Greco-Italian War 1940: Greece Strikes Back - World War 2 DOCUMENTARY

[@KingsandGenerals]

Hey!

[@praeposter]

Boo!

[@Τζει-ε5δ]

Hey guys.

[@pornometanastis6014]

Hey

[@Dietsch_]

Hey

[@exudeku]

•~•)7 SIR, YES SIR!

[@flagearvideo]

"Mussolini accused the Greeks of a great hatred against the Italians"... Yea well, that tends to happen when you INVADE THEIR FREAKING COUNTRY!!!

[@fredbarker9201]

The only time this doesn’t happen is if said invaded country already hates one set of occupiers and welcomes the new occupier as a saviour. (Alexander the Great in Egypt. Napoleon Bonaparte in Poland)

[@christospanagopoulos5821]

The Greeks never had hate for the Italians. They use the phrase "Una faza Una raza" meaning they kind of consider them "cousins". But yes they were defending their country from invasion and prior the invasion, mussolini had done lots of shit to Greece at the island of corfu and torpedo a Greek frigate, so, what he was expecting? War with flowers and hugs? Of course they were hating the Italians

[@athanasiosfoteinos7082]

@@christospanagopoulos5821 Never??- Probably you mean lately coz...there is a long story and a very blood stained past....The fact is however that besides the problems and the horrible past Italians were hated only when they were attempting to or succeeding to become occupiers (by means of war, finance or religious issues) coz they were considered as civilized people and not savages.

[@Reactionary_Harkonnen]

Yeah but the Germans & especially the Italian states were helping the Byzantines against the Ottomans in the 15th century.... Sooooo....... Things were way better for Europe when it was heavily influenced by the Roman Catholic/Orthodox churches...

[@colingravon9810]

​@@Reactionary_Harkonnen Not clumping up to die from the black plague probably makes that EU church thing untrue.

[@angrycabbage1988]

Greece pulling one of the biggest uno reverse card in history

[@vigla002]

For sure. As a Greek I am proud our grandfathers and great grandfathers showed the rest of the world that fascism can be defeated. It brought hope to the rest of the world...

[@PokerGrind02]

@@vigla002 we had a fascist leader mate

[@aleksk4151]

yeah i felt shivers in my body at 15:48 Great Greek fighter

[@xxjr8axx]

well in all fairness we are talking about the italians here.

[@Counteris16]

@@vigla002 I'm just curious at how did the Greeks manage to lose to the Turkish then if they were so good militarily (after WW1)?

[@chrismaverick3484]

Holding Hill 731 was the braviest thing the entire Greco-Italian war The hill received the haviest bombardment in the whole ww2 (compared to size) After the fight the hill was reduced by 5 meters (now is height 726) Living dead Greeks with gunpowdered-smoked and torned clothes as they ran out short of ammunition they put their bayonets and counter-attacked with such a fury that the Italians later Nicknamed this assault "Contrataccato dei Animali' (Counter-attack of the beasts) The friendly greek units wonder how is possible to be at least any alive person on that hill after those heavy bombardments The casualties of 17 days battle for the Greek side: 125 K.I.A 28 W.I.A 425 wounded Italian side: 1000 K.I.A 3000 wounded

[@StergiosMekras]

Almost feels like a Sabaton song...

[@Κονανογαργαρος]

Yes our greek ancestors had huge balls from Steel.I met one veteran who fight in hill 731.He had nightmares until his death..

[@nickpaschentis5284]

@@StergiosMekras I Gonna Fly my Banner in the Wind.

[@chrismaverick3484]

@@Κονανογαργαρος Μόνο σεβασμό για τους προγόνους μας αδερφέ!

[@saber2802]

True sons of Herakles

[@nightviber2097]

On hill 731 it is said that one day the Italians bombed the Greek positions so badly that the soldiers from the surrounding areas didnt believe there would be any survivors on the hill, the Italians sent divisions to take the hill and when they reached close enough they were welcomed by Greek troops who some of them survived that the Italians retreated from fear. It was a bloody battle.

