CHAPTER VI

THE BATTLES IN CENTRAL AND WESTERN

MACEDONIA-THE WITHDRAWAL AND THE
CAPITULATION OF THE EPIRUS ARMY-THE
WITHDRAWAL OF THE BRITISH AND THE
COMPLETION OF THE OCCUPATION OF
GREECE BY THE GERMANS
(April 9 - May ! "9#"$
Final Gleams of the Epirus Epopee
(Sketch-map no. 20)
%9%& The Greek Army, in the Albanian
Theatre of Operations, after its victorios str!!les an" its
a"vance "eep into the northern #pirs territory, $as
con%ne", "rin! the months of &anary an" 'ebrary
()*(, to static %!htin!, mainly "e to the e+treme
severity of the $inter. 'rom ,arch ) to 2-, it ha"
confronte" the .Sprin!/ attack of the 0talians $ith sccess
an" retaine" the occpie" territory.
1espite the fati!e an" the har"ships of $ar, the
Greek Army preserve" its hi!h morale an" aime" at ne$
sccesses.
Since ,arch 22 an" ntil the German attack of April
-, the sitation in the Theatre of Operations "i" not
present any si!ni%cant chan!es. The $ar activity $as
mainly con%ne" to artillery an" patrol action, in or"er to
maintain contact. The con"ct of a fe$ local operations in
the sector of the 3estern ,ace"onia 'iel" Army Section
45A 206
(3,'AS) $as an e+ception aimin! mainly at the
improvement of the occpie" positions.
%9'& After the German attack ha" been lanche" on
April -, the General 5ea"7arters, implementin! $hat
$as a!ree" on "rin! the conference of the Allies, hel" at
the 8enali rail$ay station on April 6, or"ere" the 3,'AS
to commence the o9ensive on April 2, on the !eneral a+is
8oritsa-#lvasan-1yrrahio, in co-operation $ith the
:!oslavian forces $hich $ere to operate from the area of
1ebar-Stro!a to$ar"s #lvasan.
'or the implementation of the above mission, the
3,'AS so!ht to co-operate $ith the :!oslavian forces
an" after many e9orts, this $as %nally achieve" thro!h
telephone commnication $ith the :!oslavian Army of
Tetovo at 0260hrs, on April 2, an" an operation $as
a!ree" to be!in in the mornin! of the same "ay by both
Armies, at the same time if possible. 5o$ever, on the
:!oslavian si"e there $as only artillery %re from 0200-
0;00 hrs in the "irection of <in, $hereas the 3,'AS
lanche" an attack at (660 hrs $ith the =000 0nfantry
1ivision.
The =000 1ivision, "espite the vi!oros 0talian
resistance, mana!e" to sei>e the hei!ht (((- an" to
captre almost an entire 0talian battalion of 20 o?cers
an" @22 sol"iers. Sbse7ently, the attackin! troops $ere
hel" in position before the hei!ht (60(, s9erin! heavy
losses.
The :!oslavians, $ho $ere aske" at (*00 hrs abot
their failre to lanch the attack $hich ha" been a!ree"
assre" that this $ol" commence at (260 hrs $ith only a
sin!le battalion of the Stro!a 1ivision, becase the
1ivision $as in the process of mobilisation. Aevertheless,
they $ere once more con%ne" to some artillery %re an"
the minimal infantry %re of the screenin! forces.
Ths, the Boint operation of the Greek an"
:!oslavian forces a!ainst the 0talian forces in Albania $as
20* CATT<#S 0A 4#ATDA< AA1 3. ,A4#1OA0A-30T51DA3A<
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not carrie" ot, since the :!oslavians "i" not con"ct
any serios o9ensive north of Achri"a lake.
'or the follo$in! "ay, April ;, the 3,'AS ha" "eci"e"
to lanch an attack, startin! at 0-60 hrs $ith the 0= an"
=000 1ivisions. 5o$ever, the attack $as postpone",
becase of the ntimely arrival of the artillery
ammnitions an" the a"verse $eather con"itions.
Aevertheless, 0= 1ivision troops, carrie" a$ay by the
enthsiasm an" impetosity of their o?cers, sallie" forth
before the ne$ time of attack $as set an" in%ltrate" the
0talian lines, $here they took appro+imately 2@0 prisoners.
These troops, ho$ever, $ere eventally force" to
$ith"ra$, s9erin! heavy losses.
%9#& ,ean$hile, the incomin! intelli!ence, at
the 3,'AS since the mornin! of April ;, presente" the
sitation in sothern :!oslavia as chaotic an" the
:!oslavian forces in that area in almost total "isarray.
Sbse7ently, the 3,'AS propose" the sspension of
o9ensive operations to the General 5ea"7arters. This
proposal $as approve" an" ths, as of l000 hrs, on April ;,
all frther o9ensive activities $ere halte". The troops of
the 0= an" =000 1ivisions remaine" at the positions they
ha" occpie" thro!h previos small-scale operations,
ntil that evenin! an" then retrne" to their bases. Only
the troops occpyin! the hei!ht (((- $ere or"ere" to
remain at their positions.
45A 20@
Changes in the Greek-British Disposition
(Sketch-map no. 20, 26, 2*)
%9(& The rapi" "evelopment of the sitation in
:!oslavia pose" ne$ seris problems for the General
5ea"7arters, since by that time a "an!er sitation ha"
arisen, threatenin! the front of 4entral ,ace"onia an" the
eastern Gank of the Greek Army in Albania. The German
a"vance soth$ar"s via ,onastiri $ol" otGank from the
left the .3/ 'orce troops in the Hermio area an" threaten
the rear of the Greek forces in Albania.
Ths, the General 5ea"7arters "eci"e" to transfer
the "efensive "isposition frther to the $est, facin!
north$ar"s, in or"er to block o9 the corri"or from Erespa
,aBor lake to Hevi. Ths, on April ;, it or"ere" the .3/
Team to evacate hastily the northern sector of its area,
from 8aimaktsalan to He!oritis lake an" to occpy the
Stena 8irli 1erven (8li"i) area, as far as Aymphaeo,
a"vancin! the (st Armore" Critish 1ivision to$ar"s
,onastiri, in or"er to "elay the enemy. 'rthermore, it
assi!ne" the 4avalry 1ivision a!ain to the 3,'AS, $ith
mission to cover the Harnos-Herno montain area from
the east, as far as the area of Aymphaeo, $here it $as to
Boin $ith the .3/ Team forces.
At the same time, since April ;, the 4omman"er of
the 4,'AS, <ietenant General of the Deserve 0oannis
8otolas, $as replace" by ,aBor General 4hristos
8arassos, $ho ha" been comman"er of the 20th 1ivision
ntil then. The comman" of the 20th 1ivision $as
assi!ne" to 4olonel ,iltia"es Eapakonstantino, $ho ha"
been its 0nfantry 4omman"er ntil then.
%9)& The re7ire" re-"isposition follo$e". The
4avalry 1ivision, that $as also reinforce" $ith the 2lst
0nfantry Cri!a"e, $as positione" in the Harnos-Herno
area, chieGy assi!ne" to cover the Eiso"erio pass. This
Cri!a"e be!an its or!anisation on ,arch 26, in Ci!lista
an" comprise" the ;;th 0nfantry De!iment, a ,achine-!n
20- CATT<#S 0A 4#ATDA< AA1 3. ,A4#1OA0A-30T51DA3A<
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battalion an" t$o Artillery battalions. The Greek - Critish
forces of the .3/ 'orce $ere positione" at the remain"er of
the area 8li"i-He!oritis lake-Hermio montain-Olymps
montain, as follo$s I
The 8li"i "e%le $as assi!ne" to a team n"er the
comman" of ,aBor General ,ackay, 4omman"er of the
-th Astralian 1ivision, $hich comprise"I
-The comman" of the l)th Astralian Cri!a"e $ith (st
Astralian Anti-tank Artillery De!iment, t$o Astralian
0nfantry battalions, the ,otorise" Scot Cattalion of the
(st Armore" Critish Cri!a"e an" a Ae$ Jealan" ,achine-
!n battalion, astri"e the "e%le.
-The 1o"ecanese De!iment, Soth$est of 8elli,
or!anise" in Athens on Aovember (6, ()*0, an" relocate"
at the en" of 'ebrary to the area of Hevi-8li"i.
- The (st Critish Armore" Cri!a"e (5ssars
Armore" Cattalion, 6r" Tank De!iment), as a reserve in
the area of Eer"ika villa!e.
The 20th 1ivision $as or"ere" to secre its left Gank
at He!oritis lake an" to block o9 the rotes from #"essa
$est$ar"s. The troops, that $ith"re$ from the
8aimaktsalan area occpie" positions on the hei!hts that
lay $est of He!oritis lake.
The =00 1ivision, $hich ha" been operationally n"er
the comman" of the (st Astralian Army 4orps, $as
or"ere" to block o9 the 5a"ova pass an" the montain
rotes of Hermio montain.
Ths, the ne$ "isposition of the Greek - Critish forces
in the area of Hermio, $hich $as complete" on April l0,
$as the follo$in!I
-On the left, the 4avalry 1ivision (n"er the
comman" of the 3,'AS) alon! the pass of Eiso"eri,
frther on, the ,ackay Team alon! the 8li"i "e%le an"
frther to the east the 20th Greek 1ivision (n"er the
comman" of the 4,'AS) as far as the A!ra pass,
Aorth$est of #"essa.
-On the ri!ht, the (st Astralian Army 4orps $ith the
2n" Ae$ Jealan" 1ivision alon! the passes of Olymps
45A 202
montain, the l-th Astralian Cri!a"e on sothern Hermio
montain an" the =00 1ivision alon! the 5a"ova "e%le.
The $i"th of this area $as appro+imately (20
kilometres, an" $as therefore sparsely manne" an"
nsitable for prolon!e" "efence. 'rther more, the
e+tension of the front to the north of Amy"eo absorbe" all
the reserves.
%9*& ,ean$hile, the events "evelope" at a
rapi" pace. The =< Army 4orps, operatin! soth of Ayssa
in or"er to ct o9 the :!oslavian forces that $ere present
in the area of <eskovats, sei>e" SkopBe in the ni!ht of April
; an" ,onastiri in the afternoon of the follo$in! "ay.
4ontinin! its a"vance into the Greek territory, it sei>e"
the "efenceless to$n of 'lorina at noon on April l0. 'rther
to the north, on the same "ay, the German forces sei>e"
the area of Achris lake an" !aine" contact $ith the
0talians.
The Germans, follo$in! these sccesses in sothern
Serbia an" the capitlation of the #,'AS, be!an to
prepare the secon" phase of their operations a!ainst
4entral Greece. To that e9ect, the 4omman"er of the l2th
German Army ,arshal Hon <ist or!anise" t$o attack
teams I
- The 3estern team, n"er the comman" of General
Stme, 4omman"er of the =< Armore" Army 4orps, that
comprise" the @th an" the )th Armore" 1ivisions, the
26r" 0nfantry 1ivision an" the .A"olph 5itler SS
Co"y!ar"/ an" $ol" be operatin! alon! the a+is of
'lorina - <arissa.
-The #astern team, n"er the comman" of General
Coeme, 4omman"er of the =H000 ,ontain Army 4orps,
that comprise" the 2n" Armore" 1ivision, the @th an"
-th ,ontain 1ivisions an" the 22n" 0nfantry 1ivision an"
$ol" be operatin! alon! the a+is of Thessaloniki-
<itohoro.
20; CATT<#S 0A 4#ATDA< AA1 3. ,A4#1OA0A-30T51DA3A<
-4AE0TF<AT0OA
%9& After the rapi" a"vance of the German forces,
General 3ilson, "eemin! that the "efensive area of 8li"i
col" not $ithstan" the attacks of the Germans an" $ol"
ths place the Hermio area at a risk, propose" the
aban"onment of the occpie" position an" the occpation
of the Siniatsiko-Horinos-8amvonia-Eieria-Olymps area.
This proposal $as approve" of by telephone by the
4omman"er-in-4hief, on April l0, an" $as o?cially
con%rme" at their meetin! in 'arsala on the follo$in! "ay,
April ((.
The ne$ "efensive area $as stron! an" more
economical an" col" be hel", provi"e" that, the t$o
Greek "ivisions that $ere at the Hermio area, $ol"
occpy positions in time to con"ct an e9ective "efence
of the Siatista an" 8lissora "e%les.
The Critish forces $ol" take over the >one from the
coast of Elatamonas to the river ben" of Aliakmonas. The
Greek =00 an" 20th 1ivisions $ol" take over the >one
Horinos-Siniatsiko an" the 4avalry 1ivision $ith the 2lst
0nfantry Cri!a"e $ol" remain at their positions on
Harnos an" Hernon montains. The troops $ol" have to
settle in their ne$ positions by April l6. The =00 an" 20th
1ivisions, after $ith"ra$in! to the ne$ "efensive area,
$ol" cease to be sbor"inate to the .3/ Team an" $ol"
retrn to the 4,'AS, $hich $ol" come n"er the
comman" of the 3,'AS as of April (*.
The ,ackay Team, after coverin! the $ith"ra$al of
the =00 an" the 20th 1ivisions from the "irection of the
8li"i "e%le, $ol" then $ith"ra$ to the ne$ "efensive
area, "elayin! the enemy $ith the lst Critish Armore"
Cri!a"e. After the termination of the $ith"ra$al, this
Team, $hich ha" been especially or!anise" to "efen" the
8li"i "e%le, $ol" cease to e+ist. The Astralian nits
$ol" retrn to the lst Astralian Army 4orps, $hile the lst
Critish Armore" Cri!a"e $ol" concentrate in the area of
Grevena as a reserve.
45A 20)
The Seizure of the Klidi Area and the Withdraal toards
Siniatsiko
(Sketch-map no. 26)
%99& 'ollo$in! the occpation of 'lorina, the =<
Armore" Army 4orps focse" its main e9ort on breakin!
thro!h the "e%le of 8li"i (8irli 1erven), employin! the
.A"olph 5itler SS Co"y!ar"s/ for that prpose alon! $ith
elements of the )th Armore" 1ivision. 4oncrrently,
other troops move" alon! the roa" 'lorina-Eiso"eri. #ast
of Hermio, in the valley of A+ios river, there $as no
activity $orth recor"in!.
0n the ni!ht of April (0 to ((, for$ar" German
motorise" troops took contact $ith the area of the 8li"i
"e%le. On the follo$in! "ay, April ((, the German activity
$as limite", "e to the severe col" an" the continos
"ri>>le. T$o German battalions attacke" the Astralian
positions astri"e the "e%le, at nearly the en" of the "ay,
bt $ere replse". The German tanks $ere not se"
becase they ha" been immobilise" before the mine%el"
on site.
An action to$ar"s Eiso"eri sa""le, in the sector of the
4avalry 1ivision, "rin! that same "ay, $as replse" $ith
consi"erable losses on the German si"e.
'++& On April l2, the Germans contine" their
attacks n"er the same a"verse $eather con"itions. At
0;60 hrs, the elite team of the German Army .SS A"olph
5itler Co"y!ar"/ lanche" a frontal attack, $ith artillery
spport, a!ainst the 8li"i area, $ith its main e9ort
2(0 CATT<#S 0A 4#ATDA< AA1 3. ,A4#1OA0A-30T51DA3A<
-4AE0TF<AT0OA
to$ar"s the east of the roa", at the limitin! point bet$een
the Critish ,otorise" Scot battalion an" the Astralian
0nfantry battalion. At appro+imately ((00hrs, the German
troops mana!e" to in%ltrate an" envelop the Astralian
battalion. The Critish ,otorise" Scot Cattalion s9ere"
heavy pressre an" $as force" to $ith"ra$ to$ar"s the
rail$ay station of 8li"i, n"er the impression that the
Astralians ha" retreate". The Astralian battalion hel" its
!ron" all afternoon, bt after bein! attacke" by German
tanks at (260 hrs, it $as force" to retreat in "isarray $ith
serios losses, aban"onin! many $eapons an" other $ar
spplies.
