At 4:15 on the morning of 9 April 1940

[Rickusty]

Originally Posted by HFC_Dolphin

Well, Greeks were there too, defeating Italians and forcing Germans to delay operation Barbarossa in order to conquer Greece.
Well fought war

It should more correct to say "stopping the Italian's attack", not actually defeating the Italian Army.

Tactical defensive victory, yes. Decisive victory, not.

More of a stalemate in that campaign: roughly the same losses in both Armies too.
Apart from the aggressive counter-attack (with superior numbers) of the Greek Army between November-January, from February on , the war on that front resembled a static trench-warfare.

At first the Greek Army was able to stop the Italian attack into northern Epirus.
Then, the Italian Army was able to stop the Greek from advancing further and succesfully neglected the possibility to let the Greeks conquer either Valona or Tepeleni, their main objectives in that campaign.

The Italian rather big counter-attack on the 9th March of 1941 was quite a disaster, and the the front-line remained actually the same before the German intervantion.

I've been studying this campaign for years: it's probably the most idiotic and criminal act of either Mussolini and his little nephew Ciano.
A criminal war, without reason, without preparation, that cost a lot of good Greek and Italian young lives for... nothing really.
It's my (and others too) convinction, that this campaign was the main reason the Italian people stopped being supportive of either the Government, Mussolini itself, and the war in general.

The Italian generals were in general incompetents; the humble italian soldiers were actually the ones that saved their butt (and prestige) in stopping the Greeks from kicking us out in the adriatic sea...

Well, it's another thread so...

Cheers

[HFC_Dolphin]

Rickusty, I was pointing more to that British were not alone yet
With regards to Italian's attack to Greece, in my point of view Italian army was defeated for the simple reason that they attacked Greece, failed and had to retreat under Greek army's counter-attack.
Simply said, Italian's objective failed, while Greek's objective was successful.

Anyway, this is history - now we're best friends and soon we'll be both allied against "enemies" in the Economic war taking place right now in Europe.
But that's another story.

By the way, getting back to original post, all I can say is thanks, it was a nice read and those photos were a nice addition!

[Rickusty]

Originally Posted by HFC_Dolphin

Anyway, this is history - now we're best friends and soon we'll be both allied against "enemies" in the Economic war taking place right now in Europe.
But that's another story.
[/B]

So true!

Cheers
Rick

[FlyingShark]

Interesting lesson, thank you.

~S~