[@aleksk4151]

Wow

[@johnsoulou9720]

Greek troops on the hill 731 looked like walking dead. In one of the Italian charges the Greeks instantly counter charged and meet the italians half way. It was such a shock for the italian soldiers that they immediately broke and flee.

[@nickpaschentis5284]

You can say,That the Bomb Rain in Vain😁

[@aokiaoki4238]

A diary of the time of someone watching from the A cross Hill writes: After the bombing of the Italians nothing seemed to be left but suddenly from the soil and stones, the ripped earthbags and the broken bomb shells, human beings were rising, counterattack Italians even more determined." In 731 Greek soldiers were covered by entering in the holes of the italian bomb shells that have covered all the field.

[@historyofitaly4364]

Fear? The italians fought like lions and the losts of the fronts explain that Hitler said that the german invasion of greece was facilitated by the italians that tired the greek army

[@animeyahallo3887]

Mussolini failed to defeat the Greeks *This enraged his father who punished him severely*

[@dmtrs_ras3224]

Oversimplified time!!!

[@otakunthevegan4206]

Child Abuse? Theres a tax for that.

[@dmtrs_ras3224]

@@otakunthevegan4206 tax for child abuse? There is a tax for that

[@zachbear98765]

@@dmtrs_ras3224gonna need a stamp for the child abuse paperwork...... Stamp.

[@NandiCollector]

JA!

[@Procrustes7]

The Greek writer Angelos Terzakis, who fought in the war himself and was an onlooker of the attack has given riveting accounts of the battle. Unfortunately there is no proper english translation but I'm going to make an attempt for this little passage: 'Those who now stood hooked up there in the middle of the night did not look like human beings. They looked like skeletons dressed in rags and bandages, like raging, black ghosts, covered with dirt and freezing sweat, their eyes crazed by the hunger, the agony, the fight with Death'. Interestingly enough the description looks a lot like the following account by an Italian lieutenant that fought in the battle ''When we first attacked 731, I thought we would not meet a single Greek alive on the hill. The bombings that preceded the attacks were just so intense. But.. there they were, waiting for us. I kept expecting none would be left alive, in our subsequent attacks, which always took place after heavy fire from our artillery and air forces. But they were always there, waiting for us and fighting us back to out positions. They were waiting for us, in a standing position, right in front of their destroyed trenches, with their bayonets fixed on their weapons. They often laughed out loud and shouted at us. They had surpassed the human state. They were no longer humans, I believe that, they were beasts''

[@kiel_3222]

Now that's a passage

[@konstantinestratidis3691]

Hello, May I ask the sources that your were able to find the Greek and Italian accounts? I would very much like to acquire them for my academic edification. Thank you!!

[@nedstark4183]

I respect the Greeks. They can fight hard in the winter.

[@schachshaolin7856]

Yes but I am not sure if they have a chance in winterfall Lord stark. :D

[@SonOfAPreacherMan]

@@schachshaolin7856 they will put winterfall in ashes, i know, ive seen them

[@robjones1328]

oh yeah bc winters are soooo harsh in fucking Greece genius

[@freespiritable]

I think it's more like they knew the territory. They lived there. Instead the Italians were in foreign territories and Albanians weren't friendly either since they treated them as the occupators that they were.

[@noldor1430]

@@robjones1328 Actually, the 1940-1941 winter was historically cold in the Balkans, with temperatures on the mountains where the battles took place going even below -20 C. Lord Eddard Stark knows his stuff.

[@jordanorfanopoulos6697]

Mussolini : I m gonna restore the Roman Empire! Julius Caesar : Someone stop this Fool , he's embarrassing us all! Greeks : Yes my Caeser!

[@supergkop5678]

I can just imagine all the great Roman leaders just cringing watching this while all their historical rivals are just fucking cackling.

[@vigla002]

Mussolini's claim is dubious since Rome fell first and many centuries later did the Roman Empire fall in Constantinople. If anything it should be the other way around!

