Greece and the Defence of Crete, 1939–1941

This article aims to examine the Greek plans for the defence of Crete, both before and during the Greek-Italian war. Crete’s strategic position, especially in relation to the Middle East, motivated Britain who began to work out plans, even from the start of the war, aimed at the defence of Crete in...

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Main Author: Georges Yiannikopoulos
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Gruppo editoriale Tab S.r.l. 2021-10-01
Series:Nuova Antologia Militare
Online Access:https://www.tabedizioni.it/web/content/118772
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author Georges Yiannikopoulos
author_facet Georges Yiannikopoulos
author_sort Georges Yiannikopoulos
collection DOAJ
description This article aims to examine the Greek plans for the defence of Crete, both before and during the Greek-Italian war. Crete’s strategic position, especially in relation to the Middle East, motivated Britain who began to work out plans, even from the start of the war, aimed at the defence of Crete in case it was threatened by Axis forces. British action and contribution is more or less recognised in the international bibliography. However, what is less recognised, even in Greece itself, are the activities and the decisions taken by the Greek government and the General Staff to reinforce the island’s defence after the break out of the Greek-Italian war and especially during the last few months, before the battle of Crete began. Moreover, the article focuses on the condition of the Greek army units upon arrival on Crete and what efforts were made or not made for improvements.
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spelling doaj.art-4f3beeeece9e42058a182eb321f183ce2022-12-22T04:12:07ZengGruppo editoriale Tab S.r.l.Nuova Antologia Militare2704-97952021-10-012824127010.36158/97888929528988Greece and the Defence of Crete, 1939–1941Georges Yiannikopoulos0University of AThis article aims to examine the Greek plans for the defence of Crete, both before and during the Greek-Italian war. Crete’s strategic position, especially in relation to the Middle East, motivated Britain who began to work out plans, even from the start of the war, aimed at the defence of Crete in case it was threatened by Axis forces. British action and contribution is more or less recognised in the international bibliography. However, what is less recognised, even in Greece itself, are the activities and the decisions taken by the Greek government and the General Staff to reinforce the island’s defence after the break out of the Greek-Italian war and especially during the last few months, before the battle of Crete began. Moreover, the article focuses on the condition of the Greek army units upon arrival on Crete and what efforts were made or not made for improvements.https://www.tabedizioni.it/web/content/118772
spellingShingle Georges Yiannikopoulos
Greece and the Defence of Crete, 1939–1941
Nuova Antologia Militare
title Greece and the Defence of Crete, 1939–1941
title_full Greece and the Defence of Crete, 1939–1941
title_fullStr Greece and the Defence of Crete, 1939–1941
title_full_unstemmed Greece and the Defence of Crete, 1939–1941
title_short Greece and the Defence of Crete, 1939–1941
title_sort greece and the defence of crete 1939 1941
url https://www.tabedizioni.it/web/content/118772
work_keys_str_mv AT georgesyiannikopoulos greeceandthedefenceofcrete19391941