The other Astralian 0nfantry battalion, that $as
"efen"in! the $estern section of the "e%le, $as not
noti%e" abot the $ith"ra$al, becase of the "estrction
of the telephone commnications, bt $as able to retreat
in small sections in the evenin!, $hen the Germans ha"
nearly in%ltrate" its lines.
'rther east of the "e%le, the Germans lanche" an
attack pon the empty positions of the 1o"ecanese
De!iment, at the time $hen the latter ha" alrea"y retire",
after receivin! an or"er to that e9ect. The German troops
arrive" at the villa!e of Eetra at 20(@hrs, $here they took
-0 Astralians an" *0 Greeks prisoners. The 1o"ecanese
De!iment, manne" mainly by volnteers, after its
$ith"ra$al from the 8li"i area cease" to e+ist as an
or!anise" nit, since part of its troops climbe" Critish
motor vehicles an" $ere "irecte" to$ar"s Etolemai"a,
8o>ani, Siatista an" Grevena an" part of them $ere
attacke" by German tanks near Amy"eo an" Ge" to the
soth in "isarray.
'rther to the $est, in the sector of the 2lst Greek
Cri!a"e, Cattalion (K;;, $hich $as sitate" at its ri!ht,
confronte" nearly t$o German battalions from (@60 hrs
ntil (;00 hrs. The str!!le $as ne7al an" the Cattalion
s9ere" heavy losses. Those of its men $ho srvive" an"
$ere not taken prisoners, "isperse" to$ar"s the $oo"lan"
of Da"osi.
45A 2((
The 4omman"er of the ;;th De!iment, <ietenant
4olonel of the Deserve Geor!ios 5on"ros, $ante" to
conter-attack $ith a small reserve force an" sallyin!
forth %rst, revolver in han", $as shot "ea" by the %re of
an atomatic $eapon.
'+"& 0n the mornin! of April l6, the Germans
contine" their a"vance soth$ar"s an" !aine" contact
$ith the rear !ar" of the lst Armore" Critish Cri!a"e.
The latter, assi!ne" to cover the other Greek - Critish
forces, $as force" to con"ct a to!h %!ht in the area of
Amy"eo an" to the soth of Etolemai"a, $here its forces
ha" been echelone". The con"ct of the entire retro!ra"e
movement $as or"erly complete". 0n the area of Amy"eo,
there $as the only inci"ent of tank %!htin! that occrre"
"rin! the German invasion, in the corse of $hich the
German tanks aban"one" their e9ort to a"vance to$ar"s
8o>ani. The Critish troops, sccessflly spporte" by the
artillery, mana!e" to be "isen!a!e" in time an" to retreat
to$ar"s 8o>ani an" from there on to Grevena, $here they
arrive" in the mornin! of April (*.
0t is $orth notin! that the Artillery nits of the Critish
#+pe"itionary 4orps, tho!h envelope" by the Germans,
remaine" at their positions, %rin! e9ectively ntil
ni!htfall. 'rthermore, the 0nfantry an" Tank nits also
"isplaye" ne7alle" bravery, self-control an" face" the
attacks of the elite an" far stron!er German forces $ith
self-sacri%ce.
After the 8li"i area ha" been aban"one", the Team of
,aBor General ,ackay cease" to e+ist an" the Astralian
forces retrne" to the lst Astralian Army 4orps, $hich as
of April (2 $as name" .AAJA4 4orps/ (Astralian-Ae$
Jealan"er/s Army 4orps), in memory of the 'irst 3orl"
3ar.
'+%& ,ean$hile, base" on the "ecision taken on April
(0, to retire from the Hermio area an" settle in the area
Siniatsiko-Horinos-8amvonia-Eieria-Olymps, the 2n"
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Ae$ Jealan" 1ivision, after havin! left "elayin! troops in
the area of 8aterini, be!an, on April l2, to move to$ar"s
Olymps-Elatamonas.
The Greek 20th an" =00 1ivisions be!an to $ith"ra$
the blk of their forces in the evenin! of April (( an" (2
respectively, to$ar"s their ne$ positions at Siniatsiko an"
Horino, after havin! left a thir" of their forces in the area.
The 4avalry 1ivision, after comin! to an a!reement
$ith the nei!hborin! 20th 1ivision, altere" its "isposition
an" took p positions on mont Hernon, from the lake
Erespa ,aBor to the $est of the Herbista hei!ht.
The $ith"ra$al of the 20th an" =00 1ivisions $as
con"cte" n"er a"verse $eather an" psycholo!ical
con"itions an" only part of their forces mana!e" to reach
their positions in the ne$ area by the ni!ht of April (( to
(2. ,any sol"iers, particlarly those $ho came from the
areas that ha" alrea"y been occpie" by the Germans
be!an to slip a$ay to their homes. 4onse7ently, the
forces of the above 1ivisions $ere no lon!er consi"ere" to
be in !oo" %!htin! con"ition, capable of confrontin! elite
German nits, sch as the .SS A"olph 5itler Co"y!ar"/.
'+'& The establishment of the Greek - Critish forces in
the ne$ area of Siniatsiko-Aliakmonas-Olymps $as
complete" by the evenin! of April (6 an" $as, from east
to $est, the follo$in! I
-The 2n" Ae$ Jealan" 1ivision (comprisin! the *th,
@th an" -th Cri!a"es) $as establishe" $ith the *th
Cri!a"e at the "e%le of Eorta, as far as the Aliakmonas
river, an" $ith the @th Cri!a"e at the ri!ht Gank, $ith
three battalions at the "e%le of Eetra an" $ith one
battalion at the coastal crossin! of Elatamonas. The -th
Cri!a"e remaine" as a reserve in the area of #lassona.
-The -th Astralian 1ivision (comprisin! the l-th, l)th
Cri!a"es) occpie" the area soth of Servia $ith the l-th
Cri!a"e, in or"er to cover the montain passes bet$een
the "e%les of Eetra an" Eorta, an" $est of Servia $ith the
l)th Cri!a"e, on the $estern bank of Aliakmonas river. The
45A 2(6
liaison bet$een the ()th Astralian Cri!a"e an" the *th
Ae$ Jealan" Cri!a"e $as assi!ne" to a battalion of the
latter Cri!a"e $hich ha" a"vance" in the area of the
villa!e Dymnio.
-The =00 an" 20th Greek 1ivisions occpie" the
Horino an" Siniatsiko area in or"er to secre the passes
of 8lissora, Hlasti an" Siatista.
-The 4avalry 1ivision, to!ether $ith the 2lst 0nfantry
Cri!a"e, occpie" the Hernon area, assi!ne" as before to
secre the Eiso"eri pass.
-The lst Critish Armore" Cri!a"e $as at Grevena as a
reserve an" possibly as a Gank !ar".
'+#& 0n the evenin! on April (6, the total
stren!th an" "isposition of the Greek - Critish forces that
$ere e+pecte" to confront the t$o German Army 4orps,
(the =< Armore" 1ivision, operatin! from the %el"
corri"or of 'lorina, an" the =H000 ,ontain 1ivision,
operatin! from the "irection of Thessaloniki), the total
stren!th of $hich $as seven an" a half "ivisions, of $hich
three an" a half $ere armore". 'rthermore, the
Germans ha" in"isptable air speriority an", $ith the
improvement of the $eather con"itions, ha" commence"
vi!oros action thro!hot the entire front.
Fn"er these circmstances, General 3ilson be!an to
perceive ho$ "an!eros the sitation $as, havin! also in
min" the intelli!ence reports abot the "isor!anisation of
the Greek nits to his left. That col" reslt in an
noppose" German invasion on either si"e of Ein"os
montain to$ar"s 0oannina an" Grevena. There $ere also
reports abot an impen"in! capitlation of the
:!oslavian Army an" becase there $as no possibility of
reinforcement from #!ypt, he %nally "eci"e" on April l6, to
$ith"ra$ the Critish forces to the Thermopilae area. 'or
that, he sent the appropriate troops to make
reconnaissance. At the same time he "eci"e" to sen" the
l2th Astralian Cri!a"e, n"er the comman" of Cri!a"ier
General Sava!e, to 8alambaka, in or"er to block o9 the
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e+it of German forces from 0oannina to the plain of
Thessaly, via ,etsovo, an" from 8astoria, via Grevena.
This Cri!a"e, that ha" the -th Astralian 1ivision as a
parent nit, arrive" in the area of operations on April (2.
This "ecision of General 3ilson to retreat to
Thermopilae, col" be consi"ere" as prematre, since the
AAJA4 4orps ha" not yet ma"e contact $ith the Germans
in any part of the Aliakmonas river area, an" the Greek
forces that $ere sitate" on the montains, $est of the
'lorina an" 8o>ani hi!h platea+, also retaine" their
positions.
Battles in the Area of Siniatsiko-!l"mpus mountains
(Sketch-map no. 2*, 2@)
'+(& The 3estern Assalt Team (=< Armore"
Army 4orps) after breakin! thro!h the "e%le of 8li"i,
$hich is the main !ate of invasion from the north to the
hi!h platea of 8o>ani, or"ere" the .SS A"olph 5itler
Co"y!ar"/ to operate in the "irection of 0oannina, via
Grevena an" ,etsovo, in or"er to cover the ri!ht Gank of
the l2th Army an" to !ather concrete information abot
the sitation of the Greek Army $hich $as on the $est of
Ein"os. The operation, if sccessfl, $ol" natrally ct o9
the $ith"ra$al rote of the Greek forces that $ere
%!htin! in Albania. At the same time, it or"ere" the )th
Armore" 1ivision to contine its a"vance to$ar"s 8o>ani
an" frther to the soth, in prsit of the retreatin!
Critish.
The .SS A"olph 5itler Co"y!ar"/ an" elements of the
)th Armore" 1ivision move" rapi"ly to$ar"s 8lissora
an" the passes of Hlasti an" Siatista an" by mi""ay, on
April l*, after a t$enty-for hor %!htin!, force" their $ay
thro!h the 8lissora "e%le, $hich ha" not been manne"
in time by the 20th 1ivision $ith s?cient forces.
45A 2(@
The Greek troops that occpie" the passes of Hlasti
an" Siatista $ere not pressre" as heavily an" retaine"
their positions, $ithot, ho$ever, possessin! the means
to confront a stron! German attack.
'+)& The break thro!h of the 8lissora "e%le permitte"
the Germans, by this point, to a"vance to$ar"s the
Soth$est an" to ct o9 all the forces of the 4,'AS east
of Aliakmonas river, lea"in! to their "efeat an" captivity.
'acin! this sitation, the 4omman"er of the 4,'AS
"eci"e" to $ith"ra$ his forces $est of the river, in the
ni!ht of April (* to l@. The $ith"ra$al of the t$o 4,'AS
1ivisions $as con"cte" in or"er, via the bri"!es of
Gia!ovo an" Aeapolis, bt the morale of the troops ha"
s9ere" irreparable "ama!e an" all e9orts, on the part of
the comman"s, to re-or!anise the nits $ere
nsccessfl. The notion of the ftility of continin! the
str!!le ha" penetrate" $ithin all ranks an" the common
e9ort to avoi" captivity $as evi"ent.
This le" the nits, after an attack by German aircraft
an" artillery %re on April l@, to "isperse an" break p
almost completely. The 4,'AS 5ea"7arters be!an to
move to$ar"s 8alambaka, bt, at appro+imately (000 hrs,
on April (-, it receive" an or"er of the 3,'AS, to move,
$ith all available troops, to the area of ,etsovo follo$in!
montain rotes.
Ths, as of April l-, the co-operation bet$een Greek
an" Critish forces $as %nally terminate".
'+*& The lst Critish Armore" Cri!a"e -that
ha" been "eploye" in the area of Grevena- also $ith"re$,
"rin! the ni!ht of April (* to l@, to the sothern bank of
Henetikos river. The $ith"ra$al of the Critish troops $as
con"cte" n"er a"verse $eather con"itions an"
incessant air attacks.
0n the follo$in! ni!ht, April (@ to l-, the Cri!a"e $as
or"ere" to contine its $ith"ra$al, $ithot bein! involve"
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in any %!ht, an" to reach 8alambaka, $here the l2th
Astralian Cri!a"e ha" alrea"y arrive".
'+& 0n the meantime, the )th German Armore"
1ivision arrive" in 8o>ani in the mornin! of April l*, an"
part of its forces a"vance" frther soth$ar"s, in prsit
of the Critish $ho $ere retreatin!. Aevertheless, it $as
nable to achieve a rapi" crossin! of Aliakmonas river,
north of Servia, becase the bri"!e ha" alrea"y been
"estroye" an" ths halte" its a"vance.
'rom the mornin! of April (@, the Germans attacke"
the *th Ae$ Jealan" Cri!a"e an" the ()th Astralian
Cri!a"e, $ith troops that ha" crosse" the river "rin! the
ni!ht sin! assalt boats, in the area of Dymnio villa!e,
bt $ere sbBecte" to the sstaine" %re of the Ae$
Jealan"ers an" $ere force" to srren"er. T$o more
attacks $ere also replse" $ith heavy losses "rin! the
"ay. The total nmber of casalties, on the German si"e,
$ere 6)@ prisoners an" appro+imately 200 kille" in action
an" $on"e", $hereas the casalties of the Critish, $ho
retaine" their positions, $here e+cee"in!ly fe$, "e to
the !oo" cover an" terrain or!anisation.
After the failre of the German attack at Servia,
General Stme "eci"e", continin! the frontal
en!a!ement of the Critish forces on site, to by-pass the
area of Aliakmonas river $ith the @th Armore" 1ivision,
that ha" Bst been place" at the "isposal of the =<
Armore" Army 4orps an" to a"vance to$ar"s <amia via
Grevena-8alambaka.
The @th Armore" 1ivision sei>e" Grevena on April (-
an" contine" its movement to$ar"s 8alambaka, $here it
arrive" in the afternoon of April l;, since the entire
previos "ay ha" been taken p $ith the bri"!in! of
Henetikos river. Sbse7ently, ,arshal <ist or"ere"
General Stme to a"vance to$ar"s <amia, sen"in! at the
same time a force to$ar"s the pass of ,etsovo. .
45A 2(2
'+9& The #astern Team (=H000 German ,ontain Army
4orps), that ha" occpie" Thessaloniki since April ),
shol" operate a!ainst the Hermio area, $ith the -th
,ontain 1ivision to$ar"s #"essa, (A!ra "e%le) an" $ith
the 2n" Armore" an" @th ,ontain 1ivisions to$ar"s
Heria (5a"ova pass). 5o$ever, the rapi" a"vance of the
=< Armore" Army 4orps in the corri"or of ,onastiri-
'lorina an" the $ith"ra$al of the .3/ 'orce, ma"e this
frontal attack a!ainst Hermio nnecessary.
After the occpation of Heria on April ((, the blk of
the =H000 ,ontain Army 4orps $as "irecte" soth$ar"s
$ith the obBective to sei>e the passes of Olymps (Eetra
"e%le-Elatamonas-Tempi) an" to inva"e the plain of
Thessaly. At the same time, a Gank !ar", comprisin! a
re!iment of the 2n" Armore" 1ivision an" a ,otorcyclist
battalion of the 22n" 1ivision $as sent to$ar"s the "e%le
of Servia (Eorta "e%le) via the "e%le of Tripotamos.
On April (*, forces of the 2n" Armore" 1ivision an"
the -th ,ontain 1ivision after a t$o-"ay har" %!htin!
$ith heavy losses crosse" the Aliakmonas river in the area
of the rail$ay bri"!e soth of Ale+an"ria an" contine"
their a"vance to$ar"s the northern slopes of Olymps.
