The Defence and Fall of Greece, 1940-1941

by John car

Narrates the spirited but ultimately doomed Greek defense against invasion by Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany in 1940 and 41.

On 28th October 1940, the Greek premier, Ioannis Metaxis, refused to accept a deliberately provocative ultimatum from Mussolini and Italian forces began the invasion of Greece via Albania.

This aggression was prompted by Mussolini's desire for a quick victory to rival Hitler's rapid conquest of France and the Low Countries. On paper, Greek forces were poorly equipped and ill-prepared for the conflict but Mussolini had underestimated the skill and determination of the defenders. Within weeks the Italian invasion force was driven back over the border and Greek forces actually advanced deep into Albania. A renewed Italian offensive in March 1941 was also given short shrift, prompting Hitler to intervene to save his ally. German forces invaded Greece via Bulgaria on 6 April.

The Greeks, now assisted by British forces, resisted by land, sea and air but were overwhelmed by the superior German forces and their blitzkrieg tactics. Despite a dogged rearguard action by Anzac forces at the famous pass of Thermopyale, Athens fell on the 27th April and the British evacuated 50,000 troops to Crete. This island, whose airfields and naval bases Churchill considered vital to the defense of Egypt and the Suez Canal, was invaded by German airborne troops the following month and eventually captured after a bitter thirteen-day battle. The remaining British troops were evacuated and the fall of Greece completed.

John Carr's masterful account of these desperate campaigns, while not disparaging the British and Commonwealth assistance, draws heavily on Greek sources to emphasize the oft-neglected experience of the Greeks themselves and their contribution to the fight against fascism.

Genres: Military History, Greece, History, Nonfiction, World War II

272 pages, Hardcover

First published July 2, 2013

Reviews

[Michael Kotsarinis]

Ένα σπουδαίο βιβλίο στρατιωτικής ιστορίας, πρόσφατα γραμμένο με σύγχρονη αφήγηση, ιδανικό για να γνωρίσει ο αναγνώστης σε βάθος τον ελληνοϊταλικό πόλεμο με όλα τα γεγονότα πέρα από τη μυθολογία που έχει αναπτυχθεί.
Με πλήρη κάλυψη όλων των γεγονότων στο μέτωπο και τα μετόπισθεν μέχρι και την πτώση της Ελλάδας, έχει ιδιαίτερο ενδιαφέρον η ανάλυση των περιόδων πριν τον πόλεμο, που οι περισσότεροι δεν γνωρίζουν πλήρως, οι σχέσεις με τους Βρετανούς και τα γεγονότα μετά την πτώση της γραμμής Μεταξά.
Το συστήνω σε όλους όσους έχουν ενδιαφέρον για την ιστορία της χώρας σε μια από τις κρισιμότερες στιγμές της.

[James Yee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read about the Italian invasion of Greece from Albania which was successfully repulsed initially. The Greeks counterattacked and made headway into Albania before the harsh winter set it which provided both sides some respite. However, there was of course lots of politics and intrigue behind the scenes which the book does a good job detailing. The Greeks might have hoped Germany would have recognized it as just an Italian-Greek war, but the British forces in Greece made it a hard sell that Greece just wanted to stay neutral. Ultimately, Hitler decided to intervene because he didn't want the Balkan front to impact his invasion of Russia planned later that year (1941). By then the Greeks were exhausted, and while well matched for an infantry war of the kind fought with Italy, they were easily outmaneuvered and overpowered by the German armoured and mechanized units.

[Ludo-Van · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is painful to read how the Greeks defended and effectively counterattacked Italian forces – almost pushing them altogether back in the Adriatic – then Germany came and in no time annihilated the exhausted Greek army.
I mean you know it is going to happen (even if you are completely ignorant of the events of the war the author has put like a mega spoiler in the title: the defence AND FALL of Greece – OH COME ON JOHN!). You read and you are like oh no they are going to arrive any time now. Any time now. And at the end when THEY arrive it’s a disaster. Well that’s history I guess.
Anyway before embarking in this book be aware that you will almost only read about military events. There is a bit of political background on the Greek side, especially on the Greek-British relations, but very little on the Italian side. But this is a military book so this is to be expected.
Ok now to wash away this bad feeling I am off to read something on Greek antifascist resistance.

Oh by the way Goodreads spelled the name of the author wrong. It should be Carr, not car

[Bill V · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was not too taken in by this book. In my opinion, the coverage focused too much on the Greek Italian campaign in Albania. It was a very important part of the conflict and I did enjoy the coverage but by comparison, I don't believe the German invasion of Greece, which ultimately led to Greece's demise or fall, covered maybe 20%. That is simply way too little coverage. It would have helped if the author didn't focus on so many little personal anecdotes and stories. Too much attention was also given to the contributions of the Greek Air Force and Navy

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. So far it is the best one I have read the covers through entire Greek War. It seems fair to all sides if slightly biased for Greece. I give it 4 stars for that reason. I recommend reading it none the less.

[The History Mom]

Detailed military history of the Italian invasions of Greece in 1940 and the eventual German occupation in 1941.