Greek Campaign 1941
- Napoleon XIV
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Greek Campaign 1941
Are there any books/Articles written about this? Perhaps even the entire Balkan campaign in 1941.
I can find some very general invasion paths and such, but actually findning books and articles on the subject is much harder...
Anyone have any?
I can find some very general invasion paths and such, but actually findning books and articles on the subject is much harder...
Anyone have any?
See this link for a previous question regarding reference material on the campaign:
http://www.thirdreichforum.com/viewtopi ... hlet+20260
Regards,
Shawn
http://www.thirdreichforum.com/viewtopi ... hlet+20260
Regards,
Shawn
Also, the below source is an excellent article on the little known Operation “Alpenveilchen” (Alpine Violet or Cyclamen). This was the codename for the proposed deployment of a German mountain corps consisting of the 1st and 4th Mountain Divisions and a panzer regiment to Albania to serve as a reserve force and to assist the Italians break through the Greek defenses once the Germans launched Operation “Marita.” The five-man German reconnaissance team departed for Albania on 14 January 1941 and was headed by Oberst Ferdinand Jodl, the future General der Gebirgstruppe and younger brother of Generaloberst Alfred Jodl.*
Although not specifically cited in the article, it is appears evident that General der Infanterie Ludwig Kübler’s XXXXIX Mountain Army Corps was the corps earmarked for Operation “Alpenveilchen.” The 1st and 4th Mountain Divisions, both specifically allocated for the operation, were assigned to the XXXXIX Mountain Army Corps at the time while Oberst Jodl was the corps chief of staff. The identity of the panzer regiment proposed for employment is not identified in Burdick’s article.
Discussions between the Germans and Italians on the Albanian question culminated with a meeting between Hitler and Mussolini at the Brenner Pass on 19-20 January 1941. The Italians concluded the deployment of German troops to Albania was no longer necessary and, in view of the transportation and logistical problems involved in moving an entire corps, would not be feasible. As a result of this meeting, Hitler postponed Operation “Alpenveilchen” on the 20th of January. In early February 1941, Oberst Jodl returned from his Albanian inspection and submitted his findings. Jodl reemphasized Generalmajor Enno von Rintelen’s previous assessment of the difficult transportation and logistical problems that would be encountered and opined that a decisive breakthrough on the Albanian front would not be possible at any rate. Shortly afterwards, the Germans ceased all preparations for Operation “Alpenveilchen” and allocated the assigned units to other tasks.
* Oberst Jodl’s team departed on the same day that Generalmajor Enno von Rintelen, the German Military Attaché in Rome, completed a preliminary inspection of the Albanian front. Generalmajor von Rintelen’s findings stressed the transportation and logistical problems of deploying German units to Albania and the dismal state of Italian communications and supply stocks in the country.
SOURCE: Burdick, Charles B. “Operation ‘Cyclamen,’ Germany and Albania 1940-1941,” Journal of Central European Affairs, XIX (April 1959), pp. 23-31.
Regards,
Shawn
Although not specifically cited in the article, it is appears evident that General der Infanterie Ludwig Kübler’s XXXXIX Mountain Army Corps was the corps earmarked for Operation “Alpenveilchen.” The 1st and 4th Mountain Divisions, both specifically allocated for the operation, were assigned to the XXXXIX Mountain Army Corps at the time while Oberst Jodl was the corps chief of staff. The identity of the panzer regiment proposed for employment is not identified in Burdick’s article.
Discussions between the Germans and Italians on the Albanian question culminated with a meeting between Hitler and Mussolini at the Brenner Pass on 19-20 January 1941. The Italians concluded the deployment of German troops to Albania was no longer necessary and, in view of the transportation and logistical problems involved in moving an entire corps, would not be feasible. As a result of this meeting, Hitler postponed Operation “Alpenveilchen” on the 20th of January. In early February 1941, Oberst Jodl returned from his Albanian inspection and submitted his findings. Jodl reemphasized Generalmajor Enno von Rintelen’s previous assessment of the difficult transportation and logistical problems that would be encountered and opined that a decisive breakthrough on the Albanian front would not be possible at any rate. Shortly afterwards, the Germans ceased all preparations for Operation “Alpenveilchen” and allocated the assigned units to other tasks.
* Oberst Jodl’s team departed on the same day that Generalmajor Enno von Rintelen, the German Military Attaché in Rome, completed a preliminary inspection of the Albanian front. Generalmajor von Rintelen’s findings stressed the transportation and logistical problems of deploying German units to Albania and the dismal state of Italian communications and supply stocks in the country.