On April l@, the German @th, -th ,ontain 1ivisions,
2n" Armore" 1ivision as $ell as a "etachment from the
22n" 1ivision, attacke" the >one of the 2n" Ae$ Jealan"
1ivision an" a"vance" to$ar"s the eastern passes of
Olymps. The 2n" Armore" 1ivision operate" $ith t$o
colmns from the area of 8aterini. One to$ar"s the "e%le
of Eetra, $hich force" the Ae$ Jealan"ers to $ith"ra$
to$ar"s A!ios 1imitrios, $ithot recor"in! any frther
sccess an" the other from <itohoro to$ar"s Elatamonas,
pressin! stron!ly an" creatin! a "an!er of envelopment of
the area from the "irection of Elatamonas-Tempi-<arissa.
On the follo$in! "ay, April l-, the -th ,ontain
1ivision be!an an envelopin! movement from the
sothern slopes of Olymps an" from the pass of
<eptokarya-8allipefki to$ar"s the villa!e of Gonni, $here
a German battalion arrive" on the follo$in! "ay. At the
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same time, the troops of the 2n" Armore" 1ivision
a"vance" as $ell, arrivin! in the afternoon on April (2 at
the north-eastern entrance of the Tempi valley.
'"+& 3hat col" be concl"e" from the "evelopment of
the battles that took place in the passes of Olymps an"
the area of Aliakmonas river, $as that the sitation of the
AAJA4 4orps $as enterin! a ne$ phase, startin! in the
mornin! of April (-. The principal threat a!ainst it $as by
then "iscernible at its eastern Gank, in the crossin! of
Elatamonas, an" not in the $estern, $here the sitation
$as 7ite satisfactory.
The initial assessment $as that the passes of
Olymps col" be hel" $ithot !reat "i?clty an" for
s?cient time to allo$ the nopose" "isen!a!ement of
the AAJA4 forces. 5o$ever, the otcome of the battle of
Elatamonas on April l-, an" the alrea"y "iscernible threat
on the ri!ht (eastern), ma"e it e+pe"ient that the
sitation shol" be "ealt $ith imme"iately, in or"er to
block o9 the German in%ltration to$ar"s the plain of
Thessaly via the Tempi valley.
The Withdraal of the Greek Arm" from Al#ania
(Sketch-map no. 2*, 2-)
'""& The rapi" "evelopment of events in ,ace"onia,
$hich came as a natral conse7ence of the collapse of
the :!oslavian resistance, place", as previosly
mentione", the Greek 5i!h 4omman", before a series of
problems "eman"in! a 7ick soltion.
The a"vance of the =< German Armore" Army 4orps
to$ar"s ,onastiri an" the rapi" invasion to the Greek
territory, in conBnction $ith the forces a"vancin! thro!h
the valley of A+ios, threatene" to ct o9 the Greek -
Critish forces at the Hermio area.
45A 2()
'rthermore, if the Germans $ol" occpy 8astoria,
they $ol" be at the rear of the 3,'AS an" their
sbse7ent a"vance to$ar"s Grevena-0oannina $ol" ct
o9 the retreat rote of the #'AS.
So far, the measres taken to avert the %rst threat
have alrea"y been mentione" as $ell as the manner in
$hich the .3/ 'orce con"cte" its $ith"ra$l from the
Hermio area an" $as "eploye" in the area of Siniatsiko-
Horinos-Olymps. Aevertheless, the confrontation of the
secon" threat "eman"e" the aban"onment of all or part
of the occpie" territories in Aorthern #pirs, $hich ha"
been !aine" after !lorios str!!les an" heavy sacri%ces
an" on $hich Greece ha" in"isptable historic an" racial
claims.
'"%& This $ith"ra$al of the forces of the Albanian
Theatre of Operations ha" al$ays been consi"ere", both
from the political an" the military point of vie$, by the
Greek General 5ea"7arters, ever since the problem of
confrontin! the German threat ha" been pose" in &anary
()*(. De!ar"in! the military point of vie$, the prpose of
the $ith"ra$al $as al$ays to brin! the forces of the
Albanian Theatre of Operations in !oo" %!htin! con"ition
onto a certain "efensive line, that $ol" allo$ the safe
containment of the 0talians an" $ol" save forces in or"er
to se them a!ainst the Germans.
Sch a line $as either the Greek - Albanian bor"ers,
from the sea to ,ert>ani, or the internal line of 8alamas-
#lea-Smolikas or the line frther soth, from Aoos river
to$ar"s Orliaka montain-Henetikos river-Aliakmonas river
as far as its estary, onto $hich the forces of the
Cl!arian Theatre of Operations $ol" also $ith"ra$.
This "eep $ith"ra$al, even if re!ar"e" solely from
the vie$point of movement, presente" a very serios
"an!er of "isor!anisation for the nits, $hich ha" alrea"y
been $orn "o$n by the %ve-month $inter campai!n. 0n
or"er to re"ce this "an!er, the $ith"ra$al $ol" have to
be con"cte" in sccessive phases. The time re7ire" to
220 CATT<#S 0A 4#ATDA< AA1 3. ,A4#1OA0A-30T51DA3A<
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con"ct the $ith"ra$al in or"er, $as estimate" to be
appro+imately one month.
'"'& 5o$ever, after the collapse of the
:!oslavian resistance an" the appresiable imminent
German threat an" in or"er to avert irreparable "isaster,
the Greek 5i!h 4omman" $as force" to cope $ith the
imme"iate evacation of Albania.
Ths, after the sei>re of ,onastiri by the Germans
on April ), the General 5ea"7arters "eci"e" to !ra"ally
evacate Aorthern #pirs an" 3estern ,ace"onia as fast
as possible an" also to occpy an" secre, $ith the Greek
-Critish forces, the area Hothrotos lake-Greek Albanian
bor"ers-Smolikas montain-Aliakmonas river-Olymps
montain.
The Critish $ol" occpy the territory bet$een the
coastal passa!e east of Olymps an" the ben" of
Aliakmonas river, north of 1eskati. The forces of 4,'AS
an" 3,'AS (n"er the comman" of the latter) $ol"
occpy the territory bet$een the ben" of Aliakmonas river
an" Smolikas montain, $hile the forces of the #'AS
$ol" occpy the remainin! territory as far as the 0onian
Sea.
The evacation of Albania $as to be!in since April (2
$ith the $ith"ra$al of the 3,'AS forces on the !eneral
"irection of 8oritsa-8astoria-Grevena. The $ith"ra$al
$ol" be covere" from the "irections of ,onastiri an"
Thessaloniki by Greek an" Critish-Greek forces, "eploye"
initially in the area of Harnos-Herno-8irli 1erven pass
(8li"i)-Hermio-Olymps an" in the case of a German break
thro!h of the 8li"i passa!e in the area of ,e!ali Erespa
lake-Herno-Siniatsiko-Aliakmonas-Olymps. The area
Harnos-Herno as has alrea"y been mentione", $as
assi!ne" by the 3,'AS to the 4avalry 1ivision an" the
2lst 0nfantry Cri!a"e.
0n or"er to secre the transportation to$ar"s the rear
areas, $hich col" be threatene" in the event of an
nfavorable "evelopment of operations on the front of
45A 22(
4entral ,ace"onia, on April l0 the General 5ea"7arters
or"ere" the =0 1ivision, $hich $as a reserve at <eskoviki,
to move thro!h ,ert>ani to the pass of Jy!os in the area
of ,etsovo, an" to secre the commnication $ith
8alambaka.
'"#& 0n the meantime, the Greek Army in Albania
contine" to hol" on %rmly to the territory it ha" !aine"
ntil then an" to stan" as an immovable rock, before
$hich the 0talian LErimaveraM (Sprin!) attack ha" been
crshe" $ith heavy casalties, for the enemy.
The !eneral "isposition of the Greek forces in Albania,
"rin! the perio" of the German invasion of Greece $as,
from soth to north, the follo$in!I
- 0n the Sothern an" 4entral Sector, the #pirs 'iel"
Army Section (#'AS), $ith the AN an" CN Army 4orps n"er
its comman"I
The AN Army 4orps occpie" the
Sothern Sector of the front an" ha" at its "isposal
the 000 1ivision, from 5imara to the valley of Sositsa
river, the H000 1ivision, in the area of Ar!yrokastro,
an" the 00 1ivision, Soth$est of 8lissora, on either
si"e of 1rinos river.
The CN Army 4orps, occpie" the 4entral
Sector an" ha" at its "isposal, in contact $ith the
enemy, the 0H 1ivision on Sen"eli montain, the H
1ivision on Trebessina montain, the =H00 1ivision
from the northern slopes of Trebessina montain to
the sa""le of Cobessi an" the H0 1ivision $est of
Apsos river. On a secon" echelon, it ha" the 0 1ivision
north of Eremeti, the =H 1ivision in the area of
8lissora an" the =0 1ivision in the area of the
villa!es Cali an" Do"en.
- 0n the Aorthern Sector, the 3estern ,ace"onia 'iel"
Army Section (3,'AS), $ith the =H0 1ivision, from
Tomoros montain to 1evolis river, the = 1ivision, north of
1evolis river, the 0= 1ivision in the area of 8amia-,nima
Greas, an" the =000 1ivision, in the area of Eo!ra"et>,
222 CATT<#S 0A 4#ATDA< AA1 3. ,A4#1OA0A-30T51DA3A<
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n"er its comman" an" in contact $ith the enemy. On
secon" echelon, there $as only the 4avalry 1ivision
Soth$est of 8oritsa.
'"(& The !eneral sitation of the nits in the Albanian
Theatre of Operations col" not be consi"ere"
satisfactory. The stren!th $as (0-20O belo$ the $ar
establishment an" there $ere !reat shorta!es in pack
animals an" ammnition. The $eapons of the infantry
battalions $ere re"ce" by appro+imately @0O.
The invasion of the Germans into the valley of A+ios
river, the occpation of Thessaloniki an" the collapse of
the :!oslavian resistance in sothern :!oslavia, create"
an alarmin! atmosphere $ith serios repercssions on the
morale of the Army.
This rapi" an" "ramatic trn of events a9ecte" the
hi!her ranks as $ell, $ithin $hich the notion of the ftility
of resistin! the Germans be!an to !ro$. A %rst
manifestation of this "ama!in! inGence on the lea"ersN
morale, $as the letter sent on April ((, by the
4omman"er of the AN Army 4orps to the 4omman"er of
the #'AS, in $hich he propose" a capitlation $ith the
Germans.
Similar notions prevaile" $ithin the CN Army 4orps as
$ell, the 4omman"er an" some of the "ivision
comman"ers of $hich believe" that the $ith"ra$al $ol"
si!nify the commencement of the "isor!anisation an"
commnicate" their vie$s to the 4omman"er of the #'AS.
The 4omman"er of the #'AS, havin! forbi""en any
talk of capitlation, sbmitte" the follo$in! report to the
General 5ea"7arters I
.4orps 4omman"ers inform me I Decent events
follo$in! the German invasion have a9ecte" troops. They
believe that retro!ra"e manoevres in !reat "epth $ill not
be "evoi" of the "an!ers of an in!lorios "isinte!ration of
the Army. They re7est that a soltion be fon" ensrin!
the salvation an" the victorios presti!e of or Army/.
45A 226
On the contrary, in the 3,'AS the events $ere
initially confronte" $ith !reater composre an" the
sitation re!ar"in! the morale $as a!!ravate" later on,
even tho!h, there too, there $ere "iscssions concernin!
the nee" for some 7ick "ecision-takin!. 0n"icative of the
spirit that prevaile", is that the 4omman"er of the =H0
1ivision e+presse" his impatience consi"erin! a "ecision
as to $hat o!ht to be "one an" he threatene" that, in
the evenin! of the same "ay he $ol" commence the
$ith"ra$al of his 1ivision on his o$n initiative.
The $etrograde %anoeu&re of the W%FAS
(Sketch-map no. 2*)
'")& The 3,'AS, bein! certain
of the $ith"ra$al, be!an preparations since April (( an"
noti%e" its "ivisions, so that they col" plan the
manoevres of their nits. 3hen the 4omman"er-in-4hief
re7este" the 4hief of Sta9 of the 3,'AS to sbmit
speci%c proposals, the latter at once sbmitte" the
follo$in! reportI .The opportnity to assme the
retro!ra"e manoevre has !one by at the e+pense of the
army, $hich tho!h victorios $as force" to stan" as an
onlooker, $atchin! the enemy a"vance on its rear/.
3ith this ans$er, the 3,'AS n"erline" the "irect
"an!er of !ettin! ct o9 from the retreat rotes an" the
nee" to start the retro!ra"e movement the soonest
possible, so as to avert the encirclement of forces in the
Albanian Theatre of Operations.
3ithin this "epressin! atmosphere, the 3,'AS
receive", at mi""ay on April l2, the or"er of the General
5ea"7arters to the 3,'AS an" the #'AS for a retro!ra"e
manoevre that $as to commence in the evenin! on that
22* CATT<#S 0A 4#ATDA< AA1 3. ,A4#1OA0A-30T51DA3A<
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same "ay, $hereas the evacation of 8oritsa $as to start
imme"iately.
The %rst obBective of the 3,'AS $ith"ra$al $ol" be
the occpation of the area of Apsos river-8iafe 8iarit
sa""le-Grammos montain-$estern branch of Aliakmonas
river-Smi+i-8lissora pass, in for ni!hts (April (2-(@).
0n or"er to avoi" any nforeseen inci"ents, the
3,'AS assi!ne" t$o of its reserve battalions to the
Tsan!oni "e%le, one to 8oritsa an" one to the pass of 8iafe
8iarit. The 4avalry 1ivision $ol" retain its positions ntil
the other 3,'AS "ivisions arrive" on the line of
1ipotamia-0eropi!i-Hatochori an" $ol" then contine,
"elayin! the enemy.
'"*& The 3,'AS 5ea"7arters $as relocate"
since mi"ni!ht, April (2 to (6, in 8astoria. The movement
of "ivisions an" non-"ivisional nits an" formations be!an
in the evenin! on April l2, accor"in! to the plan.
The =000 1ivision, commencin! its retro!ra"e
movement to$ar"s Tsan!oni-0eropi!i-Smi+i, $ol" retain
the Tsan!oni "e%le ntil the nits of the 0= an" = 1ivisions
$ere conveye" east of 1ar>a. The intention of the 1ivision
$as to brin! the blk of its forces behin" the Tsan!oni
"e%le at a bon" an" to move to the Greek - Albanian
frontier at a secon" bon". Smi+i ha" been "esi!nate" as
the thir" an" %nal location (area of Ho!atsiko). The
$ith"ra$al of the 1ivision $as con"cte" in or"er.
The break-p of contact, $as a fll tactical sccess
becase it "i" not attract the attention of the 0talians, "e
to the fll preparation an" the hi!h morale of the men of
the 1ivision. The 5ea"7arters of the 1ivision $as
relocate" in Ci!lista as of mi""ay, April (6.
The 0= 1ivision be!an to $ith"ra$, alon! t$o
montain rotes, as far as ,aliki lake an" then contine"
alon! the a+is of ,aliki-8oritsa-1ar>a. Cy mi""ay, April l6,
it ha" reache" bet$een ,aliki an" 8oritsa. Startin! that
same afternoon, it contine" its movement an" by the
mornin! of April (* it ha" "eploye" east of ,orova.
45A 22@
The = 1ivision commence" its $ith"ra$al alon! the
a+is 1evolis river-8oritsa-1ar>a-Aestori. 0n !eneral, the
retro!ra"e movement $as con"cte" in or"er, e+cept for
the passa!e thro!h the plain of 8oritsa, $here
movement $as "i?clt, becase the 1ivision troops met
the $ith"ra$in! troops of the 0= 1ivision.
The =H0 1ivision $ith"re$ to$ar"s #rseka, alon! the
a+is Tomoritsas river-,oschopolis, in or"er to occpy the
sa""le of 8iafe 8iarit (Soth$est of 8oritsa) an" to cover
the $ith"ra$al of the #'AS from the "irection of 8oritsa-
#rseka-<eskoviki. 'or that, the 0 1ivision of the #'AS
move" also to the same area. The t$o "ivisions comprise"
a 1ivision Grop after April l6, $hich $as "esi!nate" the
.Corova 1ivision Grop/ as of April (2.
