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Coordinates: 39°35′12″N 20°08′32″E / 39.58667°N 20.14222°E / 39.58667; 20.14222
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{{Short description|1940 battle of the Greco-Italian War}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox military conflict
{{Infobox military conflict
|conflict=Battle of Elaia–Kalamas
| conflict = Battle of Elaia–Kalamas
|partof=the [[Greco-Italian War]]
| partof = the [[Greco-Italian War]]
|image=Kalamas1939.JPG
| image = Kalamas1939.JPG
|image_size=240px
| image_size = 240px
|caption=Trench construction in Elaia–Kalamas line by Greek military personnel, March 1939
| caption = Trench construction in Elaia–Kalamas line by Greek military personnel, March 1939
| date = 2–8 November 1940<br>({{Age in years, months, weeks and days|month1=11|day1=02|year1=1940|month2=11|day2=08|year2=1940}})
|date=2–8 November 1940
|place=[[Epirus (region)|Epirus]]
| place = [[Epirus (region)|Epirus]]
|coordinates = {{Coord|39|35|12|N|20|08|32|E|display=INLINE,title}}
| coordinates = {{Coord|39|35|12|N|20|08|32|E|display=INLINE,title}}
|result=[[Kingdom of Greece|Greek]] victory
| result = Greek victory
|combatant1={{flag|Kingdom of Italy}}
| combatant1 = {{flagcountry|Fascist Italy (1922–1943)}}
|combatant2={{flag|Kingdom of Greece}}
| combatant2 = {{flagcountry|Kingdom of Greece|state}}
|commander1=Ezio Rossi ([[XXV Army Corps (Italy)|XXV Army Corps]])<br />Gen. Giannini (''Ferrara'' Div.)<br />Gen. Maglie (''Centauro'' Div.)
| commander1 = {{flagicon|Fascist Italy (1922–1943)}} [[Carlo Rossi (general)|Carlo Rossi]]<br /><small>([[XXV Army Corps (Italy)|XXV Army Corps]])</small><br />{{flagicon|Fascist Italy (1922–1943)}} [[Licurgo Zannini]]<br /><small>(23rd Division)</small><br />{{flagicon|Fascist Italy (1922–1943)}} [[Giovanni Magli]]<br /><small>(131st Division)</small>
|commander2=[[Charalambos Katsimitros]] (8th Inf. Div.)<br /><small>[[Nikolaos Lioumbas]] (Thesprotia Sector)<br />[[Dimitrios Giatzis]] (Kalamas Sector)<br />[[Georgios Dres]] (Negrades Sector){{sfn|AHD|1960|p=49}}</small>
| commander2 = {{flagicon|Kingdom of Greece|state}} [[Charalambos Katsimitros]]<br /><small>(8th Infantry Division)</small><br />{{flagicon|Kingdom of Greece|state}} [[Nikolaos Lioumbas]]<br /><small>(Thesprotia Sector)</small><br />{{flagicon|Kingdom of Greece|state}} [[Dimitrios Giatzis]]<br /><small>(Kalamas Sector)</small><br />{{flagicon|Kingdom of Greece|state}} [[Georgios Dres]]<br /><small>(Negrades Sector){{sfn|Army History Directorate|1960|p=49}}</small>
| units1 = [[23rd Infantry Division "Ferrara"|23rd Infantry Division]]<br />[[51st Infantry Division "Siena"|51st Infantry Division]]<br />[[131st Armored Division "Centauro"|131st Armoured Division]]
|strength1=42,000 men<br />23rd Inf. Div. ''Ferrara''<br /> 6 battalions<br /> 2 battalions of blackshirts<br /> 44 guns <br />131st Arm. Div. ''Centauro''<br /> 3 motorized battalions<br /> 170 light tanks<br /> 32 guns<br />Elements 51st Inf. Div. ''Siena''<br />Air Force:<br />400 aircraft
| units2 = [[8th Infantry Division (Greece)|8th Infantry Division]]
|strength2=15 battalions<br /> 56 guns (14 batteries){{sfn|AHD|1960|p=49}}
|casualties1='''unknown total'''<br />partial data:<br />28 October 5 November:<br />160 killed<br />41 missing<br />561 wounded
| strength1 = 42,000<br />170 light tanks<br />76 guns<br />400 aircraft
|casualties2='''unknown total'''<br />partial data:<br />1–5 November:{{sfn|AHD|1960|p=114}}<br />59 killed<br />208 wounded
| strength2 = 15 battalions<br />56 guns<br /><small>(14 batteries){{sfn|Army History Directorate|1960|p=49}}</small>
| casualties1 = '''28 October – 5 November''':<br />160 killed<br />41 missing<br />561 wounded
|campaignbox = {{Campaignbox Greco-Italian War}}
| casualties2 = '''1–5 November''':<br />59 killed<br />208 wounded{{sfn|Army History Directorate|1960|p=114}}
|map_type=Greece
| campaignbox = {{Campaignbox Greco-Italian War}}
|map_relief=y
| map_type = Greece
| map_relief = y
}}
}}

