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Germany invaded Greece on April 6, 1941 through Bulgaria to secure its southern flank after Italy had failed to defeat Greece. The combined Greek, British Commonwealth, and Canadian forces fought fiercely but were outnumbered and outgunned, and Greece fell within 24 days with the capture of Athens on April 27. Germany went on to complete its conquest of Greece with the capture of Crete the following month. Colonel Helikaon Draco, a Canadian commanding officer, said that while the loss of Greece was terrible to see, the Greek and Allied forces had defended for longer than hoped against greater German numbers and casualties.

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31 views

Untitled

Germany invaded Greece on April 6, 1941 through Bulgaria to secure its southern flank after Italy had failed to defeat Greece. The combined Greek, British Commonwealth, and Canadian forces fought fiercely but were outnumbered and outgunned, and Greece fell within 24 days with the capture of Athens on April 27. Germany went on to complete its conquest of Greece with the capture of Crete the following month. Colonel Helikaon Draco, a Canadian commanding officer, said that while the loss of Greece was terrible to see, the Greek and Allied forces had defended for longer than hoped against greater German numbers and casualties.

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Battle for Greece! Greece Falls!

Greece was supported by British Commonwealth forces, Australia, New Zealand and a small amount of Canadian Forces, while the Germans' Axis allies Italy and Bulgaria played secondary roles. The invasion began with the Italian invasion of Greece on 28 October 1940. Within weeks, the Italians were driven out of Greece and Greek forces pushed on to occupy much of southern Albania. In March 1941, a major Italian counterattack failed, and Germany was forced to come to the aid of its ally. Operation Marita began on 6 April 1941, with German troops invading Greece through Bulgaria in an effort to secure its southern flank. The combined Greek, British Commonwealth forces and Canada fought back with great tenacity, but were outnumbered and out-gunned, and finally they lost. Athens fell on 27 April, however the British managed to evacuate about 50,000 troops. The Greek campaign ended in a quick and complete German victory with the fall of Kalamata in the Peloponnese; it was over within 24 days. The conquest of Greece was completed through the capture of Crete a month later. It has yet to be determined but very likely that Germany decided to attack Greece, to rob Britain of their Mediterranean bases. Germany planned to invade through Yugoslavia and Albania, but they Were met with a serious Greek force who pushed them back, the German Soldiers had to trek across large mountains and rough terrain which posed as a strategic defence for Greece. Although an invading force from Albania could be stopped by a relatively small number of troops positioned in the high Pindus mountains, the northeastern part of the country was difficult to defend against an attack from the north.

We had been able to speak with Colonel Helikaon Draco, the commanding officer of the Canadian troops stationed in Greece, in which he was born before immigrating to Canada with his family. He told us the loss of Greece is a great one, to see my home country fall is a terrible sight to see, but we fought bravely with less casualties then German forces and we had been able to defend for longer than hoped, when the determination of soldiers in there, so is victory, but sheer numbers on their side out-weighed out determination and we had been forced to lose Greece .

This loss has effected Canada in many ways, good and bad, it has boosted troops spirits to fight harder than ever before, for the great country they all want to come back to, it showed them what hard work and determination can accomplish and they will try their hardest to accomplish better, but it has also damaged our spirits thinking it is impossible to destroy the enemy, but we will because our determination is much greater, and our mission for world peace will never be stopped or faltered.

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