'"&
On April l6, the =000, 0= an" = 1ivisions contine" their
or"erly $ith"ra$al, $ithot bein! harasse" by the
0talians. The General 5ea"7arters noti%e" the 3,'AS
an" the #'AS that the %nal !eneral line onto $hich their
forces $ol" $ith"ra$ $as that Hothroto lake- Greek-
Albanian bor"ers-Smolikas montain-Henetikos river. The
3,'AS pon arrivin! $ith the blk of its forces at the
pper valley of Aliakmonas, $ol" take the 4,'AS (=00 an"
20th 1ivisions) n"er its comman" an" $ol" contine
the $ith"ra$al onto the a+is 8astoria-8alambaka, as far
as the %nal line.
0n the meantime, the Germans, a"vancin! in the
'lorina corri"or, ha" broken thro!h the locality of 8li"i on
April (2 an" $ere movin! to occpy the "e%le of
8lissora. 0f their attempt $as sccessfl, they col" trn
in the "irection of Ar!os Orestiko an" threaten the only
retreat rote of the 3,'AS nits.
Sbse7ently, the =000 1ivision, $hich at mi""ay on
April l*, ha" the blk of its forces in the area Tsan!oni-
Ci!lista, $as or"ere" to hasten its movement an" cover
the $ith"ra$al of the remainin! of the 3,'AS forces by
the evenin! of April l@, secrin! the territory of Smi+i in
22- CATT<#S 0A 4#ATDA< AA1 3. ,A4#1OA0A-30T51DA3A<
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connection $ith the 4,'AS in the area of 8lissora. At
mi"ni!ht, April (* to (@, the =000 1ivision $as reinforce"
$ith a battalion in the area of ,aniaki villa!e an" $as
"eploye" $ith the =000 Deconnaissance Grop on the
hei!hts that lay soth of 8astoria lake, in or"er to cover
the rote of retreat of the 1ivision to$ar"s Ar!os
Orestiko-Grevena. The 1ivision 4omman"er inten"e" to
contain the Germans at all costs ntil the evenin! of April
l@, so that the blk of the 1ivision col" escape thro!h
the only rote e+istin! to$ar"s Grevena. The occpation
of the Smi+i area, accor"in! to the 3,'AS plan, $as by
then pointless, since after breakin! thro!h the 8lissora
"e%le, the Germans $ere movin! noppose" to$ar"s
Aeapoli-Grevena an" the 4,'AS ha" been almost
completely "isinte!rate".
The "eployment of the above troops containe" the
Germans an" secre" the timely escape of the blk of the
=000 1ivision forces "rin! the ni!ht of April (* to (@.
The 0= an" = 1ivisions contine" their retro!ra"e
manoevre to$ar"s the frontier, $here they arrive" in the
mornin! on April l@. 0n the 60th De!iment of the 1ivision,
a serios inci"ent of insbor"ination took place in the
ni!ht of April (* to l@. T$o secon" lietenants of the
reserve took 2;0 sol"iers $ith their armament an" le"
them to Grevena, $here they srren"ere" to the
Germans.
The =H0 1ivision arrive" in the ni!ht of April (* to (@
to the area of 8iafe 8iarit an" be!an its "eployment $hich
contine" "rin! the follo$in! "ay.
The 4avalry 1ivision an" the 2lst 0nfantry Cri!a"e,
$hich ha" been assi!ne" to the area of Herno in or"er to
cover the $ith"ra$al of the 3,'AS as $ell as that of the
left Gank of the .3/ 'orce from the area of 8li"i, after the
loss of the 8lissra "e%le, sen" forces to$ar"s the area of
Aposkepos villa!e an" blocke" o9 the pass of Ehotini,
north of 8astoria lake.
45A 222
'"9& 0n the mornin! of April (@, the .SS A"olph 5itler
bo"y!ar"/ $as containe" $hile a"vancin! after the break
thro!h of the 8lissora "e%le, by the =000 1ivision troops
that ha" been positione" soth of lake 8astoria an" $hich
ha" been reinforce" in the meantime. The 4avalry troops
on the pass of Ehotini kept their positions, "espite the
sccessive tank assalts an" the airforce action.
,otorise" German troops that lanche" their main e9ort
a!ainst Ar!os Orestiko an" their secon"ary e9ort in the
"irection of the Ehotini pass, $ere replse".
As of mi""ay, ne$ German infantry an" tanks be!an
to move to$ar"s the villa!es Ambelokipi an" ,ilitsa. A
Eack Artillery battalion, reinforce" $ith for a""itional
batteries an" "eploye" $est of Ambelokipi villa!e,
containe" the German troops an" impe"e" the approach
of the reinforcements from 8lissora. The German artillery
conteracte" an", at (660 hrs, mana!e" to netralise the
above Artillery battalion. 0ts 4omman"er, ,aBor Eaparo"o
$as kille", his bo"y fallin! on his !ns.
At (660 hrs, the Germans lanche" another serios
e9ort, the thir" in sccession, an" at appro+imately (*00
hrs they sei>e" Ambelokipi. The 4omman"er of the
4avalry company on site, 4aptain 8leitos 5at>elia"is,
%!htin! heroically, also fell on the line of "ty. The troop
resistance $as bo$e" after a ne$ serios German
attempt, spporte" by appro+imately *0 aircraft. At
appro+imately ()00 hrs, the Germans encircle" an"
sei>e" Ar!os Orestiko an" at appro+imately 2000 hrs
8astoria from the soth. Those of the troops that $ere
able to escape captivity, move" to$ar"s Skalochori
villa!e, since the retreat rote to$ar"s Grevena-
8alambaka ha" alrea"y been ct o9.
The 0= 1ivision starte" movin! in the afternoon of
April (@ an" contine" "rin! the ni!ht of (@ to (-,
to$ar"s its %nal area east of Aestorio. The 1ivision
5ea"7arters $as establishe" at Anthiro villa!e.
The = 1ivision contine" its $ith"ra$al $ithot any
harassment by the 0talians an" passe" Grammos
22; CATT<#S 0A 4#ATDA< AA1 3. ,A4#1OA0A-30T51DA3A<
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montain at the bor"ers. Then it $as force", after the
"evelopment of the sitation in the area of Ar!os Orestiko-
8astoria, to trn to the soth$est to$ar"s the
montainos area of Ein"os.
'%+& ,ean$hile, the 3,'AS noti%e" its
"ivisions, by phone, that the retreat rote ha" been ct o9
an" "e%ne" that the troops $ol" have to move to$ar"s
,etsovo via the montain passes of Ein"os, their re-
spply provi"e" by local sorces. A ne$ 4omman" Station
$as set p in 8alambaka.
As of (200 hrs, on April l@, all telephone
commnications $ith the "ivisions $ere interrpte" an"
$ere only restore" after the concentration of the latter in
the area of ,etsovo.
Ths, the %rst phase of the retro!ra"e manoevre of
the 3,'AS, i.e. the "isen!a!ement, ha" been con"cte"
so skilflly that the 0talians never re!aine" contact $ith it.
Since April l2, the 3,'AS $as re"esi!nate" as 4N
Army 4orps $ith the 0=, =, =0, =000 an" =H0 1ivisions, n"er
the same 4omman"er, <ietenant General Tsolako!lo
an" $as ma"e sbor"inate to the #'AS. 0ts 5ea"7arters
$as initially establishe" at ,etsovo as its 4omman"
Station an", later on, at Hotonosi. The ,ission of the 4N
Army 4orps $as to cover the areas of #pirs an"
Akarnania in the !eneral line of Aoos-,avrovoni-8atara-
T>omerka.
The $etrograde mo&ement of the EFAS
(Sketch-map no. 2-)
'%"& The $ith"ra$al of the #'AS nits be!an n"er
con"itions of nervosness an" $ithin a "efeatist moo".
The aim $as to initially occpy the "efensive line sothern
bank of Aoos-8lissora-Sevrani-,ali 8elkes-8iafe 8iarit by
the mornin! of April (- an" then to "efen" the %nal line,
45A 22)
from the Hothrotos lake to Henetikos river. The #'AS ha"
been athorise" by the General 5ea"7arters to or"er the
"irect $ith"ra$al, as far as the %nal line, thro!hot its
entire >one.
The $ith"ra$al be!an on the ni!ht of April (6 to l*.
The CN Army 4orps, $ol" be!in %rst, $hereas the AN Army
4orps $ol" be!in to $ith"ra$ on April l-. Aemertska
montain $as a barrier bet$een the AN an" CN Army 4orps
an" ths the AN Army 4rops $ol" have to con"ct its
manoevre separately, havin! the possibility to se t$o
main rotes (Ar!yrokastro-8akavia an" 5imara-8onispolis)
$ithin its sector. The CN Army 4orps $ol" have to cross
mainly thro!h the bri"!e of ,ert>ani an" secon"ly
thro!h the nearby bri"!e of Skor"ilis (foot sol"iers only)
of Saran"aporos river, $here the rotes, from 8lissora
an" 8iafe 8iarit, conver!e.
'%%& The $ith"ra$al of the CN Army 4orps be!an $ith
the H 4retans 1ivision, $hich $as in a state of real
e+hastion, havin! remaine" on the front-line since the
be!innin! of 'ebrary an" n"er a"verse $eather
con"itions.
The movement of its troops, that be!an at 2(00 hrs,
on April (6, soon became, in many cases, a tre Gi!ht of
panic-stricken sol"iers. The 1ivision/s e9orts to halt the
Gi!ht faile" an" the leak contine". 0n the mornin! of April
l@, after an or"er of the CN Army 4orps, the comman" of
the 1ivision $as assi!ne" to its 0nfantry 4omman"er,
4olonel 1ionysios Eapa"on!onas. 0ts nits contine" to
$ith"ra$ n"er the same con"itions an" in the mornin! of
April (- they arrive" an" stoppe" in the area of the
villa!es Eetrani-'orka.
The 0H 1ivision $as also "isen!a!e" in the ni!ht of
April (6 to l*. The 0talians notice" the $ith"ra$al in the
mornin! of April (* an" !aine" contact "rin! the same
evenin!. A leak, of sol"iers, happene" in some nits of
this 1ivision as $ell, an" in many cases the o?cers of
those nits $ere re7ire" to man atomatic $eapons by
260 CATT<#S 0A 4#ATDA< AA1 3. ,A4#1OA0A-30T51DA3A<
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themselves. 0n the ni!ht of April (- to l2, the 1ivision
$ith"re$ $est of Aoos river an" came n"er the
comman" of the AN Army 4orps.
The =H00 1ivision $hich occpie" the sector of
northern slopes of Trebessina-Cobessi, $as sbBecte", at
0-60 hrs on April l*, to an e+tremely po$erfl 0talian
attack, $ith the main e9ort "irecte" a!ainst the centre of
resistance of the fo!ht for 26( hei!ht, $hich $as very
important for the entire "efence of the 1ivision. The
0talians, "espite their e9ort, $ere nable to climb the
hei!ht an", at appro+imately 0;60 hrs, $ere force" to
temporarily sspen" the attack "e to the heavy losses,
yet continin! to shell the area $ith artillery %re. The
0talian attack $as repeate" at (260 hrs, on the same "ay,
bt $as once a!ain replse".
The $ith"ra$al of the 1ivision commence" at 2060
hrs an" $as con"cte" or"erly, $ithot attractin! the
attention of the 0talians. The $ith"ra$al contine" on the
follo$in! "ay an" in the mornin! of April l-, the 1ivision
ha" reache" the area of 8ossina villa!e.
The H0 1ivision, into $hich the :iannakopolos
1etachment ha" been incorporate" since April 6, be!an to
$ith"ra$ its nits, in the ni!ht of April (2 to l6, to 8apina
villa!e, $hereas the blk of the 1ivision move" in the
ni!ht of April (* to l@. The 0talians en!a!e" in intense
artillery activity an" small-scale conter-attacks in varios
parts of the 1ivision front, bt $ere replse". 0n the
mornin! of April l-, the 1ivision ha" reache" the area of
5airopoli villa!e.
The =H 1ivision, $hich $as on a secon" echelon,
sei>e" an" hel" positions at the hei!ht of the area of
Tabayian villa!e since April (6 an" remaine" there ntil
April l@. 0n the meantime, many men of the 1ivision, $ho
$ere a9ecte" by the "isor"erly $ith"ra$al of the H
1ivision troops, aban"one" their positions an" Ge" to the
rear. The 1ivision a"opte" har" measres to avert any
frther leak an" to pnish the f!itives. The cort-
marshal, that $as imme"iately convoke" in the villa!e of
45A 26(
Dabani, sentence" to "eath t$o sol"iers of the )0th
De!iment, $ho $ere e+ecte" on the same "ay. After this,
any frther leaks $ere terminate".
The 0 1ivision, $hich to!ether $ith the =H0 of the
3,'AS comprise" the Corova 1ivision Grop, arrive" in
the area of 8iafe 8iarit on the mornin! of April (* an"
n"ertook to "efen" the pass in the north of the Cataros
hei!ht. The morale of the troops $as very lo$, especially
in the @th De!iment, $here a !reat leak ha" been
recor"e", leavin! a mere *0-@0 men per company, "espite
the shootin! of f!itives on the spot - as an e+emplary
pnishment.
The =0 1ivision, that $as a reserve of the #'AS in the
area of the villa!es Cali an" Do"en, ha" been or"ere" on
April l2, to move to the area of ,etsovo, in or"er to cover
the #'AS from the "irection of 8atara. 1e to the r!ency
of the sitation, %ve battalions $ere transporte" by motor
vehicles, $hereas the remainin! of the 1ivision follo$e"
on foot. At (260 hrs, on April l*, after the rapi" trn of
events in 3estern ,ace"onia, the 1ivision $as or"ere" to
"ispatch for of the prece"in! battalions, to the area of
#leftherochori (soth of Grevena) at the "isposal of the
.3/ Team, in or"er to cover its left Gank. 0ts %fth battalion
$as positione" on the sa""le of 8atara an" n"ertook to
carry ot the entire initial mission of the 1ivision. Ths, on
the mornin! of April l@, one part of the 1ivision $as in
8alambaka, one in ,etsovo an" another one $ithin the
Albanian territory.
'%'& 0t $as evi"ent that the !eneral sitation
of the #'AS in the mornin! on April (- $as e+tremely
alarmin!, "e to the "evelopment of the sitation in
3estern ,ace"onia an" the "iscernible threat from that
"irection, $hile its retro!ra"e manoevre $as still at its
%rst sta!e. The AN Army 4orps, ha" not yet be!n its
retro!ra"e manoevre, remainin! at its positions, $est of
Aoos, ntil the %rst sta!e of the CN Army 4orps manoevre
ha" been complete".
262 CATT<#S 0A 4#ATDA< AA1 3. ,A4#1OA0A-30T51DA3A<
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:et, the most alarmin! fact of the entire sitation $as
that the troop morale contine" to "ecline. The rate of
insbor"ination an" Gi!ht to the rear kept risin!. On April
l@, the sitation $as reporte" to the General
5ea"7arters, $hich, by or"er of the 4omman"er-in-4hief,
ma"e a plea, that every e9ort shol" be ma"e to restore
the "iscipline an" to "efen" the fatherlan". That $as a
matter of national interest.
The 4omman"er of the #'AS, <ietenant General
Eitsikas calle" a meetin! of the 4omman"ers of the AN, CN
Army 4orps an" the 3,'AS, after $hich the vie$s $ere
e+presse" in a $ritten report that $as conveye" to the
4omman"er-in-4hief. Cearer of the report, $as the 1epty
chief of Sta9 of the #'AS, 4olonel Gri!oropolos, $ho
appeare" before the 4omman"er-in-4hief at
appro+imately ()00 hrs, on April (-.
The report $as as follo$sI
L(a) The sitation of the Army from the aspect of
morale an" "iscipline is e+tremely crcial. 0t is !ettin!
$orse every moment.
(b) The corps lea"ers painflly foresee that $e shall
not reach the %nal area in time. The Army $ol" have
been "isinte!rate".
