Transcript Operation 25 & Operation Marita

Operation 25 & Operation
Marita
Emily Geiger
Arian Hafezi
Julia Lioubarski
Jessica Ma
Thesis
After the successful coup by the Yugoslav Partisans
in Yugoslavia, the old government was overthrown,
and the Tripartite Pact to ally with Germany was
threatened. At the same time, Adolf Hitler needed a
plan to conquer Greece in an attempt to clean up
the mess left behind by Mussolini. In response to
both events, Hitler organized two operations,
Operation 25 and Operation Marita, in an attempt
to gain the upper hand in World War II. The internal
conflicts within Yugoslavia combined with the
German tactic to attack from all sides eventually led
to the annexation of Yugoslavia and Greece.
Causes
• Yugoslavia was going to join the Axis side of WWII, but then
anti-German and anti-Fascist resistance in the country had
a coup and overthrew the leader of Yugoslavia
• New government tried to dissolve the Tripartite pact with
Hitler
• Hitler unhappy, decides to invade Yugoslavia to get it back
• At the same time, Germany wanted to invade Greece
because of Italy’s failure earlier in annexing Greece
• The Germans expected Greece to capitulate easily, placing
the capital of Athens and Greek ports in German hands
• Greek bases for the Luftwaffe and Kriegsmarine would
solidify German control over the northeastern
Mediterranean and assist in supplying the Afrika Korps
What Happened: Yugoslavia
• April 6, 1941, Germany invaded both Greece
and Yugoslavia
• The country was attacked from 3 sides and
could not hold back the Germans
• Yugoslavia fell apart quickly because of the
tensions between different ethnic groups in
the country, mainly Serbs and Croats
• April 17, Germany successfully defeats
Yugoslavia
What Happened: Greece
• Greece stood for longer with the help of
British troops on their side
• Germany sends troops through Yugoslavia into
Northern Greece
• German troops force British and Greek troops
to retreat to Crete
• Germany defeats Greece on April 30th.
Belgrade-place where
Germany later based their
military in Yugoslavia
Led by Wilhelm List
Resistance
Yugoslavia
Main Resistance: Yugoslav
Partisans
• Josip Broz Tito, a communist
leader of the Yugoslav
partisans, led the biggest
resistance force against Nazi
Germany
• “Death to fascism, freedom to
the people!” was the slogan
• Wanted to create a socialist
Yugoslav nation
Greece
• Had the help of Britain on
their side
• Various resistance groups,
the first major one being
the National Liberation
Front
• Blew up key bridges to
hinder German
transportation
Key Leaders
Adolf Hitler
• German fascist dictator who ordered the invasion of Operation 25 and Operation
Marita
Operation 25 (Yugoslavia)
• Josip Broz Tito
– Communist leader of the Yugoslav Partisans in resisting German occupation
– Regarded as the most resistant force leader
– Later becomes president of Yugoslavia
•
Prince Paul of Yugoslavia
– Regent of Yugoslavia before German invasion
– Didn’t want to join Axis because he feared a revolution in Yugoslavia but forced by Germans to
sign the Tripartite Pact
– The people revolted
Operation Marita (Greece)
• Wilhelm List
– German field Marshall for Hitler during WWII
– forced Greek troops to push back and retreat
– Lead the 12th Army in the invasion
Outcome
• Partition of Yugoslavia and Greece
• Germany annexed northern and eastern
Slovenia
• Italy annexed southern and eastern Slovenia
• Hungary annexed regions in northeastern
Yugoslavia
• Germany and Italy divided Croatia into zones
of influence---stationed their troops there
• Germany gained a lot more lands
Impact and Why It Matters
• Led to the Battle of Crete in which many
British soldiers were bombed on the island of
Crete by German Luftwaffe airborne attacks
• Thought to have delayed Operation
Barbarossa
• Germany gains even more land in Europe
Works Cited
Houlihan, Thomas. "1941 Timeline." World War II Database. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 May 2014.
Heaton, Colin D. "Invasion of Yugoslavia: Waffen SS Captain Fritz Klingenberg and the Capture
of Belgrade During World War II." History Net Where History Comes. World War II
Magazine, n.d. Web. 09 May 2014.
Shroeder, Jay. "Josip Broz Tito." Josip Broz Tito. Ohio State University, n.d. Web. 10 May 2014.
"Collaboration and Resistance." History. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 May 2014.
Chen, Peter. "Josip Tito." WW2DB RSS. World War II Database, n.d. Web. 12 May 2014.
Chen, Peter. "Wilhelm List." WW2DB RSS. World War II Database, n.d. Web. 13 May 2014.
Hart, Stephen A. "Partisans: War in the Balkans 1941 - 1945." BBC News. BBC, 17 Feb. 2011.
Web. 14 May 2014.
"Prince Paul of Yugoslavia." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 13 May 2014.
"Invasion of Yugoslavia (April 6, 1941) Summary – WWII German Attack."Totally History
Invasion of Yugoslavia Comments. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 May 2014.