The '''Battle of Elaia–Kalamas''' ({{lang-el|Μάχη Ελαίας-Καλαμά}}, ''Machi Elaias-Kalama'') took place in [[Epirus (region)|Epirus]] from 2–8 November 1940. The battle was fought between the [[Kingdom of Greece|Greeks]] and the [[Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946)|Italians]] during the initial stage of the [[Greco-Italian War]]. The [[Royal Italian Army (1940–1946)|Italian Army]], deployed on the Greek-Albanian border, launched an offensive against Greece on 28 October 1940. The main thrust of the Italian invasion occurred in the Epirus sector, with a further flanking move through the [[Pindus mountains]]. In Epirus, the Greeks held the [[Kalpaki|Elaia]]–[[Kalamas river]] line, and even though the Greek army was outnumbered, the local Greek forces under Major General [[Charalambos Katsimitros]] managed to stop the Italian advance.{{sfn|Koliopoulos|Veremis|2009|p=107}} Along with the Italian failure in the [[Battle of Pindus]], these Greek successes signified the complete failure of the Italian invasion, leading to the dismissal of the Italian commander in Albania, [[Sebastiano Visconti Prasca]], on 9 November. In the next few weeks the Greek forces managed to initiate a counter-offensive, which forced the Italians to retreat deep into Albania.
The '''Battle of Elaia–Kalamas''' ({{langx|el|Μάχη Ελαίας-Καλαμά|Machi Elaias-Kalama}}) took place in [[Epirus (region)|Epirus]] on 2–8 November 1940.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://dis.army.gr/sites/dis.army.gr/files/11.elaias_kalamas_battle_en.pdf |title=Elaia (Kalpaki) – Kalama battle |website=Army History Directorate |access-date=2 December 2022 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123050132/https://dis.army.gr/sites/dis.army.gr/files/11.elaias_kalamas_battle_en.pdf |archive-date=23 January 2021}}</ref> The battle was fought between the [[Kingdom of Greece|Greeks]] and the [[Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946)|Italians]] during the initial stage of the [[Greco-Italian War]] in [[World War II]]. The [[Royal Italian Army (1940–1946)|Italian Army]], deployed on the Greek-Albanian border, launched an offensive against Greece on 28 October 1940. The main thrust of the Italian invasion occurred in the Epirus sector, with a further flanking move through the [[Pindus mountains]]. In Epirus, the Greeks held the [[Kalpaki|Elaia]]–[[Kalamas river]] line, and, even though the Greek army was outnumbered, the local Greek forces under Major General [[Charalambos Katsimitros]] stopped the Italian advance.{{sfn|Koliopoulos|Veremis|2009|p=107}} Along with the Italian failure in the [[Battle of Pindus]], these Greek successes signified the complete failure of the Italian invasion, leading to the dismissal of the Italian commander in Albania, [[Sebastiano Visconti Prasca]], on 9 November. In the next few weeks the Greek forces initiated a counteroffensive that forced the Italians to retreat deep into Albania.