(c) The cases of this sitation are the fati!e, the
occpation of Greek territories an" the fear of bein!
captre" by the 0talians.
(") 3e believe that any frther resistance is
impossible. An evental "ispersion of the Army $ill create
internal "isor"er an" bri!an" ban"s $ith in"escribable
"isasters for the contry. The spectre of "ispersion
appears evi"ent in those nits $hich contain sol"iers $ho
come from territories that have been occpie" by the
enemy, sch as the =H, the =H00, the H0 1ivision...M
On April l-, the #'AS reporte" to the General
5ea"7arters, in a crypto!ram, that after the sitation
that ha" arisen, the nee" for political intervention $as
"ire. The reply of Athens, after sccessive meetin!s $ith
the o?cer sent by the #'AS, $as that the Government
45A 266
col" not accept the soltion of capitlation, since the
Critish troops $ere still remainin! an" %!htin! in the
contry. 0t $as only by fl%llin! its allie" "ties
completely, that Greece $ol" have the fll spport of
Great Critain after the en" of the $ar.
'%#& At 2200 hrs on the same "ay, "rin! a ne$
meetin! -atten"e" by the Army 1epty ,inister,
Eapa"imas, an" the ,inister of Eblic Secrity, ,ania"akis
- the Army 1epty ,inister sai" that $hen the
Government $ol" "epart, the soltion of the capitlation
re7este" by the Army col" be implemente". This $as
accepte" by the ,inister of Eblic Secrity an" the
4omman"er-in-4hief.
4olonel Gri!oropolos "irectly reporte", by phone,
his impressions to the #'AS. 0n the evenin! of April l-, the
latter isse" an or"er to the AN an" CN Army 4orps an" the
Corova 1ivision Grop, re!ar"in! the or"erly contination
of the retro!ra"e manoevre an" the nee" to maintain
the cohesion of the Army.
'%(& The AN Army 4orps be!an the
$ith"ra$al of its nits in the ni!ht of April (- to l2, alon!
the a+is of Ar!yrokastro-8akavia-Jitsa, $ithot attractin!
the attention of the 0talians.
On April 20, the 4orps $as alrea"y establishe",
$ithot serios problems, at the "esi!nate" %nal area on
the Greek - Albanian bor"ers.
'%)& The CN Army 4orps contine" the $ith"ra$al $ithot
serios harassment by the 0talians, bt $ith increasin!
"ecline of morale an" alarmin! escalation of
insbor"ination inci"ents. Cy April 20, all 4orps "ivisions
ha" crosse" soth of Aoos, n"er the cover of the =H
1ivision, $hich ha" n"ertaken to secre the bri"!e of
,ert>ani.
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'%*& The Corova 1ivision Grop (0 an" =H0
1ivisions) ha" "eci"e" to $ith"ra$ by the mornin! of April
l2, to the area of Corova, aban"onin! the 8iafe 8iarit area,
becase it $as consi"ere" "i?clt to retain, "e to the
constant a!!ravation of the sitation of its nits. To that
en", it or!anise" a 1etachment, comprisin! some of its
nits $hich $ere alrea"y at the ne$ area, n"er the
comman" of 4olonel Spyri"on Geor!olis, 0nfantry
4omman"er of the =H0 1ivision. The 1etachment $as
assi!ne" to secre the area of Corova an" to cover the
ri!ht Gank of the CN Army 4orps.
The enemy attache" 0 1ivision in the mornin! of April
l-. The attack laste" the entire "ay, bt the enemy $as
nable to break thro!h the 1ivision/s positions, "espite
the leak of a !reat nmber of its men to$ar"s the rear,
$hich in many nits e+cee"e" @0O of their stren!th. On
the ni!ht of April (- to(2, the 1ivision $ith"re$ to the
area of Carbasi villa!e, n"er the cover of the Geor!olis
1etachment. On the follo$in! "ay, April l2, it $as or"ere"
by the 1ivision Grop to move to$ar"s 8onitsa so as to
re!rop an" rest temporarily. The movement of the
1ivision troops $as con"cte" "rin! the ni!ht of April (;-
() an" ()-20 $ithot any particlar problems.
The =H0 1ivision, in accor"ance $ith the or"er of the
1ivision Grop, $ith"re$ on the ni!ht of April (- to l2, to
the area of Corova an", since April l;, assme" the
comman" of the %!htin! in its entire front. The Geor!olis
1etachment cease" to e+ist, since the same "ay, an" its
troops $ere place" n"er the comman" of the =H0
1ivision.
On the follo$in! "ay, April l), the enemy lanche"
sccesive attacks $hich the 1ivision $hich it $as
nevertheless able to replse, in spite of the heavy
pressre it $as sbBecte" to an" the continos action of
the 0talian airforce. 0n the evenin! on April 20, by or"er of
the 1ivision Grop, it too be!an to $ith"ra$ to$ar"s
8onitsa.
45A 26@
The Withdraal of the British E'peditionar" For(e toards
Thermopilae
'%& 0n the mornin! of April (-, the 4omman"er-in-4hief
Eapa!os met $ith General 3ilson otsi"e <amia. 1rin!
that meetin!, they a!ree" that the Critish forces shol"
$ith"ra$, startin! on the ni!ht of April (- to l2, to the
locality of Thermopilae. The retirement of the l)th
Astralian Cri!a"e, from the area $est of Servia, ha"
alrea"y be!n by the previos evenin!, $hich meant that
the Greek 4omman"er-in-4hief $as place" before a .fait
accompli/.
At the en" of the "iscssion, the 4omman"er in chief
"eclare"I .The time has come for the Critish troops to "eal
$ith their evacation from Greece in or"er to avoi" any
frther "estrction of the contry/.
'%9& The $ith"ra$al of the Critish forces from
the locality of Olymps to the ne$ area of Thermopilae,
accor"in! to General 3ilsonNs plan, $ol" be con"cte" as
follo$sI
-The -th Astralian 1ivision $ol" initially $ith"ra$,
n"er the cover of the 2n" Ae$ Jealan" 1ivision, to the
area of Einios an" $ol" occpy positions bet$een Jarko
villa!e an" <arissa. A 1ivision section $ol" a"vance to
1omokos, as a rear !ar", assi!ne" to block o9 the roa"
of <amia-<arissa. Then, after the $ith"ra$al of the 2n"
Ae$ Jealan" 1ivision, it $ol" $ith"ra$ as $ell, alon! the
a+is of <arissa- 'arsala-1omokos-<amia, in or"er to "eploy
its troops on the pass of Crallos, on the left ($est) of the
Thermopilae area.
-The 2n" Ae$ Jealan" 1ivision, after havin! covere"
the $ith"ra$al of the other forces by "eployin! part of its
troops in the area of #lassona, $ol" $ith"ra$ alon! the
26- CATT<#S 0A 4#ATDA< AA1 3. ,A4#1OA0A-30T51DA3A<
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a+is <arissa-Holos-Styli"a-<amia, so as to "eploy its forces
on the ri!ht (east) of the Thermopilae area.
-The lst Critish Armore" Cri!a"e, $hich by April l-,
$as incorporate" in the AAJA4 4orps, $ol" cover the
$ith"ra$al from the "irection of Grevena an" 8alambaka,
an" $ol" then $ith"ra$ to the area of Atalanti as a
reserve force.
- The l2th Astralian Cri!a"e, $hich $as "eploye" in
8alambaka, after havin! covere" the left Gank of the
$ith"ra$in! forces, $ol" then $ith"ra$ alon! $ith the
-th Astralian 1ivision to the pass of Crallos.
The movement of all forces $ol" be con"cte" by
motor-vehicles an" their "eployment in the area of
Thermopilae $ol" have to be complete" by the mornin!
of April 20.
''+& The -th Astralian 1ivision, accor"in! to General
3ilsonNs plan, $as the %rst to be!in the $ith"ra$al n"er
the cover of the 2n" Ae$ Jealan" 1ivision.
0ts l)th Cri!a"e that ha" be!n to $ith"ra$ from the
area $est of Servia by April l@, crosse" Aliakmonas river
over a makeshift bri"!e, after havin! previosly "estroye"
on site the trcks an" the armore" vehicles that col"
not cross it. After crossin! the river, the nits move", on
foot to$ar"s the villa!e ,ikrovaltos, $here they monte"
other vehicles an" move" in the "irection of 1omokos.
The other Cri!a"e of the 1ivision, the l-th, be!an its
$ith"ra$al on the ni!ht of April (- to (2 from the area
east of Servia, bt the pace $as very slo$, "e to the
montainos terrain. 0n the mornin! of April (2 an" $hile
the Cri!a"e $ith"ra$al contine", German troops be!an
to move thro!h the montain passes of <o$er Olymps,
to$ar"s the $estern entrance of the Tempi valley,
creatin! a threat on the ri!ht (east) Gank of the Critish
forces.
Sbse7ently, the 4omman"er of the lst Astralian
4orps (AAJA4), <ietenant General Clamey forme" a
"etachment n"er the comman" of Cri!a"ier General
45A 262
Allen, 4omman"er of the l-th Astralian Cri!a"e,
comprisin! t$o battalions from the l-th Astralian Cri!a"e
an" one battalion from the @th Ae$ Jealan" Cri!a"e, that
$as "eploye", on April l2, on the sothern bank of Einios
at the valley of Tempi. The "etachment $as assi!ne" to
"elay the German forces ntil ni!htfall on April l;,
secrin! <arissa from the east.
0n the afternoon of the same "ay, April (2, German
troops appeare" on the ri"!eline above Gonnoi villa!e an"
entere" the latter in the evenin!. The follo$in! mornin! a
German battalion move" to$ar"s the villa!e of
#van!elismos an", by (;60 hrs, mana!e", after en!a!in!
in close combat $ith the Allen 1etachment troops that
$ere on site, to cross Einios an" break thro!h the Critish
"efence. At that time, the villa!e of Tempi $as sei>e" (2@
km Aortheast of <arissa) an" the Critish $ere presse" at
the rail$ay station of ,akrychori, $hile t$o other
battalions also be!an to cross Einios river. 3ith the a"vent
of "arkness, the Germans sspen"e" their a"vance.
The Allen 1etachment, after havin! complete" its
mission to the fll, $ith"re$ in <arissa on the ni!ht of
April (; to l). 5o$ever, appro+imately %ve kilometres
north of the to$n, it $as attacke" by German troops,
$hich ha" been able to envelop it an" ha" occpie" the
roa" at that point, ths srprisin! its men an" casin!
them to "isperse in varios "irections. Ths, as of that
time, the Allen 1etachment cease" to e+ist as an
or!anise" nit.
''"& The $ith"ra$al of the 2n" Ae$ Jealan" 1ivision
commence" on April (2 n"er the cover of its -th Cri!a"e,
$hich ha" timely occpie" positions bet$een #lassona
an" Tirnavos. The @th Cri!a"e $as the %rst to $ith"ra$,
from the "e%le of Eetra, an" the *th Cri!a"e follo$e"
site, from the "e%le of Eorta. On the mornin! of April l;,
the last Critish troops ha" crosse" the lines of the -th
Cri!a"e an" $ere movin! to$ar"s Thermopilae.
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At appro+imately mi""ay, the %rst German tanks
appeare" before the -th Cri!a"e front, bt $ere
nevertheless containe" an" almost completely "estroye"
by the e9ective artillery %re an" the mine layin! that ha"
been carrie" ot in the varios tank approaches. The -th
Cri!a"e troops replse" another fresh German attack at
mi"ni!ht, on April (; to l), an" then $ith"re$ as $ell,
since their mission ha" been sccessflly accomplishe".
''%& The lst Critish Armore" Cri!a"e
$ith"re$ on the ni!ht of April (- to l2, from Grevena
to$ar"s 8alambaka, $here it arrive" in the mornin! on
April l2. After leavin! a small "etachment, as a rear !ar"
for the l2th Astralian 1ivision, it move" via Trikala
to$ar"s Atalanti.
'''& The l2th Astralian Cri!a"e be!an to
$ith"ra$, in sccessive sections, to$ar"s the area of
Jakros villa!e on the ni!ht of April (2 to (; an" to
establish its "efence on the eastern bank of Einios river, in
or"er to cover the $ith"ra$al of the %nal sections of the
Critish #+pe"itionary 'orce from the $est. 0n the evenin!
on April l;, the Cri!a"e con"cte" the athorise"
"emolition on the 8alambaka-Trikala roa" $ith the Eioneer
company an" "rin! the ni!ht of April (; to (),
contine" its $ith"ra$al to$ar"s the pass of Crallos.
The last troops of the Cri!a"e passe" thro!h <arissa
at 0*00 hrs, on April l). 1rin! the early mornin! of the
same "ay, for$ar" troops of the 2n" German Armore"
1ivision entere" the to$n $ithot enconterin! any
resistance.
45A 26)
The )oliti(al Crisis and the Departure of the King and
the Go&ernment to Crete
''#& At (000 hrs, on April (;, a meetin! $as
hel" at the Ealace, hea"e" by the 8in! an" atten"e" by
Erime ,inister 8ory>is, the Ambassa"or of Great Critain
Ealeret, General 3ilson, 4omman"er in chief Eapa!os an"
others.
The 4omman"er in chief, presentin! the military
sitation, reporte" that the Critish forces, tho!h still in
!oo" %!htin! con"ition, col" not hol" their !ron" at
Thermopilae for a s?cient len!th of time. 'rthermore,
he referre" to the serios "i?clties face" by the Greek
troops an" to the "ecline of their morale.
The Critish "eclare" that they $ere capable of
hol"in! their !ron" at Thermopilae ntil ,ay -, provi"e"
that the Greek troops $ol" contine to %!ht in #pirs.
The meetin! came to an en" $ithot any "ecision bein!
taken.
''(& At (*00 hrs on the same "ay, the
4abinet hel" a meetin! in the presence of the 8in!. The
1epty ,inister Eapa"imas, e+presse" the opinion that
even if it $ere possible to e+ten" the "efence at
Thermopilae, this $ol" be to no avail as the sitation in
the Albanian Theatre of Operations $as tra!ic from every
aspect.
After many "iscssions, the prevailin! opinion $as
that the Greek resistance shol" be e+ten"e" for the sake
of the retirement of the Critish #+pe"itionary 'orce. The
1epty ,inister $ho re!ar"e" the a!!ravation of the
sitation as navoi"able, "eeme" that, the only $ay ot
$as the imme"iate "epartre of the 8in! an" the
Government.
Ths, a political isse arose, becase the Government
$ol" be either obli!e" to retire to 4rete an" leave the
Generals free to call a trce or to !ive the or"er for that.
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The Erime ,inister 8ory>is $as at a loss an" at the
en" of the meetin!, "rin! $hich no "ecision ha" been
reache", he propose" the formation of a Government
comprisin! other more "ynamic members. 8ory>is, $ho
$as clearly s9erin! from a nervos break"o$n, $ent
back to his home, $here he committe" sici"e.
'')& At (600 hrs, on April (), a ne$ meetin!
$as hel" at the General 5ea"7arters. This $as also
atten"e" by General 3avell, $ho ha" arrive" from the
,i""le #ast an" <ietenant General ,a>arakis, $ho ha"
been assi!ne" by the 8in! to form a ne$ Government.
General 3avell "eclare" that, the Critish Army $ol"
"efen", provi"e" that the Greek Army contine" to resist,
bt becase of the alarmin! information re!ar"in! its
morale an" a""e" that his o$n troops $ere rea"y to
retire, shol" the Greek Government $ish so.
After$ar"s, the Critish Ambassa"or rea" a tele!ram
of Critish Erime ,inister 4hrchill, $ho speci%e" that the
retirement of the Critish #+pe"itionary 'orce shol" take
place $ith the fll accor" an" approval of the 8in! an" the
Greek Government.
'ollo$in! a proposal of <ietenant General ,a>arakis,
that retirement $as the best soltion, the 8in! an" the
Government approve" of the evacation of Greece by the
Critish #+pe"itionary 'orce. The Greek forces in #pirs
$ol" contine to %!ht ntil the retirement of the Critish
$as secre".