[@prajeeths2131]

@@Mirokuofnite underrated comment

[@molomomo3743]

@@Mirokuofnite why the ottoman is bad spinoff tho?

[@dgray3771]

@@Mirokuofnite Musolini : I've brought peace,freedom, justice and security to my new empire! Greece: Your new empire?

[@andi-sigLpg]

Remember my grandfather saying me about hill 731 and Këlcyra pass. He was a local albanian from these areas. Heavy fights between italians and Greeks. The villagers after the fighting days burying italians and Greeks side by side in saimola field in kelcyre pas. The villagers writes in a wooden board. ENEMIES IN LIFETIME! FRIENDS IN THE DEATH! MY grand father told me Greeks fighted like tru warriors. His father save a Greek soldier in a cave behind Italian line an as result Italian burn his home. Peace to all humanity. We can heate each other in life but we all gonna be friends in the death. 🌏 🕊 🕊

[@parists5455]

God rest the souls of your grandfather and grand grand father who helped Greeks and were punished for it

[@tomaszzalewski4541]

"In war no one is more victorious then death"

[@orestis6420]

Thank you for sharing this story, and a great thanks to your great grandfather for his humanity..

[@someonethatlikesyou7713]

im greek and i respect what your grand father did he was really a true warrior if he acrually did that!

[@someonethatlikesyou7713]

@@parists5455 albanian ultranationalist moment

[@petergray2712]

14:48 "Wolves of Tuscany" 7th Division actually fell apart and routed due to poor planning by the Italian staff officers. The Greeks subsequently renamed them the "Rabbits of Tuscany" division.

[@petergray2712]

@@apmoy70 Wow. Everyone is saying the Italians didn't learn from WW1. Here they didn't even learn from the Battle of Adwa against the Ethiopians way back in 1898. Edit: That's another battle I'd like to see done on this channel. It's an object lesson on the dangers of dictating military strategy in the name of fame rather than results.

[@macknut2033]

@@petergray2712 at adwa the main problem was that the 3 columms didnt comunicate with eachothers and lost track in the night when moring arrived the italians were isolated and they were easy prey for the ehtiopian army that outnumberd the italians Many italian strongpoints just got swormed by a see of ehtiopians the surviving italians had to flee in the desert alone some made it back to Eritrea but not many

[@petergray2712]

@@macknut2033 They also lacked maps, got lost traversing rocky terrain, lacked artillery support etc.. Spoiler Alert: The Italian invasion of Abyssinia (Ethiopia) in 1898 actually started out pretty well. The Italian commander realized that the opposition were well armed and motivated, had a strong warrior tradition, possessed far greater numbers, and had a tradition of beating Islamic armies for centuries. But the Ethiopians had a major weakness in that their logistical system was rudimentary. Any army they fielded depended upon the generosity of local Ethiopian communities to keep troops and horses fed. The Italian strategy was a Fabian one: avoid pitched battles and deep advances until the Ethiopian army exhausted local food supplies, forcing the latter to disperse back to their home regions. Alas all of this was happening the same time as the Anglo-Egyptian invasion of neighboring Sudan against the murderous Mahdi regime (*). This event, plus other countries recent military developments, made the contemporary Italian government green with envy, and the Prime Minister ordered the Italian commander to abandon his careful strategy in favor of a decisive battle. And as Mr. Mangini pointed out, the Italian plan and execution was a shambles. 17,000 Italian troops were surrounded by 70,000 Ethiopians, and only 6000 escaped (including their now disgraced commander) to Eritrea. This was the worst European defeat inflicted by an indigenous African army. The Italians would not return until 1936. (*) Another future K&G topic, please.

