1. Thesis
Hitler’s perception of the Balkans as a threat, initiated Operation 25 and Operation Marita, which granted Germany resources and land from the southern Balkans and led to Axis victory, delaying Operation Barbarossa which factored into the fall of the Nazi Regime.

2. Operation 25

3. Allied Powers v.s Axis Powers (25)
Yugoslavia
Prince Paul Josip Broz Tito Peter II
Axis Powers
Germany
Adolf Hitler Wilhelm List Paul Von Kleist

4. Key Leaders(Josip Broz Tito)
“captured by the Russians in 1917 and witnessed the Bolshevik revolution that fall” (“Tito.”) agent in communism
Agreed to remain neutral-Stalin (non-aggression pact) *until Hitler invades*
“most brilliant guerilla fighter” (“Tito”) very resistant leader
Conflict with Dragoljub Mihailović(Yugoslav Serb General)(Biber)
Later president of Yugoslavia

5. Key Leaders(Adolf Hitler)
Ordered the attack on the Yugoslavia (“Battle of Yugoslavia”)
His goal was to obtain resources and land (“Battle of Yugoslavia”)

6. Operation 25 Background
Axis Powers ask Yugoslavia to join Tripartite Pact (under Prince Paul)(“Axis invasion of Yugoslavia.”)
Tripartite Pact:
Goal=Invade Soviet Union(Operation Barbarossa)
*Pact divided the Yugoslavian Government* Tension between Serbs and Croatians
Causes coup d’etat New Government
Yugoslavian Government backed out of Pact Angered Hitler `

7. Operation 25 Battle Yugoslavia invaded by Axis Powers on April 6, 1941
Luftwaffe attacked Belgrade (Yugoslavia capital city)
Germans attacked from 3 sides and surrounded Yugoslavia
Axis use Blitzkrieg
Yugoslavia defeated April 17, 1941

8. Impact (Operation 25) New independent state Croatia
Germany and Italy divided Croatia into zones of influences, troop stationed in each
Yugoslavia Partisan group engaged in guerilla warfare against occupying armies until end of World War II (invasion of Yugoslavia.)

9. Operation Marita

10. Allied Powers v.s Axis Powers (Marita)
Greece and British Commonwealth
Tsouderos Metaxas Wilson Papagos
Axis Powers
Germany, Fascist Italy, and Bulgaria
Mussolini Hitler

11. Key Leaders(Benito Mussolini)
Passage through Greek territory
Calls for an attack on Greece

12. Operation Marita Background
Mussolini issued ultimatum to Greek dictator General Ioannis Metaxas, demanding passage through Greek territory (October 28, 1940)(“axis occupation of Greece.”)
Metaxas said no Italy attacks (pushed to stalemate in Albania)
*Attack Fails* Germany comes to the rescue (not really)
Main motive: Romanian oil fields
* In preparation to attack the USSR*
Form strong southern Balkan Coast (In preparation of) Operation Barbarossa

13. Operation Marita Battle
Germany invaded Greece (April 6th, 1941)
Attack via Bulgaria
Emmanuel Tsouderos(Greek Prime Minister) died King George II fled to Crete
The Germans invaded by air took over Crete (Greek government hid in Egypt)
April 30, British and Greek defeated

14. Impact(Operation Marita)
Affected the transport and exportation of supplies
Greece divided between German, Italian and Bulgarian forces
Caused Battle of Crete (“World War II in Greece and the Balkans”)
Lead to delay of Operation Barbarossa (attack USSR)

15. Relating back to the Thesis
Axis Tactics to divided Greece Separate Greek and British forces r Fear of loss of power
“Balkans as a threat prompted by Mussolini's failure to invade Greece”
Germany gained land from both Operations
“granting Germany to gain resources and land”
more land=more power
Gained resources that expanded abilities to gain power
“enabling them to be a powerhouse in World War II”

16. DONUT TIME!!!

17. Operation 25 Sparknote version
Background:
Yugoslavia joined Tripartite Pact Dropped Pact Angered Hitler
Battle:
Axis powers used Blitzkrieg techniques

18. Operation Marita Sparknote version
Background:
Italy attacks Greece *fails* Germany comes
Battle:
Axis powers used Blitzkrieg techniques Axis Powers Win

19. Long-term Impact Germany gained more land
Delay of Operation Barbarossa (Weiler)
Led to Battle of Crete

20. Works Cited
Malkoff, Karl. “Axis Occupation of Greece.” History in Literature, Facts On File, History Research Center, online.infobase.com/Auth/Index?aid=150531&itemid=WEHRC&articleId= Accessed 18 Apr
“Axis Invasion of Yugoslavia.” United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum,
Axelrod, Alan. “Axis Pact.” Encyclopedia of World War II, Vol. 1, Facts On File, History Research Center, online.infobase.com/Auth/Index?aid=150531&itemid=WEHRC&articleId= Accessed 20 Apr
Axelrod, Alan. “Tito.” Encyclopedia of World War II, Vol. 2, Facts On File, History Research Center, online.infobase.com/Auth/Index?aid=150531&itemid=WEHRC&articleId= Accessed 20 Apr
Biber, Dusan. "Britain, Mihailovic, and the Chetniks, " The Journal of Military History, vol. 62, no. 4, 1998, pp
Chamberlain, Briana, and Tim Boulevards. “Peter II.” Stpetersburg.com, 13 Jan. 2016, stpetersburg.com/.

21. Works Cited continued
Axelrod, Alan. “papagos, Alexandros.” Encyclopedia of World War II, Vol. 2, Facrs on File, History Research Center.
Henry Maitland Wilson. N. d. Web. Apr 2017.

22. Works cited for pictures

23. Works Cited for pictures continued

24. Works Cited for pictures continued