Balkans 1940-41 (1): Mussolini's Fatal Blunder in the Greco-Italian War

Mussolini's decision to attack Greece in October 1940 is widely acknowledged as a fatal mistake, leading to a domestic crisis and the collapse of Italy's reputation as a military power. This book offers a detailed overview of the Italian and Greek armies, their fighting power, and the terrain in which they fought, complemented by rare images and full-color illustrations.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 96 pages
Publication date: 21 January 2021
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

The first of two volumes on the Axis campaigns in the Balkans, this book delves into Mussolini's ill-fated decision to launch an attack on Greece in October 1940, despite the Greek President's rejection of the Italian ultimatum with the iconic 'Oxi (No). Following Italy's swift annexation of Albania in April 1940, Mussolini's decision to invade Greece is widely regarded as a catastrophic blunder, resulting in a domestic crisis and undermining Italy's military prowess, as evidenced by its defeat in North Africa in December 1940. The Italian assault on Greece quickly reached a stalemate, followed by a Greek counter-offensive a week later that breached Italian defenses and advanced into Albania, forcing the Italian forces to retreat north before suffering significant losses in January 1941 due to logistical challenges. Taking advantage of this brief respite, the Italians attempted to reorganize and launch a counteroffensive, but their failure marked the end of the first stage of the Axis Balkan campaign. This comprehensive book provides a detailed overview of the Italian and Greek armies, their combat capabilities, and the terrain on which they fought. Accompanied by rare images and full-color illustrations, it showcases how initial expectations of an easy Italian victory swiftly transformed into one of Mussolini's most significant blunders.

Weight: 312g
Dimension: 186 x 247 x 13 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781472842572