[@macknut2033]

@@petergray2712 i would also point out that those italian troops had been instucted in using the carcano but when they were about to embarc the italian politics of not spending came in and they recived the old vetterli vitali an old gun that fired 10,35×47 and weighted 4,35 kilos and so italians had less bullests with them and were more tierd since they had to carry their full gear plus the gun

[@Τζει-ε5δ]

@@aleksk4151 At least we can swim......You know sharks swim right? And killer whales too

[@nikoszoris6668]

Walking deads on Hill 731! I once saw a documentary about the battle of hill 731 and in a veteral nursing home there was an old Greek veteran who had grief in his eyes and recalled his memories about this hestoric battle. This man was a machine gunner and his company was covering the defence of one of the mountain passages to the top of the hill. He said: "When the Italian bombardment finished there were no trees standing, no rocks in place and no human voices anymore. We were all covered in a pile of soil and rocks and i started digging with bare hands to get out until i saw the sun. All of those survived were covered in blood and mud and were staring at the dead bodies of our comrades that a moment ago talked about their families and homes. My Captain was severely injured and i knew he would not make it, my Surgent was dead and only a Corporal, me and 2 other soldiers were alive. The Corporal ordered me and another one to take posisions by the machine gun which was still operational and guard the passage until we reorganize our defences . We were shocked but we knew the Italians will launch an attack soon so we took positions. After an hour we heard voices on the passage and i loaded the gun. 15-20 Italian troops appeared ahead of me and they were suprised to see men still alive in this living hell. The ones ahead droped their guns and asked for surrender but in my mind there were still the images of my dead comrades and the injured crying for my help. I turned the machine towards them and fired. I killed them, i murdered young men in my age (20 years old)." He finished by saying: "I wake up every night with nightmares, i see the faces of my dead comrades up on that hill and then the faces of those men i killed. May the god forgive me for what i did when i leave this world" The documentary ended with the narrator saying that the veteran died a few weeks later and he can now rest away of his never ending nightmares. This heroic resistance was the willing of the Greeks to defend their homes because most of the fighters in the first line were from Epirus against an overpowered enemy that had no motives to match them.

[@kk7324]

Fact: :Height of hill 731 was not reduced because of Italian bombardment. It was due to the shear weight of Greek soldiers' balls of steel.

[@AveragePakistaniChild]

XD

[@reazuddinkazi6716]

I understand how Hitler felt. It's like when you are dominating your lane while your team mate s are feeding relentlessly.

[@TNT8wiki]

@@mastermindd unfortunately he is tilted mid games and throw

[@kapoioskanenas2337]

@@TNT8wiki meanwile japanese are playing the mid lane that never comes to help

[@monkerulz]

@@kapoioskanenas2337 they tried to gank early game but got trashed and was on the backfoot since

[@TNT8wiki]

@@kapoioskanenas2337 true Japan is the mid lane that keep saying "dont worry guy, im gonna farm and carry late game"

[@Cancoillotteman]

US Kassadin being like "level 13, .... 14.... 15.... Third point in R and you guys are DOOMED !!" While ennemy USSR Nasus on the Toplane just keeps on stacking

[@perseusarkouda]

I remember from a Greek documentary an interview of a veteran who fought at hill 731 who was saying with tears in his eyes how many Italians were killed. They really didn't hate them. They just did what they had to do.

[@pseudomonas03]

Great video! Τhe Battle of the Hill 731 is one of the most epic and heroic battles in the Greek History. After the merciless bombardement of the Hill from the Italian artillery and air forces that reduced the height of the Hill 731, for about 6 meters (!), the Italians couldn't believe that they were still Greek soldiers alive, defending the Hill, and waiting for them. The epic Greek resistence in the Hill 731, became legendery, and was called the "Thermopylae that didn't fall". The Thessalians that were majority of the Division which defended the Hill, honoured the heritage of the Myrmidons.

[@chrisstamatis3570]

The Battle of Hill 731 is probably one of the most heroic moments of Greek history. It is The Attack of the Dead Men but instead of gas there are tons and tons of bombs and debris.

[@ls200076]

@تشارلز حكمة Damn, we're truly multinational here.

