Italian invasion of Greece 28 October 1940

In the morning of October 28, 1940, the son-in-law of Benito "Il Duce" Mussolini, Count Ciano presented the Greek Prime Minister Metaxas an ultimatum to allow the forces of Italy passage through Greece to allow the resupply of Italian troops in Northern Africa. The prime minister's reply of <Όχι> (No). precipitated the Greek nation into the Second World War. At first, opposing the Italian Army, the Greeks imposed stunning defeats on the Facisti. Moving out of Ioannina with local women and beasts of burden carrying supplies and munitions over the craggy mountains, the Greeks achieved the miracle of 1940. Argyrokastron fell and by December 15, the Greeks had pushed the Italians as far as midway Albania. This gave the Allies the FIRST victory and occupation of Axis territory of the war. In May 1941, a frustrated Germany, fuming at Mussolini's incompetence, had invaded Greece from Yugoslavia through Thessaloniki and Thrace, sealing the fate of the Greek forces. This was done by delaying Operation Barbarossa ( The invasion of the Soviet Union) until June 1941. The delay had the Germans stall before the gates of Moscow before the terrible winter. You might say that our mighty little Greece caused the Germans to lose the war! Ζητο η 28η Οκτοβριο 1940! Ζητο ο Στρατος!