==Background==
==Background==
After the [[Italian invasion of Albania]] in April 1939, the Greek General Staff became alerted to a potential Italian attack from Albanian territory. Faced with the strong likelihood of a concerted Italian-Bulgarian attack against both Epirus and [[Macedonia (Greece)|Macedonia]]-[[Western Thrace|Thrace]], the main Greek contingency plan, codenamed "IB" (for "Italy-Bulgaria"), essentially prescribed a defensive stance in Epirus. Two versions of the plan existed: the first suggested forward defence on the border line, while the second dictated initial defense in an intermediate position prior to a gradual retreat to the [[Arachthos River]]–[[Metsovo]]–[[Aliakmon River]]–[[Vermio Mountains|Mt. Vermio]] line, leaving most of Epirus in Italian hands. It was left to the judgment of the local commander of the [[8th Infantry Division (Greece)|8th Infantry Division]], based in [[Ioannina]], Charalambos Katsimitros, to choose which plan to follow.{{sfn|Koliopoulos|Veremis|2009|p=107}} A significant factor in Greek favor was that they had managed to obtain intelligence about the approximate date of the attack, and had just completed a limited [[mobilization]] in the areas facing the expected Italian plans.{{sfn|Sakellariou|1997|p=389}}
After the [[Italian invasion of Albania]] in April 1939, the Greek General Staff was alerted to a potential Italian attack from Albanian territory. Faced with the strong likelihood of a concerted Italian-Bulgarian attack against both Epirus and [[Macedonia (Greece)|Macedonia]]-[[Western Thrace|Thrace]], the main Greek contingency plan, codenamed "IB" (for "Italy-Bulgaria"), essentially prescribed a defensive stance in Epirus. Two versions of the plan existed: the first suggested forward defense on the border line, while the second dictated initial defense in an intermediate position prior to a gradual retreat to the [[Arachthos River]]–[[Metsovo]]–[[Aliakmon River]]–[[Vermio Mountains|Mt. Vermio]] line, leaving most of Epirus in Italian hands. It was left to the judgment of General Katsimitros, commanding the [[8th Infantry Division (Greece)|8th Infantry Division]] based in [[Ioannina]], to choose which plan to follow.{{sfn|Koliopoulos|Veremis|2009|p=107}} A significant factor favoring the Greeks was that they had obtained intelligence about the approximate date of the attack, and had just completed a limited [[mobilization]] in the areas facing the Italians.{{sfn|Sakellariou|1997|p=389}}


==Battle==
==Battle==
[[File:Greek soldier Kalpaki 1940.jpg|thumb|Greek soldier sitting on a captured Italian [[L3/35]] tankette.]]
[[File:Greek soldier Kalpaki 1940.jpg|thumb|Greek soldier sitting on a captured Italian [[L3/35]] tankette|left]]
The Greek High Command in the first days of the conflict was pessimistic about the ability of the [[Hellenic Army|Greek Army]] to repulse an Italian attack, against a position which was difficult to defend. The defensive line near the Greek-Albanian border could only be thinly manned, before the general mobilization and concentration could be completed and thus was expected to fight the enemy forces only in order to delay their advance.{{sfn|Koliopoulos|Veremis|2009|p=107}}
The Greek High Command in the first days of the conflict was pessimistic about the ability of the [[Hellenic Army|Greek Army]] to repulse an Italian attack against a position which was difficult to defend. The defensive line near the Greek-Albanian border could be only thinly manned before the general mobilization and concentration could be completed and thus was expected to only delay the advance of enemy forces.{{sfn|Koliopoulos|Veremis|2009|p=107}}


The commander of the only Greek division ([[8th Infantry Division (Greece)|8th Infantry Division]]) covering that part of the border, Major General [[Charalambos Katsimitros]], realized the strategic value of the area, in which the Italian superiority in men and armour had limited value because of the mountainous and marshy terrain. Contrary to the directives from the High Command under Lieutenant General [[Alexander Papagos]], he concentrated the main forces of his division there, with the intention to give an all-out battle in that position. Papagos had reluctantly approved Katsimitros's plan, after sending Colonel Drakos as a new chief of staff in the division, who after careful study of the area, also agreed with the plan.{{sfn|Katsimētros|2007|p=}}
General Katsimitros, commanding the Greek 8th Infantry Division covering that part of the border, realized the defensive value of the mountainous and marshy terrain, which would partially negate the Italian superiority in men and tanks. Contrary to the directives from the High Command under Lieutenant General [[Alexander Papagos]], he concentrated the main forces of his division there, with the intention of giving all-out battle. Papagos reluctantly approved Katsimitros's plan, after sending Colonel Drakos as Katsimitros's new chief of staff, who after careful study of the area, also agreed with the plan.{{sfn|Katsimētros|2007|p=}}


