|
The Battle of Vevi (or Veve, (ギリシア語:Μάχη της Bεύης)), in Greece, also known as the Battle of the Klidi Pass, was part of the Greek campaign of World War II. It took place on 11–12 April 1941, north of the town of Amyntaion, close to the northwestern Greek border. Allied troops fought forces from Nazi Germany. ==Background== German forces invaded Greece and southern Yugoslavia from Bulgaria in the first week of April 1941. Following the collapse of resistance in Yugoslavia, the left flank of the Vermion line held by Greek and British Commonwealth forces became exposed. A new plan intended that Commonwealth forces would hold off Germans forces in western Macedonia, until non-motorised Greek infantry units had withdrawn on foot from Mount Vermion to Mount Siniatsiko, and a new defensive line had been formed between Mount Olympus and the Aliakmon River.〔(Australian War Memorial (AWM), no date, "Battle of Vevi (Veve) 9 April 1941 – 12 April 1941" ) Downloaded 24 August 2006.〕〔(Australian Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA), 2001, "The roof is leaking: Vevi and Sotir 9–14 April 1941". ) Downloaded 9/10/06.〕 On the morning of 10 April, the German XL ''Panzer'' Corps advanced from Monastir to seize the Greek city of Florina, south of the Yugoslav border, utilising the Monastir Valley (or "Monastir Gap"). ''Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler'' (''LSSAH''), a brigade-level unit commanded by ''Oberstgruppenführer'' Josef "Sepp" Dietrich and accompanied by 9th Panzer Division,〔Kurt Meyer, Michael Mendé & Robert J. Edwards, 2005, ''Grenadiers: The Story of Waffen SS General Kurt "Panzer" Meyer'', Stackpole Books, Mechanicsburg Pa, pp45-46.〕 advanced further south and occupied the town of Vevi on 11 April. The German 73rd Infantry Division followed behind ''LSSAH'' and attacked to the west, to widen the front of the German breakthrough. Confronting the Greek Cavalry Division in an action at Pisoderi Pass, the 73rd failed to make any progress.〔''Η Γερμανική Εκστρατεία Εις Την Ελλάδα'', απόδοσις Γεωργίου Γαζή, Αθήναι 1961, page 216, (translation of German original: ''Der Deutsche Griechenland Feldzug'', Alex Büchner, Kurt Vowinckel Verlag, Heidelberg 1957 )〕〔''Το Τέλος Μιάς Εποποιίας'', ΔΙΣ, Αθήναι 1959, pages 23–26〕 A mixed Australian-British-New Zealand-Greek formation – known as Mackay Force – was assembled hastily. Its task, in the words of the British Commonwealth commander in Greece, General H. Maitland Wilson, was to "stop a blitzkrieg down the Florina Valley."〔DVA, 2001 ''op. cit.''.〕 The force was named after its commander, the Australian Major General Iven Mackay, who deployed his headquarters in Perdika. The Australians and New Zealanders were tired after a long and sudden journey from North Africa, and were not prepared for a European winter, which was lingering in the Greek mountains.〔Long, ''op. cit.'', p. 58.]〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Battle of Vevi (1941)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|