''*& ,ean$hile, "e to the complaints of
the Critish re!ar"in! the ba" sitation of the Greek si"e in
4entral ,ace"onia, the 4omman"er of the CN De!latin!
4entre in 'lorina, ,aBor General Eana!akos, $as
smmone" "rin! the meetin! an" e+plaine" the $ay in
$hich the operations $ere con"cte". After this, General
3ilson ma"e the follo$in! statementI .After the
information an" e+planation provi"e" by the General, the
honor an" the reptation of Greece are flly restore".
45A 2*(
'rthermore, 0 "eclare, in the name of #n!lan", that she
has no complaint a!ainst Greece, $hich has accomplishe"
its "ty to the en", flly an" honorably/. At the same
time, the Critish Generals e+presse" their a"miration for
the Greek resistance a!ainst the Germans an" the
0talians.
1rin! that same evenin!, <ietenant General
,a>arakis "i" not accept to form a Government, becase
the intelli!ence reports on the military sitation ha"
become e+tremely "isheartenin!.
At (2(@, a ne$ !overnment !ave the constittional
oath, $ith Hice A"miral Sakellario as vice-presi"ent, an"
the 8in! $as temporarily the Erime ,inister. On April 2l,
#mmanel Tso"eros !ave the oath as the Erime ,inister.
The 8in! an" the Government "eparte" for 4rete, at 0*00
hrs, on April 26. Cefore leavin!, the 8in! isse" the
follo$in! proclamation in $hich he "eclare" the "ecision
of the entire Aation to contine the %!ht ntil the %nal
victory.
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The 8in!/s proclamation of 26 April ()*(
.The (ruel destinies of ar (ompel *s toda"+ to
depart from Athens+ along ith the Cron )rin(e and the
laful Go&ernment of the Countr"+ and to transfer the
(apital of the State to Crete+ from here e shall #e a#le
to (ontinue the struggle hi(h+ the ill of the entire
,ation and the dut" of safeguarding the independen(e
and integrit" of the Countr"+ ha&e (ompelled us to
undertake+ after the aggression of to empires-
The ill of !urs+ of the Go&ernment and of the Greek
)eople+ hi(h has manifested itself in &arious a"s until
toda"+ has re.uired resistan(e to the end from the Greek
for(es+ hi(h despite the une&en struggle+ espe(iall" after
the German in&asion+ fought stu##ornl" against the
enem"+ ith the assistan(e of the British troops that (ame
to help us and fought gloriousl" and are still /ghting on
the Greek soil for a 0ust (ause-
!ur for(es+ e'hausted #" the rough and &i(torious
ar+ that the" ha&e (ondu(ted for si' months against a
far more poerful enem"+ ha&ing ritten the most
glorious pages of our militar" histor"+ (ontinued the
struggle against German" ith in(on(ei&a#le heroism-
We are still unaare of the e'a(t (onditions under
hi(h the arm" of Epirus signed a tru(e ith the enem"
un#eknon to *s+ the Commander-in-Chief and the
Go&ernment- This tru(e does not essentiall" #ind the free
ill of the ,ation+ the King and the Go&ernment+ hi(h is
to (ontinue the struggle+ ith all of our remaining for(es
in order to safeguard the highest national interests-
Been o#liged to go to Crete for this purpose+ e are
onl" doing so in order to #e a#le to (ontinue+ freel" and
from free Greek territor"+ the struggle against the
in&aders until the /nal &i(tor"+ hi(h shall full" reard the
great sa(ri/(es of the ,ation-
Greeks+ do not #e dis(ouraged+ e&en at this painful
moment of our histor"- 1 shall ala"s #e ith "ou- God
and the right of the (ause ill help us to a(hie&e the /nal
45A 2*6
&i(tor" ith all means+ despite the trials+ the sorros+ the
dangers+ hi(h e ha&e su2ered in (ommon and shall
su2er in the meantime-
Be faithful to the idea of a united+ undi&ided+ free
(ountr"- 3a&e strong "our ill- Set "our Greek pride
against the &iolen(e and the temptation of the enem"- Be
(ourageous+ the good da"s are to (ome- 4ong li&e the
,ation-
Georgios B5
The Capitulation of the Epirus Field Arm"
''& 'rom the moment the $ith"ra$al of the Greek Army
be!an from Albania, threatene" by the "oble "an!er of
encirclement by the 0talians an" the Germans in nearly all
of the nits there $as alarm abot the "evelopment of the
sitation, a factor $hich a9ecte" their %!htin! capacity to
a consi"erable e+tent. 0n"ee", in many #'AS nits, the
notion that it $as ftile to contine the %!ht any frther,
be!an to prevail an" serios cases of insbor"ination an"
"ispersion $ere recor"e". ,en aban"one" their troops on
their o$n or in small !rops, arme" or narme", an"
hastene" to their homes. As time $ent by, the "ecline of
the morale be!an to a9ect a lar!e nmber of hi!her rank
members, $ho believe" that the contination of the %!ht
$as ftile an" $ol" no lon!er serve any prpose.
The creation of the sitation $as also inGence" by
the follo$in! actions of the ,inistry of the Army an" the
General 5ea"7arters, $hich $ere of a more !eneral
natre. On April l@, the General 5ea"7arters or"ere" the
De!iment of Thessaloniki, that $as statione" at Thiva, to
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!rant (@-"ay re!lar leave to all sol"iers $ho $ere natives
of the occpie" areas. At the same time, it re7este" the
,inistry of the Army to apply the same measre to all
o?cers of the Deserve an" sol"iers $ho $ere not
in"ispensable. On the same "ay, the 1epty ,inister
or"ere" preparations to be ma"e in or"er to transport to
4rete all traine" sol"iers of classes ()*0b, ()*l, that $ere
at the Eeloponnese Trainin! 4entre as $ell as the army
ca"ets of the ,ilitary aca"emy. On April l-, he or"ere" a
t$o-month re!lar leave to be !rante" to all ntraine"
sol"iers of the Deserve, $ho ha" been calle" ntil ,arch
(-, ()*(, as $ell as a monthly leave to the o?cers of the
Deserve of classes ()2- an" prior to that "ate.
''9& The 4omman"er of the #'AS, after the
"evelopment of the sitation in his nits an" the
information he ha" receive" from 4olonel Gri!oropolos,
$ho retrne" to his base in the meantime, sbmitte" the
follo$in! report to the General 5ea"7arters an" the
Erime ,inister, in the mornin! of April (;I .The sitation
has reache" its limit. The =H00 P1ivisionQ troops are
aban"onin! <e!aritsa $hich covers the left Gank of the
1ivision Grop. The AN Army 4orps similarly reports a
military leak of the H000 1ivision. The =0 1ivision, $hich
covers ,etsovo is leakin! a$ay. 0n the name of Go", save
the Army from the 0talians. E0TS08AS/. 'rthermore, at
appro+imately ((00 hrs, he commnicate" by phone $ith
the Erime ,inister, $hom he re7este" to provi"e a
soltion to the matter $ithin the same "ay, becase it
$as impossible to restrain the men any lon!er. The Erime
,inister assre" the 4omman"er of the #'AS of a
favorable soltion to the matter $ithin the corse of the
"ay. 5o$ever, this soltion $as not o9ere", "e to his
committin! sici"e on the same "ay an" to the political
crisis that ense".
,ean$hile, the 4omman"ers of the AN, CN, an" 4N
Army 4orps, as $ell as the Ortho"o+ ,etropolitan Cishop
of 0oannina, Spyri"on, presse" the 4omman"er of the
45A 2*@
#'AS to take the initiative to call a trce $ith the enemy
at once. After the "ecisive refsal of the latter to take
sch an initiative, the 4omman"ers of the Army 4orps
$ith the active participation of Spyri"on, "eci"e" to pt
him asi"e an" o9er the initiative to their senior <ietenant
General Tsolako!lo, 4omman"er of the 4N Army 4orps.
'#+& The 4omman"er of the 4N Army
4orps revie$e" the sitation that ha" arisen $ith the
4omman"er of the #'AS an" "iscsse" the posibility of an
imme"iate cessation of hostilities. The latter a!ree" bt
refse" to take the initiative to that en", ths on April l;,
he sent his 4hief of Sta9, 4olonel Athanasios
4hrysochoo, to Athens, in or"er to report to the Erime
,inister an" the 4omman"er-in-4hief an" to ask for
imme"iate "ecisions.
4olonel 4hrisohoo arrive" in Athens at (-00 hrs, on
the same "ay, an" met at once $ith the 4omman"er-in-
4hief, $hom he briefe" accor"in!ly. The latter replie" that
he $as flly a$are of the sitation, bt bein! also the
4omman"er-in-4hief of the Critish forces in Greece, he
$as nable to procee" to ne!otiations for capitlation
$ith the enemy, at least not before the "epartre of the
Critish from the contry, $hich $as planne" to be carrie"
ot by ,ay @.
'rom this meetin!, as $ell as from other contacts that
the 4N Army 4orps 4hief of Sta9 ha" in Athens, he
concl"e" that the sitation ha" come to a "ea" en" an"
that nobo"y $ishe" to assme responsibility for the
cease-%re. Ths, he sen" the follo$in! tele!ram to the
4omman"er of the 4N Army 4orps in the mornin! of April
()I . 4on%"ential personal for the General. To athority of
the 'iel" Army. 0f yo assme the responsibility, %rst yo
o!ht to !et athorisation from the other Army 4orps, to
assi!n the action to yo as havin! contact $ith the
Germans. 4hrisochoo from Garrison Station Theta/.
.Garrison Station Theta/ $as the co"e name for the
General 5ea"7arters.
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The above tele!ram, re!ar"less of the fact that it
bore the si!n of the General 5ea"7arters $as sent
nbekno$n to the 4omman"er-in-4hief an" e+presse"
only the vie$s of the 4N Army 4orps 4hief of Sta9.
'#"& <ietenant General Tsolako!lo,
tho!h he believe" in the necessity of imme"iate
capitlation, hesitate", ntil the evenin! of April l), to
take the initiative. 5o$ever, the above tele!ram of his
4hief of Sta9, $hich he receive" at 0200 hrs on April 20,
cleare" his "obts an" r!e" him to "eci"e to %nally
i!nore General Eitsikas an" take the initiative for
capitlation.
At 0@*@ hrs, on April 20, <ietenant General
Tsolako!lo telephone" the 4omman"er of the #'AS an"
annonce" that he ha" been athorise" by the General
5ea"7arters as $ell as by the 4omman"ers of the AN an"
CN Army 4orps to call a trce. At the same time, he rea"
ot to him the abovementione" tele!ram, as if comin!
from the 4omman"er-in-4hief, tho!h he $as "e%nitely
a$are that this, ha" been sent by his 4hief of Sta9. Soon,
a three member committee of 4N Army 4orps o?cers
"eparte" to ne!otiate the terms of the trce $ith the
Germans.
The military sitation at that point $as obviosly
serios bt not yet "esperate. ,any threats $ere
apparent bt the main came from the "irection of
8alambaka to$ar"s ,etsovo, $here the =0 1ivision
"efen"e" the passes of 8atara an" Jy!os. The Germans
ha" ma"e reconnaissance as far as 8otsoGiani since the
previos "ay. 0n the mornin! on April 20, a for$ar"
German colmn $as shelle" by the "efen"ers bt the %re
$as hel" after the forth ron", by or"er of the 4N Army
4orps, becase the abovementione" committee has been
sent to the Germans to ne!otiate the trce.
'#%& At (;00 hrs, on the same "ay, ,aBor General
1ietrich, 4omman"er of the LA"olph 5itler SS
45A 2*2
Co"y!ar"sM an" <ietenant General Tsolako!o si!ne" a
trce protocol at Hotonosi villa!e, in $hich it $as "ecree"
that, from (;00 hrs, the hostilities bet$een Greece an"
Germany $ol" cease. After a fe$ hors, the hostilities
bet$een Greece an" 0taly $ol" en" as $ell, $ith the
responsibility of the German 4omman"er-in-4hief. Cy the
mornin! of April 2l, the Germans $ol" be positione"
bet$een the 0talian an" the Greek forces in or"er to
secre the cease-%re. The Greek forces $ere obli!e" to
$ith"ra$ to the ol" Greek-Albanian bor"ers $ithin ten
"ays an" to "emobilise after srren"erin! their
armament, an" then retrn home. The o?cers $ol" keep
their $eapons an" e7ipment in honor as they $ere not
consi"ere" to be prisoners of $ar.
An hor after si!nin! the capitlation, a Sta9 o?cer
of the 4N Army 4orps noti%e" the #'AS by phone that the
trce ha" been si!ne". After that, the 4omman"er of the
#'AS, <ietenant General Eitsikas consi"ere" himself
.resi!ne"/ an" in the mornin! on April 2l, he left for
Athens. The comman" of the #'AS $as assme" by
<ietenant General Tsolako!lo.
'#'& On April 2l, the 4hief of Sta9 of the 2lst German
'iel" Army an" ,aBor General 1ietrich arrive" in 0oannina
$ith another protocol, "i9erent to the one that ha"
alrea"y been si!ne". This chan!e of attit"e of the
Germans $as "e to the Greek Government/s
annoncement for ."efence to the last/ an" to the
necessity of a similar a!reement $ith the 0talians.
<ietenant General Tsolako!lo proteste", bt $as force"
to si!n it .as a prisoner of $ar/ an" .not of his o$n free
$ill/.
The terms $ere $orse than those of the initial
protocol. The o?cers an" sol"iers $ere consi"ere" as
prisoners of $ar, all spplies constitte" spoils of $ar for
the German Army, an" part of those $ol" be !iven to the
0talians. 0nstea" of the Greek-Albanian frontier, $hich $as
the $ith"ra$al limit, it $as state" that the separation
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>one for the cessation of hostilities $ol" be "e%ne" in co-
operation $ith the 0talian 4omman". 5o$ever, it $as not
mentione" clearly $here this >one $ol" be nor the time
at $hich hostilities $ol" en".
At mi""ay, on April 2l, the #'AS receive" an or"er of
the General 5ea"7arters, by ra"io, to relieve <ietenant
General Tsolako!lo, as 4omman"er of the 4N Army
4orps, bt it $as alrea"y too late.
'##& On the follo$in! "ay, April 22, the Germans
violate" the a!reement a!ain. They "eman"e" that
messen!ers shol" be sent to the 0talians in or"er to
facilitate the si!natre of a trce $ith them as $ell. The
carria!e roa" of 0!omenitsa-Cis"oni-,etsovo $as
"esi!nate" as the line separatin! the 0talians an" the
Germans an" it $as ma"e clear that the Greek forces,
north of that line, $ol" be consi"ere" as prisoners of the
0talians an" those soth of it, as prisoners of the Germans,
$ithot specifyin! the precise time after $hich the above
limit $ol" be in force.
<ietenant General Tsolako!lo, protestin! becase
the ori!inal terms of the capitlation $ere altere" for the
secon" time $ithin *; hors, replie" that .he is force" to
comply n"er violence/.
,essen!ers sent to the 0talians, si!ne" a preliminary
trce protocol, by $hich the hostilities $ol" cease as of
2600 hrs, on April 26.
