254: Greece Pt. 6 - The Invasion Begins

This episode of 'History of the Second World War' examines the German invasion of Greece, codenamed Operation Marita, which began on April 6, 1941. The invasion was launched by the German 12th Army under General List, exploiting a breakthrough through Yugoslavia to bypass the heavily fortified Metaxas Line. Despite strong Greek resistance in key areas like the Ruppel Pass, the Germans advanced rapidly due to superior mobility and tactics, capturing Salonika in just three days. The British and Greek forces, though valiant, were outmatched by German numbers, air power, and strategic planning. The Luftwaffe’s devastating bombing of Piraeus on April 7 disrupted Allied supply lines, closing the port for two critical days. As the Allies retreated, they fought delaying actions at the Aliakmon and Servia Passes, with New Zealand troops holding the narrow Servia Pass against repeated German assaults. However, coordination failures with Greek forces and the threat of encirclement led to a rapid withdrawal to the Thermopylae line. By April 19, British commander General Wilson had made the decision to evacuate Greece, setting the stage for the next episode’s focus on the evacuation itself. The episode also contextualizes the invasion within the broader timeline of Operation Barbarossa, arguing that while Balkan operations caused a minor delay, they did not significantly impact the eventual outcome of the Soviet invasion.