[@GhostKiller755]

@تشارلز حكمة that's not a Serbian name... Probably Bulgarian

[@general8191]

@@_____Z_____ we know you are a loser you don't have to tell us

[@aleksk4151]

that's a Russian name with Bulgarian alphabet. In Bulgarian, we write it almost the same except we say "Dimitri" whereas above is "Dmitri" . Dmitri is Russian . so

[@aleksk4151]

Димитрий Дюжев = Bulgarian version

[@whiterabbit7799]

If Greeks aren't outnumbered it won't be a fair fight.

[@vlaf3196]

they "lonely country" decided to attack Greece and Serbia aka ex-allies...

[@christermi]

@@aleksk4151 bulgaria failed miserably against serbia , while Greece striked from the south , decisively defeating the bulgarians . Bulgarian defeat encouraged the Romanians and the ottomans to also join in .

[@talridisblagoev242]

@@zisispit your the ones that officially declared war on us even when Evstratiev Geshov asked for a ceasefire and the serbs + greek diplomats spit in his face so to speak and declared it.(and ofc you did you you were just waiting for an opportunity to screw over bulgaria).

[@USERCRETE]

@@aleksk4151 Greece at the beginning always had the fewer soldiers . They were able to gather great numbers in the end because of the extreme numbers of volunteers that rushed in to the fight every time. So cut the crap .

[@aleksk4151]

I just speak in military terms, i don't want destruction for either nation, so don't take offense. Bulgaria send 1 army out of 5 against Greece . So the pressure felt on the Serbians and Montenegrins. Greeks enjoyed advantage and relief. So lets analyize fairly and not read glorifying exaggerations from Greek authors. Also Romanian advance demoralized the Bulgarian army and they came from the rear threatening to destroy Sofia . Constantinos of Greece sent telegram to the Romanians to arrive and help cause he was in a mountain trap . Serbians failed to take Vidin and Greeks failed to take Dhjumaia and push to Sofia. Bulgarians outflanked the Greeks leaving them with 1 route to escape which was about 2 days time to get closed. So Bulgaria stabilized itself and turning the tide . However Romania was too much. Strategically speaking Bulgaria was a FOOL , but militarily it performed admirably . Any nation would fall in such severe circumstances 5 vs 1

[@celotape14]

These Greeks are relentless! Such fantastic organisation of the units.

[@aleksk4151]

they are good and effective, but not on every territory. Certainly in the mountains. But not on "open fields" . Also not against wide fronts and big countries. with exception: Greco-Persian wars and Macedonian wars

[@qedrbaf6973]

So few people know about greek courage in ww2 and the sacrifice they made. Respect for our greek brothers from Serbia

[@JohnSmith-fl5qn]

The strongest resistance due Germanc occupation was the Serbian and greek. Even for this very few they are informed

[@kenny187ful]

When the mountains start speaking Greek Italians: *M A M A M I A*

[@aleksk4151]

Bulgaria: Battle of Pliska 811

[@zoichi_kanoe6227]

It's "mamma mia", actually.

[@nicksfe]

@@aleksk4151 Hey bro, did you see battle of the Klyuch (1014)?? Oh, sorry about "see"...

[@aleksk4151]

@@nicksfe we saw the Second Bulgarian empire 🤣💪

[@aleksk4151]

@@nicksfe blinding was a common punishment in medieval. Nothing new, nothing big deal 🙂 Plus I don't even believe it as no first hand Byzantine sources prove it. 🖐️

[@solinvictus1214]

*modern Greeks and Italians looking at this conflict like* Italy: hey bro, sorry for invading you Greece: that's okay bro, sorry for shaming you

[@thetreatment498]

Both:Let's eat pizza and gyros together.

[@taxiarchiskalyvas8198]

True

[@g.t6702]

Greeks, not sorry to Albanians that in till this day we still have declaration of WAR!

[@allwheelmodeltoys491]

The modern armies cannot compare to their ancient ones in reputation

[@allwheelmodeltoys491]

They'd better be worried about the brand new Ottoman v.2

[@williamkirk1156]

I remember my father, a Royal Navy officer, once remarked to me that the Greeks chased the Italians all over the place after they invaded. I never realized how much until I saw these videos. What a disaster.

