1. Operation 25 and Operation Marita
EY (A), MR (B), JC (A), JE (B)

2. Thesis
The Axis’ simultaneous invasion of Greece and Yugoslavia was executed through Operation Marita and 25, which set up Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the USSR, as well as successfully annexing the two countries, aiding the Germans with resources and land.

3. Leaders Involved
Benito Mussolini: Failed to invade Greece before Hitler
Adolf Hitler: Germany’s dictator that ordered the invasion of Operation 25 and Marita
Operation 25: Prince Paul of Yugoslavia, Josip Broz Tito (Organizer of Yugoslavian Resistance)
Operation Marita: Wilhelm List (German Commander)

4. Operation 25 Background
Alternate names: April War, Invasion of Yugoslavia
April 6th, 1941 to April 17th, 1941
The Germans did not want Yugoslavia to stay neutral, the country provided them with resources and raw materials due to Germany dominating their foreign trade. Resources from Yugoslavia: 45% aluminum, 90% tin, 40% lead
“Neutrality was undesirable because it left Yugoslavia open to British influence and the possibility of Britain gaining a foothold on the European continent” (Eedy 65).

5. Operation 25 Background continued
Hitler pressured Prince Paul of Yugoslavia to sign the Tripartite Pact
The Serbs overthrew Prince Paul and tried to dissolve the pact, angering Hitler
Hitler also wanted to secure his Balkan flank, which had been exposed to Britain air bases due to Mussolini’s failed invasion

6. Overview of 25
Involved the German, Italian, Hungarian, and Bulgarian military, Yugoslavia was now viewed as an enemy
Plans made by Hitler - was made sure to line up with Marita
The Luftwaffe bombed Belgrade <- central to the plan
Yugoslavia was no match for Germany
Out of date equipment Internal conflict between Serbs and Croats
Lack of training
In 11 days, the king fled and Yugoslavia surrendered
Countries involved decided to divide and annex Yugoslavia

7. Timeline: Operation 25
March 27, 1941: Hitler was furious and ordered the invasion of Yugoslavia
April 6, 1941: Start of German attack of Yugoslavia
April 8, 1941: Germany bombs Yugoslavia’s capital, Belgrade
April 14, 1941: The German Army destroys Yugoslavian forces at Monistar Gap, clearing a path into Greece.
April 17, 1941: King Peter flees to London, Operation 25 ends with German victory, Yugoslavia surrenders

8. Invasion of
Yugoslavia
And Greece
(Keegan 153)

9. Operation Marita Background
Alternate name: Battle of Greece
April 6th, 1941 to April 30th, 1941
Greece pushed Mussolini back, putting Italy at a stalemate -> Hitler decides to invade Greece
Why do you think Hitler wanted to do this?
Hitler also wanted to deny the British possession of war resources
Just like with Yugoslavia

10. Overview of Marita -Britain sends troops to assist Greece
-Greece and Britain’s troops were outnumbered on the ground and in the air, and they also suffered from a lack of communication, rough terrain, and an underdeveloped railroad system
-The British evacuate to Crete and the Greek army surrenders
-Germany occupies Athens, and splits Greece into 3 zones of occupation

11. Timeline: Operation Marita
October 28, 1940: Italy invades Greece (fails)
April 6, 1941: German invasion of Greece
April 9, 1941: Germany successfully captures the port city of Salonika
April 16, 1941: Allied forces in Greece are in full retreat
April 20, 1941:The Greek Army surrenders to the Germans and Italians.
April 21, 1941: British forces withdraw from Germany and Greece surrenders
April 27, 1941: Axis forces officially occupy Athens, effectively signaling the end of Greek resistance.

12. Impact
-Reassured Hitler That Yugoslavia and Greece are no longer threats, so he could focus on the Soviet Union
“which set up Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the USSR”
- “The German Second Army, OKH reserves, and 12 divisions scheduled for Operation Barbarossa were redeployed for use in the invasion of Yugoslavia and Marita. This delayed Operation Barbarossa…” (Eedy 67).
“aiding the German’s with resources and land”
-After Germany annexing Yugoslavia and Greece, the remaining Yugoslav territories were divided between Hungary, Bulgaria, and Italy

13. Questions What are two causes for Operation Marita or Operation 25?
What is the impact of Operations Marita/25?

14. Works Cited
Axelrod, Alan. “Yugoslavia during World War II.” Encyclopedia of World War II, Vol. 2, Facts
On File, History Research Center,
online.infobase.com/Auth/Index?aid=150531&itemid=WEHRC&articleId= Accessed 17 Apr
Becker, D. J. “Former Yugoslavia.” Encyclopedia of the United Nations, Second Edition, Facts On File, History Research
Center, online.infobase.com/Auth/Index?aid=150531&itemid=WEHRC&articleId= Accessed 23 Apr
Eedy, Sean. "Operation 25, Strategy and Tactics of (1941)." Germany at War : 400 Years of Military History, edited by David T. Zabecki, vol. 3, 2014, pp Gale Virtual Reference Library, go.galegroup.com.ezproxy.kcls.org/ps/start.do?p=GVRL&u=kcls. Accessed 17 Apr
Keegan, John. The Second World War. New York, Viking Penguin Books, 1990.
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 21 Apr
Miller, Donald L., and Henry Steele Commager. The Story of World War II. New ed., New York, Simon & Schuster, 2001.
Spielvogel, Jackson J. Western Civilization. 9th ed., Stamford, Cengage Learning, 2015.
“PART TWO.” THE GERMAN CAMPAIGN IN THE BALKANS (SPRING 1941): PART II, history.army.mil/books/wwii/balkan/20_260_2.htm.
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. "Axis Invasion of Yugoslavia." United States Holocaust Memorial Museum,
Van Creveld, Martin. “In the Shadow of Barbarossa: Germany and Albania, January-March 1941.” Journal of Contemporary History, vol. 7, no. 3/4, 1972, pp. 221–230. JSTOR, JSTOR,