The Italian forces initiated their offensive on the morning of 28 October. The Italian ''Ciamuria'' Corps, spearheaded by the [[51st Infantry Division Siena|51st Infantry Division ''Siena'']] and [[23rd Infantry Division Ferrara|23rd Infantry Division ''Ferrara'']] (''Ferrara'' Division) and the [[131st Armoured Division Centauro|131st Armoured Division ''Centauro'']], attacked toward [[Kalpaki]] (Elaia), while on its right it was supported by a small brigade-sized ''Littoral Group'' of ca. 5,000 men.
The Italian forces attacked on the morning of 28 October. The Italian [[XXV Army Corps (Italy)|''Ciamuria'' Corps]], composed of the [[51st Infantry Division "Siena"]], the [[23rd Infantry Division "Ferrara"]] and the [[131st Armored Division "Centauro"|131st Armoured Division "Centauro"]], pushed toward [[Kalpaki]] (Elaia), supported on its right by a small brigade-sized ''Littoral Group'' of ca. 5,000 men.{{citation needed|date=November 2020}}


According to the plans the Greek screening units started a slow retreat toward the main defensive line of Elaia-Kalamas, about {{convert|30|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} southward of the Greek-Albanian border, north of Ioannina. On 2 November, the Greek forces were positioned according to the defensive plan in the line: Kalamas–Elaia–Grabala–Kleftis hill. On this day, after repeated air and artillery strikes, the Italian infantry of the ''Ferrara'' Division attacked unsuccessfully in order to advance the bulk of their forces closer to Elaia sector.{{sfn|Gedeon|1997|p=}}
Following their defensive plans, the Greek screening units delayed the Italians while falling back to the main defensive line of Elaia-Kalamas, about {{convert|25|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} south of the Greek-Albanian border, {{convert|34|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} northeast of Ioannina. On 2 November, the Greek forces were positioned according to the defensive plan along the line Kalamas–Elaia–Grabala–Kleftis Hill. On this day, after repeated air and artillery strikes, the Italian infantry of the ''Ferrara'' Division attacked unsuccessfully in order to advance the bulk of their forces closer to the Elaia sector.{{sfn|Gedeon|1997|p=}}


The Italians faced difficulties because of the harshness of the terrain. The next day, their light [[L3/35]] [[tankette]]s and medium [[Fiat M13/40|M13/40]] tanks were unable to cope with the hilly terrain and the muddy ground. The Greek defensive line could not be breached. On its right, the Littoral Group managed a slow advance along the coast and was able to secure a bridgehead over the Kalamas River on 5 November. The winter weather, poor leadership and minefields, caused the Italians many casualties.{{sfn|Willingham|2005|p=28}} On 8 November, the fruitless Italian offensive was suspended.{{sfn|Gedeon|1997|p=}} Because of the complete failure of the Italian operations, commander [[Sebastiano Visconti Prasca]] was relieved of his command after only two weeks and replaced with General [[Ubaldo Soddu]].{{sfn|Mitcham|2007|p=114}}
The Italians faced difficulties because of the harshness of the terrain. The next day, their light [[L3/35]] [[tankette]]s and medium [[Fiat M13/40|M13/40]] tanks were unable to cope with the hilly terrain and the muddy ground. The Greek defensive line could not be breached. On its right, the Littoral Group managed a slow advance along the coast and was able to secure a bridgehead over the Kalamas River on 5 November. The winter weather, poor leadership and minefields, caused the Italians many casualties.{{sfn|Willingham|2005|p=28}} On 8 November, the fruitless Italian offensive was suspended.{{sfn|Gedeon|1997|p=}} Because of the complete failure of the Italian operations, General Visconti Prasca was relieved of his command after only two weeks and replaced with General [[Ubaldo Soddu]].{{sfn|Mitcham|2007|p=114}}


==Aftermath==
==Aftermath==
After the successful Greek defense in Elea-Kalamas and in the mountains of [[Battle of Pindus|Pindus]], the Greek forces were able to push back the Italians, advancing into southern Albania. Before the [[Battle of Greece|German intervention]] in April 1941, the Greeks penetrated {{convert|30|–|80|km|mi}} into Albanian territory.{{sfn|Gedeon|1997|p=}}
After the successful Greek defense in Elea-Kalamas and in the mountains of [[Battle of Pindus|Pindus]], the Greek forces were able to push back the Italians, advancing into southern Albania. The Greeks would penetrate {{convert|30|–|80|km|mi}} into Albanian territory before the [[Battle of Greece|German intervention]] in April 1941.{{sfn|Gedeon|1997|p=}}


