Search Results for: Marita

April 1941: Operation Marita and the Greek “Maginot Line” that cost the Germans dearly

By Pierre Kosmidis On April 6th 1941, the Germans started their offensive against Greece. The German offensive against Greece, April 1941 Following the stalemate of their Italian allies in the Albanian front and the victories of the Greeks in the mountainous regions of northern Greece and Albania against the Italian army, since the unprovoked attack […]

Reliving the past: Operation Marita and the German invasion of Greece in April 1941, through the eyes or reenactors

By Pierre Kosmidis Photos submitted by Kampfgruppe “Süden” Hellenic Reenactment Group, Kampfgruppe ”Bulgarien”, Asociaţia Deutsches Freikorps and used by permission The German invasion of Greece, codenamed “Operation Marita”, was initiated in the early hours of Sunday, April 6, 1941. The German forces attacked “Metaxas Line”, a series of concrete fortifications, located mainly along the border with […]

WW2 The Lost Footage: Operation Marita, Greece April 1941

By Pierre Kosmidis The blitzkrieg against Greece, codenamed “Operation Marita” started on April 6, 1941. When Operation Marita began on 6 April, the bulk of the Greek army was on the border with Albania, then a protectorate of Fascist Italy, from which the Italian troops were trying unsuccessfully to conquer Greece. German troops invaded through Bulgaria, […]

The story of William John Breed, a British soldier in Greece during WW2: “I fell asleep in a foxhole one night and woke up the next day behind enemy lines”

By Pierre Kosmidis Photos and information provided by Daniel Breed to www.ww2wrecks.com and used by permission Operation “Marita”, the German invasion of Greece, initiated on April 6, 1941, swiftly developed in a chaotic situation for the British Expeditionary Force. The Germans advanced at such a pace, that the few and intermittent stands of the Allies, […]

Battle of Crete: Fallschirmjäger parade in Goslar, July 12, 1941

By Pierre Kosmidis A German propaganda video (Deutsche Wochenschau 568 – 23 Juli 1941) on the fallschirmjäger II./Fallsch.Sturm- regiment parade in the city of Goslar, on July 12, 1941. During the war, Goslar became an important location for airborne troops. They were equipped with DFS 230 gliders. On 16 December 1940, the Second Battalion of the Sturm […]

The sinking of the Norwegian tanker MT Solheim close to Crete on March 24, 1941 by the Luftwaffe

By Pierre Kosmidis Research and photos by George Karelas, used by permission The chaotic days just before and during the German invasion of Greece, which was initiated on April 6, 1941, codenamed “Operation Marita”, have seen the Luftwaffe enjoying total air superiority. This meant that the German aircraft dominated the skies and bombed, without any significant opposition, any […]

Found and identified: Two WW2 wrecks lost since April 1941

By Pierre Kosmidis Photos by Helen Tsopouropoulou, used by permission In the bustling port of Piraeus nowadays, thousands of tourists from all over the world are waiting every day to sail for a holiday to the Aegean islands and dozens of ships of all types are berthed at the docks. Credit Image:  John H Marsh Maritime, […]

The Brotherhood of Greek Veterans: Remembering and honouring all veterans and fallen comrades who served in Greece during WW2

By Pierre Kosmidis Information and photos submitted by David Sanderson, Chairman of the Brotherhood of Greek Veterans and used by permission. Thousands of Allied soldiers found themselves in the maelstrom of events following “Operation Marita”, the German invasion of Greece, which unfolded from April 6, 1941, until the end of May, when the Battle of Crete sealed the […]