0n the mornin! on April 26, <ietenant General
Tsolako!lo "eparte" for Thessaloniki by German aircraft
an" there he si!ne" the thir" an" %nal capitlation
protocol, $ith ,arshal &o"le, 4hief of Sta9 of the German
Arme" 'orces 5i!h 4omman", an" 0talian General 'errero,
Spreme 4omman"er of the 0talian 'orces in Albania. The
protocol $as as follo$s I
45A 2*)
CA)1T*4AT1!, AG$EE%E,T
Beteen the 3igh Command of the German Arm"
and the 3igh Command of the 1talian Arm" in Al#ania on
the one side+ and the Greek Field Arm" of Epirus-
%a(edonia on the other+
The 3igh Command of the $o"al Field Arm" of Epirus-
%a(edonia+ represented #" 4ieutenant General
Tsolakoglou+ has deli&ered a demar(ate to the 3igh
Command of the German For(es in Gree(e and the 3igh
Command of the 1talian Arm" in Al#ania+ re.uesting the
a((eptan(e of the un(onditional (apitulation of the Greek
Field Arm" of %a(edonia-Epirus-
Arti(le 6- The German and 1talian 3igh Commands
a((ept the said un(onditional surrender of the Greek Field
Arm" of Epirus-%a(edonia-
Arti(le 7- Those #elonging to the Greek Field Arm" of
Epirus-%a(edonia are prisoners of ar- Bearing in mind
the #ra&er" displa"ed #" the Greek Troops+ on the
#attle/eld and the (onse.uent preser&ation of their
militar" honour the Greek !8(ers ill keep their sord
and e.uipment-
All 1talian prisoners of ar+ ho are lo(ated in the
area of the Greek Field Arm" of Epirus-%a(edonia must #e
deli&ered immediatel" to the 1talian troops- The Greek
prisoners of ar ill #e (on(entrated+ for the time #eing+
into (on(entration (amps-
After the end of hostilities on the Greek mainland and
the 1onian isles+ the li#eration of all o8(ers and soldiers
has #een authorised-
Arti(le 9- The Greek 3igh Command ill make sure
that the Greek troops ill remain under the (ommand of
their o8(ers and that all measures ill #e taken for the
orderl" implementation of the (apitulation-
The re-suppl" and medi(al (are of the troops in
(apti&it" is primaril" a task for the Greek 3igh Command-
2@0 CATT<#S 0A 4#ATDA< AA1 3. ,A4#1OA0A-30T51DA3A<
-4AE0TF<AT0OA
Arti(le :- The eapons+ the entire ar materiel and
the sto(k of this Field Arm"+ in(luding the airfor(e
supplies+ as ell as the ground installations of the airfor(e
are all (onsidered as spoils of ar-
Arti(le ;- The Greek 3igh Command ill make sure
using all possi#le means+ that the hostilities ill (ease
ithout dela"+ that all destru(tion or neutralisation of ar
materiel and supplies ill end and that the roads lo(ated
in the premises of the Field Arm" ill #e repaired at on(e-
Arti(le <- All departures from ports and all air
(ommuni(ations in the area of the Epirus-%a(edonia Field
Arm" must #e for#idden+ and this (ondition (omes in
for(e immediatel"- The Greek 3igh Command is
responsi#le for the (on/s(ation of ships present in the
ports+ in(luding their (argoes+ as ell as the port
installations and also that these remain under the
super&ision of the Greek troops+ until a /nal de(ision has
#een taken a#out them-
Arti(le =- The 3igh Command of the Greek For(es ill
appoint full" authorised sta2 liaisons+ ho ill settle the
details of implementing the (apitulation ith the German
and 1talian ser&i(es+ hi(h ill #e full" named-
These sta2 liaisons ill deli&er+ as soon as possi#le a
(omplete list of the strength+ e.uipment and arm"
esta#lishment of Epirus-%a(edonia to this moment-
Arti(le >- The (essation of hostilities #eteen the
German For(es and the Greek for(es of the Epirus-
%a(edonia Field Arm" remains in for(e+ as de/ned in the
surrender proto(ol of April 7l- The (essation of hostilities
#eteen 1talian troops and the Field Arm" of Epirus-
%a(edonia is to (ome in for(e on April 79+ at 6>?? hrs+
unless the Greek troops #efore the 1talian front ha&e
surrendered their arms #eforehand-
Arti(le @- The present agreement in&alidates the
surrender proto(ol of April 7l+ hi(h as dran #eteen
the 3igh Command of the German For(es in Gree(e and
the Commander in (hief of the Greek Field Arm" of Epirus-
%a(edonia-
45A 2@(
!n #ehalf of the 1talian !n #ehalf
of the German
3igh Command in Al#ania %ilitar"
3igh Command
Ferrero
Alfred Aodle
The Commander in (hief of the Greek Field Arm" of
Epirus-%a(edonia
Ts
olakoglou
0n the meantime, "rin! the ni!ht of April 22 to 26
an" the ne+t "ay of April 26, the Greek nits contine" to
move to$ar"s 0oannina in or"er to be fon" soth of the
line 0!omenitsa-Cis"oni-,etsovo by the evenin! of April
26, in or"er to avoi" bein! captre" by the 0talians.
The Germans eventally e+ten"e" the time limit, so
as to enable the remotest nits to enter soth of the
"ivi"in! line, as $ell.
'#(& On April 26, 4omman"er-in-4hief
Eapa!os han"e" in his resi!nation, $hich $as imme"iately
accepte" by the 8in!, $ho ha" alrea"y arrive" in 4rete.
On April 2*, the or!anisation an" "isposition of the
Greek <ar!e Fnits $as as follo$sI
-The AN Army 4orps (00, 000, 0H, H, H0, H000, =H, =H00
1ivisions) in the area soth of 0oannina, as far as Ereve>a.
-The CN Army 4orps (0 1ivision) in the area of ,etsovo.
-The 4N Army 4orps (0=, =, =0, =00, =000, 20th 0nfantry
1ivisions, 4avalry 1ivision an" 2lst 0nfantry Cri!a"e) east
of ,etsovo, as far as 8alambaka.
The 1ivisions $ere re"ce" to abot one forth of
their ori!inal stren!th an" remaine" at their above
positions ntil their "emobilisation.
2@2 CATT<#S 0A 4#ATDA< AA1 3. ,A4#1OA0A-30T51DA3A<
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On April 2@, <ietenant General Tsolako!lo, after
assi!nin! the comman" of the #pirs Army to <ietenant
General 1emestichas, "eparte" from 0oannina, hea"e" for
Athens, an" on April 2) forme" a Government of military
an" political personalities.
On ,ay 2, 5itler !rante" complete free"om to the
o?cers an" sol"iers $ho $ere, o?cially at least, re!ar"e"
as prisoners of $ar ntil then.
The AN Army 4orps nits, $hich, by approval of the
German 4omman" of 0oannina, ha" be!n to move
to$ar"s A!rinio an" ,essolon!i since the previos "ay,
contine" their movement an" kept on sen"in! o?cers
an" sol"iers back to their homes, accor"in! to the
instrctions !iven by the ,inistry of Aational 1efence.
The nits of CN an" 4N Army 4orps that ha" been
!reatly re"ce" in stren!th, "isban"e" on the spot. The
o?cers an" sol"iers move" to their native area, accor"in!
to the or"ers of Greek 4omman" present.
The last to "epart $as the #'AS echelon, on ,ay *,
by motor-vehicles, an" $hich arrive" in Athens on ,ay 2.
The Departure of the British and the Completion of
the !((upation of the %ainland of Gree(e
(Sketch-map no. 22)

'#)& The Critish #+pe"itionary 'orce, after
its sccessfl "isen!a!ement from the area of Olymps,
mana!e", by the evenin! of April l), to $ith"ra$ the blk
of its forces onto the !eneral line Crallos pass-soth of
Sperchios-,olos, as follo$sI
- The -th Astralian 1ivision, in the evenin! of April l)
arrive", at the pass of Crallos, $ith the l)th Cri!a"e
astri"e the roa" an" the l2th Cri!a"e frther to the $est.
The l-th 1ivision remaine" as a reserve. 1rin! the ni!ht
45A 2@6
of April 26 to 2*, the l-th an" l2th Cri!a"es move"
to$ar"s ,e!ara to boar" ships an" "epart.
- The lst Armore" Critish Cri!a"e in the evenin! on
April (; arrive" in Atalanti an" move" "irectly to Thiva,
$ith the e+ception of its artillery nits, $hich reinforce"
the 2n" Ae$ Jealan" 1ivision.
- The 2n" Ae$ Jealan" 1ivision sei>e" an" hel" the
pass of Thermopilae, $ith the -th Cri!a"e on the ri!ht,
from the coast to ,olos, an" the @th Cri!a"e "irectly on
the left. On the ni!ht of April 22 to 26 the @th Cri!a"e
arrive" at the port of Eortorafti from $here it "eparte" for
4rete on the ni!ht of April 2* to 2@. Ths, the cover of the
entire Thermopilae front $as assme" by the -th Cri!a"e.
The *th Cri!a"e $as assi!ne" to srvey the coast
soth$ar"s, in or"er to replse a possible lan"in! attempt
of the Germans from #via. On the ni!ht of April 26 to 2*,
the Cri!a"e move" to #rithres, soth of Theves, $here it
establishe" its "efence in or"er to cover the $ith"ra$al of
the remainin! forces to$ar"s the soth.
'#*& Ths, in the mornin! on April 20, nearly all the
troops of the Critish #+pe"itionary 'orce $ere in the area
of Thermopilae, coverin! a front of abot @0 kilometres,
from the coast to the pass of Crallos. The t$o $eakene"
AAJA4 1ivisions, shol" confront %ve German "ivisions (2
Armore", 2 ,ontain an" one 0nfantry 1ivision) , $hich
contine" their a"vance nrestraine".
0n the evenin! of April 20, the bri"!e of Alamana $as
blo$n p, after a report, that $as later prove" to be
inaccrate that German tanks ha" move" to the soth of
<amia.
On the follo$in! "ay, ho$ever, German tanks
actally move" to the plain of <amia, bt they $ere %re"
by the Ae$ Jealan" artillery an" temporarily halte" their
a"vance.
0n the evenin! of April 22, a German motorise"
colmn of the @th Armore" 1ivision, that $as operatin!
in the sector of the -th Ae$ Jealan" Cri!a"e, took contact
2@* CATT<#S 0A 4#ATDA< AA1 3. ,A4#1OA0A-30T51DA3A<
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$ith the troops that $ere "eploye" in Thermopilae, $here
it $as containe" by the e9ective %re of the artillery.
On the follo$in! "ay, April 26, the Germans
contine" their o9ensive $ith the @th Armore" 1ivision,
a!ainst the sector of the -th Ae$ Jealan" Cri!a"e at
Thermopilae an" $ith the -th ,ontain 1ivision, a!ainst
the sector of the l)th Astralian Cri!a"e at the pass of
Crallos. A %erce %!ht ense" as $ell as intensive artillery
"el. The Critish forces, in spite of the enemy speriority
in force as $ell as its air spremacy, mana!e" to retain
their positions ntil the evenin! of April 2*, containin!,
the German a"vance for a perio" of time necessary to
facilitate their "isen!a!ement.
0n the ni!ht on April 2* to 2@, the Critish aban"one"
the area of Thermopilae-Crallos an" $ith"re$ soth$ar"s.
0n the mornin! on April 2@, the only troops left north
of Athens (at #rithres) $ere the rear !ar" of the *th Ae$
Jealan" Cri!a"e an" part of the lst Critish Armore"
1ivision.
'#& 0n the meantime, on April 2*, ,arshal Hon <ist also
reinforce" the =< Armore" Army 4orps $ith the =H000
,ontain Army 4orps, an" or"ere" it to a"vance in the
"irection of Athens-8orinthos an" to establish a
bri"!ehea" on the 0sthmos as soon as possible. There $as
a plan to sei>e the latter $ith parachtists, $hile,
simltaneosly, motorise" nits $ol" con"ct an
envelopin! action from #via.
#lements from the @th Armore" 1ivision that ha"
prse" the Critish, occpie" Thebes, in the evenin! on
April 2@, $hile a motorcyclist battalion that lan"e" in #via,
$as ferrie" over to Hiotia an" contine" to Athens $hich
$as occpie" on April 22, $ithot any resistance.
A committee ha" been appointe" for the srren"er of
Athens, comprisin! the 5ea" of the Athens Garrison, ,aBor
General 4hristos 8avrakos, the Erefect, Hice A"miral
8onstantinos Eet>opolos an" the ,ayor, Amvrosios
Elytas. That committee $aite" the Germans at the sbrb
45A 2@@
Ambelokipi an" srren"ere" the city to them. 1rin! the
entry of the Germans an" the passa!e of German troops,
thro!h Athens the inhabitants remaine" sht insi"e their
homes. Soon after, the s$astika $ol" be raise" on the
Sacre" Dock of the Acropolis.
'#9& The "efence of the 8orinthos 0sthmos
from the attack of airborne troops $as assi!ne" to the
0sthmos 1etachment, n"er the comman" of Cri!a"ier
General <ee. 0ts mission $as to keep the ,e!ara roa"
open an" also to prepare the "emolition of the rail$ay
an" the roa" bri"!es at the 0sthmos canal after the
passa!e of the last Critish troops.
The Germans employe" over for hn"re" tri-en!ine
aircraft, $ith appro+imately ;00 parachtists, in or"er to
sei>e the 0sthmos. The aircraft took o9 from <arissa at
0@00 hrs on April 2-. The parachtist "roppin! be!an
after a severe bombar"ment of the Critish positions.
Altho!h many of the parachtists $ere kille" in the air
an" others fell into the canal, the Germans eventally
mana!e" to sei>e the bri"!e intact, takin! a"vanta!e of
the confsion on the Critish si"e. Aevertheless they $ere
nable to ct the %rin! $ires an" remove the "emolition
char!e in time. The bri"!e $as eventally blo$n p by
t$o yon! Critish o?cers, $ho mana!e", by %rin!
accrately $ith riGes an" from a "istance of 200 meters,
to "etonate the e+plosive char!e.
Cy 0;00 hrs, the activity aron" the bri"!e ha"
en"e", since the Germans ha" occpie" both of banks of
the 4anal.
'(+& At the same time, the 1ivision LA"olph 5itler SS
Co"y!ar"sM move" from the area of 0oannina to$ar"s
A!rinio an" ,essolon!i an" in the evenin! on April 2-,
arrive" in the area of Eatra. 'rom there, one of its
re!iments move" by train to$ar"s 8orinthos, $here at
(260 hrs, on April 22, it $as informe" that the
parachtists $ho ha" occpie" the 0sthmos ha" alrea"y
2@- CATT<#S 0A 4#ATDA< AA1 3. ,A4#1OA0A-30T51DA3A<
-4AE0TF<AT0OA
been relieve" by other Army nits, that ha" arrive" from
Athens. Sbse7ently, the .SS/ nits retrne" to Eatra an"
contine" to$ar"s 8alamata via Eyr!os, assi!ne" to ct
o9 the "epartre of the Critish from the area.
The @th Armore" 1ivision, after a makeshift repair of
the 0sthmos bri"!e, crosse" over to the Eeloponnese an"
move" in the "irection of Ar!os-Tripolis-Gythio an"
8alamata, $here on April 2), it met the troops of the
LA"olph 5itler SS Gar"M that ha" arrive" by train from
Eatra.
'("& 0n the meantime, by or"er of the
Critish #+pe"itionary 'orce, the comman" of all troops
that $ere in the Eeloponnese $as assme" by ,aBor
General 'reiber!, as of the ni!ht of April 2* to 2@, $hereas
General 3ilson "eparte" by sea plane, for 4rete.
The "epartre of the Critish $as to take place from
the ports of the soth-eastern coast of Attiki an" the
Eeloponnese an" in particlar from Da%na, Eortorafti, the
area of ,e!ara, A!ii Theo"oroi, Aafplio, ,onemvasia an"
8alamata. These ports $ere severely attacke" by the
German Airforce, $ith consi"erable losses to both the task
an" the merchant Geet of the Critish an" the Greeks.
The l)th Astralian Cri!a"e embarke" at ,e!ara on
the ni!ht of April 2@ to 2-.
The l-th an" l2th Astralian Cri!a"es, in the evenin!
hors, move" from ,yli to 8alamata, $here part of them
mana!e" to embark on the ni!ht of April 2- to 22, $hile
appro+imately 2,000 men $aite" on the pier, becase the
ni!ht hors "i" not s?ce to permit the completion of the
embarkation.