==Footnotes==
==Footnotes==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
{{reflist}}


==References==
==References==
{{refbegin}}
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book |last=Gedeon |first=Dimitrios |title=An abridged history of the Greek-Italian and Greek-German war, 1940–1941: (land operations) |year=1997 |publisher=Hellenic Army General Staff, Army History Directorate |location=Athens |isbn=978-960-7897-01-5}}
* {{cite book |ref={{harvid|Gedeon|1997}}
* {{cite book |series=Bibliothēkē Ēpeirōtikēs Hetaireias Athēnōn |number=61 |title=Ē Ēpeiros promachusa : ē drasē tēs VIII merarchias kata ton polemo 1940–41 |language=el |last=Katsimētros |first=Charalampus |year=2007 |publisher=Ēpeirōtikē Etaireia |location=Athens |isbn=978-960-89690-0-1}}
|last=Gedeon |first=Dimitrios |title=An abridged history of the Greek-Italian and Greek-German war, 1940–1941: (land operations) |year=1997 |publisher=Hellenic Army General Staff, Army History Directorate |location=Athens |isbn=978-960-7897-01-5}}
* {{cite book |first1=Giannēs |last1=Koliopoulos |last2=Veremis |first2=Thanos M. |title=Modern Greece: A History Since 1821 |publisher=Wiley-Blackwell |year=2009 |isbn=978-1-4051-8681-0}}
* {{cite book |ref={{harvid|Katsimētros|2007}}
|series=Bibliothēkē Ēpeirōtikēs Hetaireias Athēnōn |number=61 |title=Ē Ēpeiros promachusa : ē drasē tēs VIII merarchias kata ton polemo 1940–41 |language=Greek |last=Katsimētros |first=Charalampus |authorlink= |year=2007 |publisher=Ēpeirōtikē Etaireia |location=Athens |edition= |isbn=960-89690-0-X}}
* {{cite book |last=Mitcham |first=Samuel W. |title=Eagles of the Third Reich: Men of the Luftwaffe in World War II |year=2007 |publisher=Stackpole Books |location=Mechanicsburg, PA |isbn=978-0-8117-3405-9}}
* {{cite book |last=Sakellariou |first=M. V. |title=Epirus, 4,000 years of Greek History and Civilization |publisher=Ekdotikē Athēnōn |location=Athens |year=1997 |isbn=978-960-213-371-2}}
* {{cite book |ref={{harvid|Koliopoulos|Veremis|2009}}
* {{cite book |ref={{harvid|Army History Directorate|1960}}
|first1=Giannēs |last1=Koliopoulos |last2=Veremis |first2=Thanos M. |title=Modern Greece: A History Since 1821 |publisher=Wiley-Blackwell |location= |year=2009 |isbn=978-1-4051-8681-0}}
|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Η Ιταλική Εισβολή |trans-title=The Italian Invasion |year=1960 |publisher=Army History Directorate |location=Athens }}
* {{cite book |ref={{harvid|Mitcham|2007}}
|last=Mitcham |first=Samuel W. |title=Eagles of the Third Reich: Men of the Luftwaffe in World War II |year=2007 |publisher=Stackpole Books |location=Mechanicsburg, PA |isbn=978-0-8117-3405-9}}
* {{cite book |last=Willingham |first=Matthew |title=Perilous Commitments: the Battle for Greece and Crete: 1940–1941 |year=2005 |publisher=Spellmount |location=Staplehurst UK|isbn=978-1-86227-236-1}}
* {{cite book |ref={{harvid|Sakellariou|1997}}
|last=Sakellariou |first=M. V. |title=Epirus, 4,000 years of Greek History and Civilization |publisher=Ekdotikē Athēnōn |location=Athens |year=1997 |isbn=978-960-213-371-2}}
* {{cite book |ref={{harvid|AHD|1960}}
|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Η Ιταλική Εισβολή |trans-title=The Italian Invasion |year=1960 |publisher=Army History Directorate |location=Athens |oclc=}}
* {{cite book |ref={{harvid|Willingham|2005}}
|last=Willingham |first=Matthew |title=Perilous Commitments: the Battle for Greece and Crete: 1940–1941 |year=2005 |publisher=Spellmount |location=Staplehurst UK|isbn=978-1-86227-236-1}}
{{refend}}
{{refend}}


