Day-by-Day Timeline of Events
Tuesday, October 15th, 1940
Unknown to the Germans, the Italians decide on an operation to invade Greece.
Monday, October 28th, 1940
The Italian government issues an ultimatum to Greece to accept occupation or war.
Sunday, November 10th, 1940
Italian General Ubaldo Soddu succeeds General Sabasiano Viscounti-Prasca as Commander-in-Chief over operations from Albania into Greece.
Monday, October 28th, 1940
An Italian force of 70,000 soldiers invades Greece.
Monday, October 28th, 1940
Italian forces begin launching attacks into Greece from positions in Albania.
Wednesday, October 30th - October 31st, 1940
British forces begin to occupy positions on the island of Crete.
Sunday, November 10th, 1940
The Italian invasion force is in full retreat, repelled by a combined Greek resistance and RAF effort after just two weeks.
Thursday, November 14th - November 22nd, 1940
A combined British-Greek force begins an offensive against the Italians in Greece, forcing the invaders into retreat.
Friday, February 14th, 1941
Bulgaria agrees to allow Germany use of its soil bordering Greece for the upcoming invasion.
Wednesday, February 19th - February 23rd, 1941
Allied authorities meet in Cairo, Egypt to review the situation in Greece. It is agree upon to commit some 100,000 British soldiers to the fighting.
Wednesday, March 5th, 1941
The first elements of British reinforcements departs Egyptian shores en route to the Balkan Front.
Sunday, March 9th, 1941
The Italians launch a new offensive in Greece to recover lost ground.
Saturday, April 5th, 1941
The number of British troops having arrived in Greece numbers 58,000.
Sunday, April 6th, 1941
Operation Marita - the dual Germany invasion of Greece and Yugoslavia - is put into action. Twenty-four total divisions are involved, including some 1200 tanks.
Wednesday, April 9th, 1941
The German 12th Army encircles and defeats the Greek defensive line known as the "Metaxas Line".
Wednesday, April 9th, 1941
The German Army moves on and captures the strategic port city of Salonika.
Thursday, April 10th - April 16th, 1941
Three divisions of British, Australian and New Zealand troops at the Aliakmon Line in the Vermion Mountains are defeated.
Saturday, April 12th, 1941
Vermion Line Allied troops are now redeployed to defensive positions around Mount Olympus.
Monday, April 14th, 1941
The German Army destroys Yugoslavian forces at Monistar Gap, clearing a path into Greece. Greece units fighting in Albania are effectively cut off.
Wednesday, April 16th, 1941
Allied forces in Greece are in full retreat at the request of Greek General Alexander Papagos who sees value is less fighting to save his country from total destruction. British Prime Minister Winston Churchill accepts the request.
Sunday, April 20th, 1941
The Greek Army surrenders to the Germans and Italians.
Saturday, April 26th, 1941
German airborne elements attempt to capture the bridge over the Corinth Canal in an attempt to encircle the retreating allies. The bridge is lost in the attack while the Allies have already moved on.
Sunday, April 27th - April 30th, 1941
Operation Demon is activated, covering the evacuation of some 51,000 Allied troops from southern Greece via the Royal Navy.
Sunday, April 27th, 1941
Axis forces officially occupy Athens, effectively signaling the end of Greek resistance.
Tuesday, May 20th, 1941
Between 1:30 and 2:00 PM, the second wave of German airborne troops take off from Greece towards drop zones in Crete.