The *th Ae$ Jealan" Cri!a"e, that operate" as a rear
!ar" at #rythres, move" an" occpie" positions soth of
,arkopolo in the mornin! of April 22 an" retaine" the
last bri"!ehea" there before Eortorafti. 0n the evenin!, it
embarke" $ithot any inci"ents an" saile" for 4rete,
$hile the remainin! personnel of the lst Critish Armore"
Cri!a"e "eparte" from Da%na.
45A 2@2
The -th Ae$ Jealan" Cri!a"e, that move" via
Tripolis, arrive" in the mornin! on April 2; at ,onemvasia.
0n the ni!ht of April 2; to 2), its entire stren!th boar"e"
the ships an" saile" for 4rete. ,aBor General 'reyber!
"eparte" $ith it as $ell.
'(%& A force of appro+imately (,200 men,
in the area of Aafplio primarily forme" by nits of the
interior, $ere taken prisoners by the Germans on April 2;.
Only fe$ men avoi"e" captivity, mana!in! to escape by
small boats to the nearby islan"s.
The 2,000 men force that remaine" in 8alamata !re$
to (0,000 men on the same "ay, of $hich ;,000 $ere
narme". Amon! them, there $ere appro+imately 2,000
:!oslavian sol"iers, 4ypriot an" Ealestinian men from the
Eioneer company, as $ell as Greek civilians. This force ha"
been or!anise" into for "etachments that $ere in
rea"iness to embark at 2(00 hrs on crisers an"
"estroyers, that $ol" sail into the harbor in the
meantime.
0n the early evenin!, the troops be!an to move
to$ar"s the sea, bt an a"vance !ar" of the @th German
Armore" 1ivision entere" the to$n an" hastene"
to$ar"s the pier. Arme" Critish troops conter-reacte"
e9ectively an" the embarkation be!an by 2(60 hrs.
Shortly after, ho$ever, the ships saile" a$ay in haste, in
or"er to Boin the Geet, by or"er of the Critish 4omman"er-
in-4hief, becase the 0talian 'leet ha" appeare". Ths,
appro+imately (0,000 men $ere "oome" to captivity for
the entire $ar.
0n the mornin! on April 2), the Germans took abot
2,000 prisoners, $hile the rest Ge". 3hat $as so tra!ic in
this case $as that, the information abot the appearance
of the 0talian 'leet prove" later to be inaccrate.
'('& 3ith this srren"er, the Critish
e+pe"ition in the mainlan" of Greece $as terminate". On
2@; CATT<#S 0A 4#ATDA< AA1 3. ,A4#1OA0A-30T51DA3A<
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April 60, the last Critish troops ha" been captre" or ha"
escape" an" the hostilities ha" cease".
0n total, @0,262 Critish men "eparte", that is, ;0O of
the forces that ha" been "espatche" to Greece an" of
these abot 22,000 lan"e" on 4rete, $hile the rest $ere
transferre" to #!ypt. Appro+imately (,*00 Critish men,
$ho remaine" in Greece $ithot bein! captre", later
escape" to 4rete, 4hios an" the Ae!ean islan"s as $ell as
to the coast of Asia ,inor.
The occpation of the mainlan" of Greece $as
!ra"ally complete" by German an" 0talian troops.
On ,ay 6, a trimphant para"e of the Germans an"
the 0talians $as con"cte" in Athens before ,arshal <ist,
$ith the complete abstention of the inhabitants, $ho
remaine" sht insi"e their homes. The participation of the
0talian troops in the para"e $as or"ere" by 5itler himself,
in or"er not to hrt the pri"e of his allies.
The total nmber of casalties of the Critish
#+pe"itionary 'orce $ere appro+imately (2,000 men.
,oreover, 20) aircraft an" ;,000 vehicles $ere either lost
or aban"one". The German casalties $ere appro+imately
@,000 men. Accor"in! to German sorces, the Germans in
Greece sei>e" @* heavy an" *** li!ht !ns, *6( mortars
an" infantry escort !ns, *) antitank !ns, (@(,0@0 riGes,
l6* armore" vehicles, 2,2(0 motor vehicles an"
appro+imately -00 other $heele" vehicles as $ell as lar!e
7antities of spplies.
The !((upation of the Greek 1slands
'(#& At the same time $ith the occpation of mainlan"
Greece, the most important islan"s $ere taken by the
Germans an" the 0talians $ithot any resistance, $ith the
e+ception of <imnos an" 4rete. The battle of 4rete
45A 2@)
constittes a special operation an" is ths e+amine" in
the last Eart of this book.
Thassos $as occpie" on April (@ an" Samothraki on
April ().
0n <imnos, the Aaval 4omman"er, $ho $as the hea"
of the Garrison, of 0nfantry company stren!th, replie" to
the German ltimatm that he $ol" resist. On April 2*,
the Germans after an air bombar"ment of the Garrison
positions, lan"e" a re!iment on the coast of Cornia bay
(on the northern part of the islan") as $ell as on ,o"ros.
The Garrison, after %!htin! an" immobilisin! the Germans
for a fe$ hors $ith"re$ to$ar"s the cape of A!ia 0rini,
$here those of the troops that $ere not captre",
"isperse".
0n #via, after the German aircraft repeate"ly ha"
bombar"e" from April (0 to 2*, 5alki"a, <imni, Orei an"
on the ni!ht of April 2* to 2@ the naval station of Goves,
troops lan"e" at Orei an" move" to$ar"s #"ipsos an"
5alki"a, occpyin! the latter on April 2@.
The 4ycla"es islan"s $ere occpie" $ithin the %rst
fortni!ht of ,ay.
8erkyra $as occpie" by the 0talian troops, that ha"
be!n to lan" there since April 2;.
The 0talians also occpie" the islan"s of 8ephalonia,
0thaki an" Jakynthos, from ,ay ( to @.
<esvos an" 4hios $ere occpie" by German troops on
,ay * an" Samos, on ,ay ;.
Greece $as alrea"y $rithin! n"er the pressre of
the con7erors, bt the spirit $as never sbB!ate" an"
the hope for free"om $arme" her e+istence so as to
contine once more on the roa" lea"in! to$ar"s the
"estiny of the Aation.
A General re&ie of the German atta(k against
Gree(e
and the End of the War
2-0 CATT<#S 0A 4#ATDA< AA1 3. ,A4#1OA0A-30T51DA3A<
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'((& The "ecision of Germany to attack Greece $as
taken in the be!innin! of Aovember ()*0, in or"er to
secre the Gank of the German Army that $ol" be
operatin! a!ainst Dssia.
The be!inin! an" the con"ct of the .,AD0TA/
operation, $hich $as the co"e name for the German
attack a!ainst Greece, ha" been sche"le" to take place
in ,arch ()*(. 0n"ee", on ,arch 2, ()*(, the l2th German
'iel" Army be!an to enter the Cl!arian territory an" by
,arch ), its a"vance" !ar"s reache" the Greek -
Cl!arian bor"ers.
'()& To face this ne$ threat, sccessive meetin!s $ere
hel" in Athens bet$een the Greek an" the Critish political
an" military <ea"ership, from the be!innin! of &anary
ntil the be!innin! of ,arch ()*(. As a reslt of these
meetin!s, it $as %nally "eci"e" on ,arch 2-, that the
Greek forces shol" "efen" in the Celes-Aestos area an"
the Hermio area $ol" be secre" by the Boint Greek
-Critish forces.
This "ecision $as lar!ely inGence" by the
intelli!ence reports abot an impen"in! military cop
"Netat in :!oslavia, $hich since ,arch 2) ha" entere" the
Tripartite A!reement (Germany-0taly-&apan).
0n"ee", on the ni!ht of ,arch 2- to 22, the military
cop overthre$ the :!oslavian Government an" on
,arch 2), a !eneral mobilisation $as "eclare". After this,
the e9orts of the Greek <ea"ership focse" on the
reinforcement of the forces in #astern ,ace"onia in or"er
to secre the forti%e" area of Celes-Aestos.
On the other han", the sitation create" in :!oslavia
alarme" the Germans, $ho "eci"e" to lanch an attack
simltaneosly a!ainst Greece an" :!oslavia on April -.
'(*& The attack a!ainst Greece be!an at
0@(@ hrs, on April -, by the German troops that $ere
45A 2-(
"eploye" alon! the Greek - Cl!arian bor"ers. The main
e9ort of the Germans $as "irecte" a!ainst Celes
montain an" Dpel pass.
Cy the evenin! of April -, li!ht German forces
mana!e" to "escen" on the valley of Do"opolis an" take
contact $ith the 8rossia area, $hile the forts at #astern
Celes contine" to resist. #ast of Strymonas river an" as
far as Aestos, the Germans took contact $ith the main
"efensive area, $ithot ho$ever recor"in! any actal
sccess. 'rther east, in the area of =anthi an" 8omotini,
the German troops by-passe" 'ort #chinos an" Aymphaea
an" move" soth$ar"s.
On the follo$in! "ay, April 2, the %!ht contine" $ith
n"iminishe" intensity. The area of Celes-Aestos, "espite
the occpation of 'ort 0stimbei an" 8elkayia, remaine"
essentially intact. 5o$ever, the collapse of the
:!oslavian Army an" the lack of available forces, to
cover the left Gank of the area, create" a serios "an!er
that the forces "eploye" in the above area mi!ht be ct
o9 from mainlan" Greece.
On April ;, the thir" "ay of the attack, the Germans
"espite their e9orts an" the occpation of 'ort
Eopotlivitsa $ere nable to break thro!h the forti%e"
position. 5o$ever, the rapi" a"vance of the 2n" Armore"
German 1ivision insi"e the Greek territory thro!h the
corri"or of A+ios river an" the attack a!ainst Thessaloniki,
that $as e+pecte" to occr on the follo$in! "ay,
constitte" a "an!er threat for the #,'AS, that $as bon"
to be captre" if it remaine" on the "efensive area.
The $ith"ra$al of its forces to$ar"s the ports of
,ace"onia an" their transport by sea, as ha" been
ori!inally "eci"e", $as impossible, since there $ere
neither the reserves to cover the $ith"ra$al, nor the ships
re7ire". Fn"er these circmstances an" in or"er to avoi"
pointless sacri%ce, the General 5ea"7arters or"ere" the
#,'AS to capitlate.
The capitlation $as si!ne" at (*00 hrs, on April ),
in Thessaloniki, bet$een the 4omman"er of the #,'AS,
2-2 CATT<#S 0A 4#ATDA< AA1 3. ,A4#1OA0A-30T51DA3A<
-4AE0TF<AT0OA
<ietenant General Cakopolos an" the 4omman"er of
the 2n" German Armore" 1ivision, containin! fairly
honorable terms for the Greek troops. The hostilities
cease" by the same evenin!, after notifyin! the nits of
the capitlation.
'(& After the occpation of #astern ,ace"onia an"
Thrace an" the capitlation of the #,'AS, the German
forces crosse" A+ios river on April ) an" a"vance"
to$ar"s #"essa. Simltaneosly, other German forces,
comin! from :!oslavia entere" the Greek territory from
the "irection of ,onastiri, occpie" 'lorina an" took
contact $ith the Greek - Critish forces in the "efensive
area of Eiso"eri-8irli 1erven (8li"i). On the same "ay, the
Germans sei>e" Ahris an" establishe" contact $ith the
0talians in the Aorthern #pirs 'ront.
The German a"vance alon! the a+is of ,onastiri-
'lorina-8o>ani create" a serios threat for the rear of the
8aimaktsalan-Hermio "efensive area, that $as occpie" by
the Greek -Critish .3/ 'orce, n"er the comman" of
General 3ilson. After this, it $as "eci"e" to evacate the
above area an" to occpy the line of "efense Siniatsiko-
Horinos-Olymps.
A battle $as con"cte" in this area on April (6 an" l*.
After$ar"s, becase of the !ap create" in the area of
8leissora (of 8astoria), the Greek - Critish forces
$ith"re$ to$ar"s 8alambaka.
The Germans contine" their a"vance soth$ar"s,
via Grevena an", on April l-, sei>e" 8alambaka. Ths, they
sccee"e" in interposin! their forces bet$een the Critish
#+pe"itionary 4orps an" the Greek Army that $as
$ith"ra$in! from Albania.
'(9& The Critish #+pe"itionary 'orce,
after %erce %!htin! at the passes of Olymps, $ith"re$
!ra"ally alon! the a+is of <arissa-<amia-Athens. 0n or"er
to cover its $ith"ra$al from ports of the mainlan" of
Greece an" the Eeloponnese to$ar"s 4rete an" #!ypt, it
45A 2-6
occpie" the line of Thermopilae-Crallos $ith stron! rear
!ar"s, that mana!e" to contain the German colmns for
t$o "ays (April 26 an" 2*).
The "epartre of the Critish #+pe"itionary 4orps from
Greece be!an in the ni!ht on April 2* to 2@ an" en"e" on
,ay (, ()*(, n"er e+tremely a"verse con"itions. The
Critish forces $ere transferre" to #!ypt an" 4rete.
')+& The Greek Army that fo!ht in Aorthern #pirs,
$as or"ere" to $ith"ra$ to$ar"s the "efence area in the
bor"ers, "e to the nfavorable "evelopment of the
battle in ,ace"onia.
The 3,'AS be!an its $ith"ra$al in the evenin! on
April (2, ()*(, $ithot serios "i?clties, alon! the a+is
of the 1evolis an" Aliakmonas valleys. The =000 1ivision,
$hich ha" been assi!ne" to cover the !ap create" in the
area of 8lissora, con"cte" %erce battles on April l@, near
Ar!os Orestiko. After 8astoria ha" been occpie" by the
Germans an" its $ith"ra$al rote ha" been ct o9, the
3,'AS "irecte" its "ivisions to$ar"s #pirs via the
montain rotes of Ein"os.
0n the ni!ht of April l6, the #'AS $ith"ra$al be!an as
$ell. ,ean$hile the troop morale be!an to "ecline an"
there $ere a lot of leaks. Aevertheless, for reasons of hi!h
national interests, it $as e+pe"ient that the %!ht shol"
contine.
Cy April 20, the sitation ha" become critical. Fn"er
these circmstances an" $ithot the approval of the
General 5ea"7arters, the 4omman"er of the 4N Army
4orps, <ietenant General Geor!ios Tsolako!lo took the
initiative an" si!ne" a capitlation a!reement $ith the
Germans, after commnicatin! %rst $ith the 4omman"ers
of the AN an" CN Army 4orps an" most 1ivision
comman"ers. The capitlation $as si!ne" in the evenin!
on April 20, in Hotonosi villa!e in ,etsovo. Sbse7ently,
the 4omman"er of the #'AS, <ietenant General 0oannis
Eitsikas consi"ere" himself .resi!ne"/ an", on the
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-4AE0TF<AT0OA
follo$in! "ay, aban"one" the comman" of the #'AS,
$hich $as assme" by <ietenant General Tsolako!lo.
')"& After the capitlation, the force"
march of the Army contine" soth$ar"s, in or"er to
arrive in the evenin! on April 26 soth of the line
0!omenitsa-,etsovo an" ths to avoi" bein! captre" by
the 0talians.
1rin! the early hors of April 26, the 8in! an" the
Government "eparte" for 4rete. On the same "ay, the
4omman"er-in-4hief, Ale+an"ros Eapa!os, resi!ne".
On April 2@, <ietenant General Tsolako!lo, after
assi!nin! the comman" of the Army in #pirs to
<ietenant General 1emestichas, "eparte" for Athens, in
or"er to form a Government.
On ,ay 2, 5itlerNs "ecision to !rant complete free"om
to the Greek o?cers an" sol"iers, $ho $ere consi"ere"
prisoners of $ar ntil then, $as ma"e pblic. The Greek
<ar!e Fnits, after srren"erin! their armament, move"
to$ar"s varios areas an" "isban"e".
Thus ended the last act of the drama, of the Albanian Epic, the
epilogue of which was to culminate in the Battle of Crete. The Greek
Army had written pages of unsurpassable glory, attracting the admiration
of the civilised world. et its destiny was to be occupied by the two Great
!owers of the A"is.
45A 2-@