Albanian Front (World War II)

Albanian Front of Greco-Italian War
Part of Balkans campaign (World War II)
Italian bombers over Greek territory
Date October 1940–April 1941 Location Albania, Greece, Kingdom of Italy Result Axis victory Territorial changes Greeks repulsed and Westen coast of Greece occupied by Italy
Belligerents
Italy Supported by:  Germany	Greece Supported by:  United Kingdom
Commanders and leaders
Benito Mussolini Adolf Hitler Commanders Giovanni Messe	George II of Greece Winston Churchill Commanders Alexandros Papagos

The Albanian Front of the Greco-Italian War (1940–1941) was the main theatre of fighting between Italy and Greece. Under Giovanni Messe, Italian forces gained some early successes but were soon pushed back by the Greeks into Albania. Later, as Germany prepared to invade Greece, Messe launched a counterattack from southern Albania, capturing parts of Greece’s western coast.

Giovanni Messe commanded the Special Army Corps during the Greco-Italian War^[1] in late 1940 and early 1941, gaining some early success against Greek forces under Alexandros Papagos.^[2][3] However, the Italians were soon pushed back as the Greeks counterattacked and entered parts of Italian-held Albania. Mussolini then ordered General Ugo Cavallero to keep the Italian troops on the defensive while Germany prepared to invade Greece. On April 4, Hitler told Mussolini that defending Albania was crucial for Operation Marita. In early April, Papagos launched new attacks toward Elbasan, Berat, and Valona, but despite some initial gains, the Greek advance slowed as Italian defences strengthened. Giovanni Messe launched an counterattack from South Albania occupying the Western coast of Greece,^[4] with the Second Italian Spring offensive and German and Bulgarian invasion, the Albania Front was secured which further helped the Axis powers for occupying Greece and plan their invasion of Yugoslavia.^[5]