The pre-war ambitions of Benito Mussolini were - like almost everything about the man's personality - big. Big ideas. Big talk. Big plans. Big ambitions. "Il Duce" imagined the rebirth of the Roman Empire with himself as its Caesar. His ambitions drove him to seek a bigger colonial footprint than had been granted to Italy at the end of WWI. This quest led Italy to take over Abyssinia (Ethiopia) in 1936 with a ruthless campaign that including gassing the local population.
Describing his fascist alliance with Hitler, Mussolini coined the term "Axis" - an alliance around which all of Europe would revolve. In Mussolini 's view, his own importance rivaled that of Hitler's, fueling his desire to flex his muscle and ring the Mediterranean with Italian colonies recreating the "Mare Nostrum" - our sea.
Then, in 1939, Hitler's sphere of influence grew with Germany's annexation of Austria and Sudetenland. Mussolini, prideful and vain, soon tried to even up the score with an invasion of Albania by several battalions of Italian infantry and armor.
The occupation of Albania by Italy raised alarms in neighboring Greece, causing them to prepare for war by activating army divisions in the Epirus region.
In October of 1940 German forces entered Romania and Mussolini took offence at having not been consulted or forewarned. He wanted to send a message to Hitler that he was not to be dismissed as irrelevant partner in the Axis relationship and so, he put his plans for invading Greece into motion.
Italian Preparations and Forces
As early as August 1939, Italian forces had concentrated along Albania's border with Greece under the pretext of maneuvers. So, with more than seven divisions they planned to overwhelm Greek forces and capture the country. Mussolini himself did not see the invasion as much more than a police action which would result in little combat and a swift capitulation on the part of the Greeks. The Italian forces were divided into three groups, each with its own objectives across the Greek Border:
XXV Ciamuria Corps
Location: Epirus
Objective: Drive towards Ioannina
XXVI Corizza Corps
Location: Macedonian sector
Objective: Holding position
Julia Alpine Division
Location: Albania
Objective: Pindus Mountain region to link up with XXV Corp
Greek Forces and Defenses
The Greek army, aware of the threat, was making preparations. To defend the border, they activated and deployed the equivalent of three divisions.
The Italians outnumbered the Greeks, had more experience and better equipment. But, the Greek forces had the advantage of knowing the intentions of the Italians and knowing the rugged terrain. There also rose within the Greek people a strong national pride and fierce will to fight to maintain their statehood. With their three divisions, they hoped to check the Italians while more troops were raised for a counter offensive.
Leading up to this time, the British and French had sworn their protection to Greece, and now Britain, who stood alone in the west, offered to provide air power to the Greek defenses. This the Greeks refused for fear of provoking an attack by the Germans.
On October 22, 1940, the Italians delivered an ultimatum to the Greek government that they either allow the occupation of their country by the Italian Army or they would be attacked. The ultimatum was rejected.
The Attack Begins
Under the command of Lt Gen Sebastiano Visconti Prasca, the Italian forces launched their attack on October 28, 1940. It was an attack that was ill timed and for which the Italian forces were ill prepared.
In a rather illogical decision, many of the best soldiers had been sent back to their homes in Italy to help with the harvest, leaving behind mostly inexperienced troops. The weather would prove to be a challenge as well; heavy rain raised the rivers and turned the rough mountain roads into mud. With these factors in their favor, Greek forces made a determined defense and the Italian offensive stalled within days.
During this time, the British landed forces in Crete, and a small Royal Air Force contingent to support the Greeks fighting near Albania.
As the Italian corps floundered in their various sectors of Greek mountains, the Greek army set about launching a counter offensive. On November 14, 1940, the Greek Army, which had been reinforced along the Albanian frontier, attacked the Italian forces, driving them 60 km back into Albania.
Between November and March, the Italians reinforced their lines with double the number of troops and attempted to renew their offensive into Greece. However, these efforts achieved nothing and Mussolini would have to rely on the Germans for help.