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[[Category:Battles of World War II involving Italy]]
[[Category:Battles of World War II involving Italy]]
[[Category:Epirus in World War II]]
[[Category:Epirus in World War II]]
[[Category:November 1940 events]]
[[Category:November 1940 events in Europe]]

Latest revision as of 15:52, 2 November 2024

Battle of Elaia–Kalamas
Part of the Greco-Italian War

Trench construction in Elaia–Kalamas line by Greek military personnel, March 1939
Date2–8 November 1940
(6 days)
Location39°35′12″N 20°08′32″E / 39.58667°N 20.14222°E / 39.58667; 20.14222
Result Greek victory
Belligerents
 Italy  Greece
Commanders and leaders
Fascist Italy Carlo Rossi
(XXV Army Corps)
Fascist Italy Licurgo Zannini
(23rd Division)
Fascist Italy Giovanni Magli
(131st Division)
Kingdom of Greece Charalambos Katsimitros
(8th Infantry Division)
Kingdom of Greece Nikolaos Lioumbas
(Thesprotia Sector)
Kingdom of Greece Dimitrios Giatzis
(Kalamas Sector)
Kingdom of Greece Georgios Dres
(Negrades Sector)[1]
Units involved
23rd Infantry Division
51st Infantry Division
131st Armoured Division
8th Infantry Division
Strength
42,000
170 light tanks
76 guns
400 aircraft
15 battalions
56 guns
(14 batteries)[1]
Casualties and losses
28 October – 5 November:
160 killed
41 missing
561 wounded
1–5 November:
59 killed
208 wounded[2]
Battle of Elaia–Kalamas is located in Greece
Battle of Elaia–Kalamas
Location within Greece

The Battle of Elaia–Kalamas (Greek: Μάχη Ελαίας-Καλαμά, romanizedMachi Elaias-Kalama) took place in Epirus on 2–8 November 1940.[3] The battle was fought between the Greeks and the Italians during the initial stage of the Greco-Italian War in World War II. The Italian Army, deployed on the Greek-Albanian border, launched an offensive against Greece on 28 October 1940. The main thrust of the Italian invasion occurred in the Epirus sector, with a further flanking move through the Pindus mountains. In Epirus, the Greeks held the ElaiaKalamas river line, and, even though the Greek army was outnumbered, the local Greek forces under Major General Charalambos Katsimitros stopped the Italian advance.[4] Along with the Italian failure in the Battle of Pindus, these Greek successes signified the complete failure of the Italian invasion, leading to the dismissal of the Italian commander in Albania, Sebastiano Visconti Prasca, on 9 November. In the next few weeks the Greek forces initiated a counteroffensive that forced the Italians to retreat deep into Albania.

Background

[edit]

After the Italian invasion of Albania in April 1939, the Greek General Staff was alerted to a potential Italian attack from Albanian territory. Faced with the strong likelihood of a concerted Italian-Bulgarian attack against both Epirus and Macedonia-Thrace, the main Greek contingency plan, codenamed "IB" (for "Italy-Bulgaria"), essentially prescribed a defensive stance in Epirus. Two versions of the plan existed: the first suggested forward defense on the border line, while the second dictated initial defense in an intermediate position prior to a gradual retreat to the Arachthos RiverMetsovoAliakmon RiverMt. Vermio line, leaving most of Epirus in Italian hands. It was left to the judgment of General Katsimitros, commanding the 8th Infantry Division based in Ioannina, to choose which plan to follow.[4] A significant factor favoring the Greeks was that they had obtained intelligence about the approximate date of the attack, and had just completed a limited mobilization in the areas facing the Italians.[5]

Battle

[edit]
Greek soldier sitting on a captured Italian L3/35 tankette

The Greek High Command in the first days of the conflict was pessimistic about the ability of the Greek Army to repulse an Italian attack against a position which was difficult to defend. The defensive line near the Greek-Albanian border could be only thinly manned before the general mobilization and concentration could be completed and thus was expected to only delay the advance of enemy forces.[4]

