:
123:
101:
94:
90:22 artillery
55:
33:
29:
17:
15:
659:Gedeon 2001
599:Gedeon 2001
545:Gedeon 2001
521:Gedeon 2001
509:Gedeon 2001
497:Gedeon 2001
485:Gedeon 2001
446:Gedeon 2001
425:Gedeon 2001
413:Gedeon 2001
389:Gedeon 2001
377:Gedeon 2001
358:Gedeon 2001
346:Gedeon 2001
231:Gjirokastër
185:, the 53rd
170:, the 19th
86:22 infantry
48:(1940–41).
832:Categories
816:First Army
334:References
272:After the
182:Tridentina
38:field army
806:(1940–41)
800:(1940–41)
794:(1922–23)
788:(1920–22)
782:(1919–22)
726:. BRILL.
299:Macedonia
243:Moscopole
247:Pogradec
235:Tepelenë
219:Leskovik
191:Centauro
168:Piemonte
36:) was a
755:of the
668:Sources
211:I Corps
172:Venezia
52:History
40:of the
812:(1941)
730:
709:
683:
295:Epirus
227:Valona
215:Ersekë
187:Arezzo
164:Devoll
136:Pindus
108:Pindus
76:) and
62:Kozani
701:[
239:Berat
176:Parma
160:Korçë
124:Julia
102:Julia
22:Greek
728:ISBN
707:ISBN
681:ISBN
255:Paul
152:15th
148:10th
34:TSDM
16:The
312:SS-
144:9th
834::
591:^
564:^
465:^
432:^
365:^
150:,
146:,
32:,
28:;
24::
736:.
715:.
689:.
233:–
20:(
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