Italy in Greece and Yugoslavia
- Italians decide to try and establish themselves by attacking Greece
- They are unsuccessful
- Choose bad time of year in October
- Germans have to bail them out 'Operation Marita'
- Also attack Yugoslavia with 'Operation Punishment'
- Detrimental because it delays Operations Barbarossa, the attack on Russia
Interesting Fact
Italy’s army performed disastrously during World War II. Italian troops invaded Greece, only to be pushed back into neighboring Albania.
Quote
"I said that we would break the Negus' back. Now, with the same, absolute certainty, I repeat, absolute, I tell you that we will break Greece's back."
-Mussolini's speech in Palazzo Venezia, 18 November 1940
-Mussolini's speech in Palazzo Venezia, 18 November 1940
Subjunctive Question
If the Italians chose to attack earlier would they have been more successful?
Summary
The Italians feel that it is time for them to try and establish themselves by attacking Greece. They failed at this because they choose a bad time of the year in October. The Germans have to delay Operation Barbarossa because they have to bail the Italians out of Operation Marita. This is one of the main reasons the Germans fail in Operation Barbarossa. Soon after, Itay attacks Yugoslavia in Operation Punishment.