General Katsimitros, commanding the Greek 8th Infantry Division covering that part of the border, realized the defensive value of the mountainous and marshy terrain, which would partially negate the Italian superiority in men and tanks. Contrary to the directives from the High Command under Lieutenant General Alexander Papagos, he concentrated the main forces of his division there, with the intention of giving all-out battle. Papagos reluctantly approved Katsimitros's plan, after sending Colonel Drakos as Katsimitros's new chief of staff, who after careful study of the area, also agreed with the plan.[6]

The Italian forces attacked on the morning of 28 October. The Italian Ciamuria Corps, composed of the 51st Infantry Division "Siena", the 23rd Infantry Division "Ferrara" and the 131st Armoured Division "Centauro", pushed toward Kalpaki (Elaia), supported on its right by a small brigade-sized Littoral Group of ca. 5,000 men.[citation needed]

Following their defensive plans, the Greek screening units delayed the Italians while falling back to the main defensive line of Elaia-Kalamas, about 25 km (16 mi) south of the Greek-Albanian border, 34 km (21 mi) northeast of Ioannina. On 2 November, the Greek forces were positioned according to the defensive plan along the line Kalamas–Elaia–Grabala–Kleftis Hill. On this day, after repeated air and artillery strikes, the Italian infantry of the Ferrara Division attacked unsuccessfully in order to advance the bulk of their forces closer to the Elaia sector.[7]

The Italians faced difficulties because of the harshness of the terrain. The next day, their light L3/35 tankettes and medium M13/40 tanks were unable to cope with the hilly terrain and the muddy ground. The Greek defensive line could not be breached. On its right, the Littoral Group managed a slow advance along the coast and was able to secure a bridgehead over the Kalamas River on 5 November. The winter weather, poor leadership and minefields, caused the Italians many casualties.[8] On 8 November, the fruitless Italian offensive was suspended.[7] Because of the complete failure of the Italian operations, General Visconti Prasca was relieved of his command after only two weeks and replaced with General Ubaldo Soddu.[9]

Aftermath

[edit]

After the successful Greek defense in Elea-Kalamas and in the mountains of Pindus, the Greek forces were able to push back the Italians, advancing into southern Albania. The Greeks would penetrate 30–80 kilometres (19–50 mi) into Albanian territory before the German intervention in April 1941.[7]

Footnotes

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Army History Directorate 1960, p. 49.
  2. ^ Army History Directorate 1960, p. 114.
  3. ^ "Elaia (Kalpaki) – Kalama battle" (PDF). Army History Directorate. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 January 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  4. ^ a b c Koliopoulos & Veremis 2009, p. 107.
  5. ^ Sakellariou 1997, p. 389.
  6. ^ Katsimētros 2007.
  7. ^ a b c Gedeon 1997.
  8. ^ Willingham 2005, p. 28.
  9. ^ Mitcham 2007, p. 114.

References

[edit]
  • Gedeon, Dimitrios (1997). An abridged history of the Greek-Italian and Greek-German war, 1940–1941: (land operations). Athens: Hellenic Army General Staff, Army History Directorate. ISBN 978-960-7897-01-5.
  • Katsimētros, Charalampus (2007). Ē Ēpeiros promachusa : ē drasē tēs VIII merarchias kata ton polemo 1940–41. Bibliothēkē Ēpeirōtikēs Hetaireias Athēnōn (in Greek). Athens: Ēpeirōtikē Etaireia. ISBN 978-960-89690-0-1.
  • Koliopoulos, Giannēs; Veremis, Thanos M. (2009). Modern Greece: A History Since 1821. Wiley-Blackwell. ISBN 978-1-4051-8681-0.
  • Mitcham, Samuel W. (2007). Eagles of the Third Reich: Men of the Luftwaffe in World War II. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-3405-9.
  • Sakellariou, M. V. (1997). Epirus, 4,000 years of Greek History and Civilization. Athens: Ekdotikē Athēnōn. ISBN 978-960-213-371-2.
  • Η Ιταλική Εισβολή [The Italian Invasion]. Athens: Army History Directorate. 1960.
  • Willingham, Matthew (2005). Perilous Commitments: the Battle for Greece and Crete: 1940–1941. Staplehurst UK: Spellmount. ISBN 978-1-86227-236-1.