SOURCE: Burdick, Charles B. “Operation ‘Cyclamen,’ Germany and Albania 1940-1941,” Journal of Central European Affairs, XIX (April 1959), pp. 23-31.
Regards,
Shawn
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Thanks for the books!
Here's what I have:
Thanks for your help so far!
Here's what I have:
Now all I need are some Journal Articles and I'm all set Can anyone direct me in the Direction of some?Milazzo, Matteo. The Chetnik Movement and the Yugoslav Resistance. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins, 1975.
Cecil , Robert. Hitler’s Decision to Invade Russia, 1941. New York: McKay, 1976.
Wason, Betty. Miracle in the Balkans; The Greeks Fight On. New York: Macmillan, 1943.
Blau, George E. and John E. Jessup. Invasion Balkans!: The German Campaign in the Balkans, Spring
1941. Shippensburg: Burd Street Press; 1997.
Natkiel, Richard. Atlas of World War Two. New York: Barnes and Noble Books, 2002.
Thanks for your help so far!
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Antony Beevor's "Crete: The Battle and Resistance" has an account of the battle for Greece, and it's account of the battle for Crete is brilliant.
I have to admit, I chuckled when he mentions that as the British Dominion forces unloaded on the Greek mainland, the German Military Attache to the Greek Army was at the dockside noting down what equipment was coming off.
Gwynn
I have to admit, I chuckled when he mentions that as the British Dominion forces unloaded on the Greek mainland, the German Military Attache to the Greek Army was at the dockside noting down what equipment was coming off.
Gwynn
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I just found that book about an hour ago!Gwynn Compton wrote:Antony Beevor's "Crete: The Battle and Resistance" has an account of the battle for Greece, and it's account of the battle for Crete is brilliant.
I have to admit, I chuckled when he mentions that as the British Dominion forces unloaded on the Greek mainland, the German Military Attache to the Greek Army was at the dockside noting down what equipment was coming off.
Gwynn
I might get it off Amazon, Beevor usually writes great stuff...
Just out of curiosity, what happened to that German attache after the Germans invaded?
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Napoleon XIV -- You might also have a look at The German Campaign in the Balkans (Spring 1941), a US Army study written by German officers after WWII; downloadable e-text available on-line at:
http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/balkan/intro.htm
http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/balkan/intro.htm
- Napoleon XIV
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Wow! That has pretty near everything I needed! Thanks!David Thompson wrote:Napoleon XIV -- You might also have a look at The German Campaign in the Balkans (Spring 1941), a US Army study written by German officers after WWII; downloadable e-text available on-line at:
http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/balkan/intro.htm
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It is a great book, I've nearly finished it, and it's an enthralling read.Napoleon XIV wrote: I just found that book about an hour ago!
I might get it off Amazon, Beevor usually writes great stuff...
Just out of curiosity, what happened to that German attache after the Germans invaded?
As for the attache, I'm not sure what happened to him. Evacuated in an aweful hurry perhaps? Or snatched by the British?
Gwynn
schjertzer,
Many thanks for recommending Air War for Yugoslavia, Greece and Crete 1940-41 by Shores, Cull and Malizia. I received my copy today…superb historical reporting and extraordinarily detailed! Of course, I’ve come to expect nothing less from the UK Grub Street publishing crew. Thanks again; I can’t believe I’ve never come across this book before. I guess you learn something every day on the TRF!
Regards,
Shawn
Many thanks for recommending Air War for Yugoslavia, Greece and Crete 1940-41 by Shores, Cull and Malizia. I received my copy today…superb historical reporting and extraordinarily detailed! Of course, I’ve come to expect nothing less from the UK Grub Street publishing crew. Thanks again; I can’t believe I’ve never come across this book before. I guess you learn something every day on the TRF!
Regards,
Shawn
- Napoleon XIV
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Does Beevor give the name of the Attache? If so maybe the Axis Biographical people might be able to find outGwynn Compton wrote:It is a great book, I've nearly finished it, and it's an enthralling read.Napoleon XIV wrote: I just found that book about an hour ago!
I might get it off Amazon, Beevor usually writes great stuff...
Just out of curiosity, what happened to that German attache after the Germans invaded?
As for the attache, I'm not sure what happened to him. Evacuated in an aweful hurry perhaps? Or snatched by the British?
Gwynn
Also, most of the books mentioned in this thread should be arriving next week!
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