[@karimtemri1664]

My great uncle was an Italian who fought in Greece. He told us that he got his ass kicked, was put in prison, at a certain point weighed 130lbs on a 6 foot frame and the guards promised to kill him. One day he escaped from Prison and swam towards a vessel that ended up being a British ship. He hoped to eat something filling for the first time in months but a 6 foot 5 British general ordered that he would be chained and no food for him until the next day

[@williamkirk1156]

@@karimtemri1664 We have something in common then. My uncle (father's brother) was a Royal Engineer. He was part of Operation Market Garden and eventually was captured. Because he was labeled as a paratrooper, a fanatic, he was treated as like a terrorist. He was first sent to Auschwitz where they built a chemical plant. During that time he said he never saw Jews but he did see Russians (and he leaned close to me and said "you know, they never fed them and we would toss food to them... when we had it". Later he was transferred to a regular POW Camp. My father said when he saw him again he was like a skeleton recovering. Thank you for sharing what your great uncle went through.

[@karimtemri1664]

@@williamkirk1156 thank you too for this story!

[@seyedhasanzolanvar]

wooooowwwwwwwwww, Now I can see why our forefathers even at the height of our empire failed against Greece. Respect from the ancient rival, Persia (modern-day Iran)

[@polytrelaras1]

Respect from Greece. At least Alexander the Great became a pacifist from an invader after meeting the great Persian civilization from close. He was the first universalist and he was assassinated for that.

[@aekara1924kostas]

IT HAS BEEN 2500 YEARS PAST, WE GREEK SEE YOU PERSONALLY AS FRIENDS, OUR BOTH CULTURES ARE VERY OLD WE HAVE TO BE PROUD OF THEM

[@CBRider911]

respect to our Persian friends from 🇬🇷

[@ΑνΓ-η2ζ]

Respect from Hellas to Persia! Ancient enemies and modern friends!

[@ΠαυλοςΕξαρχος-γ3κ]

Respect to Iranian people you have to overthrow those muslims terrorist that rule you and become Zoroastrian again you don't deserve that tragedy

[@helium-379]

Ah the Cretans. The best unit in Rome Total War.

[@nerokota]

Imagine what they could accomplish if they had their bows instead ;)

[@lukeeagan5961]

Im dead😂😂😂

[@luciusartoriuscastus3960]

and the rodian slingers

[@ruthswann88]

See what actually happened is that the Greeks set up phalanxes in the passes to force the Italians into choke points and used Cretans to pick off flanking forces. Sure the pila volleys were devastating but the legionaries only carry two :D

[@makislazer5118]

@@ruthswann88 ye, but after 5000 casualties the mercenary pool of the region was diminished so they had to fall back. That's why u take Epirus, coz u have elephants as faction mercenaries. You could just roll some indian war elephants down hill 731 and let them go amok. Heroic victory

[@KonstantinGR.]

"Hence we will not say, that Greeks fight like heroes, but that heroes fight like Greeks !" -Winston Churchill

[@michealohaodha9351]

“If I had been an Italian I am sure that I should have been whole-heartedly with you from the start to finish in your triumphant struggle against the bestial appetites and passions of Leninism." -Winston Churchill This is not to undermine Greek heroism, just that Churchill was an arch politician who would say anything to anyone as long as it suited him.

[@aesop8694]

General Eisenhower. On this occasion Churchill was correct and the Greeks certainly were the first to defeat an Axis force in WW2. However there is no other way of commenting on Churchill except to say he was the most treacherous, lying and repulsive leader on the allies side. This is the man with a history of military disasters solely of his own making who excelled at giving compliments to ones face whilst stabbing you in the back. No, Hitlers praise of the Greeks was more sincere Adolf Hitler: "For the sake of historical truth I must verify that only the Greeks, of all the adversaries who confronted us, fought with bold courage and highest disregard of death.. " (From speech he delivered to Reichstag on 4 May 1941)

[@TheManFromWaco]

0:20 Italy: "Conquest is our Roman legacy!" Greece: "Have you ever heard of Alexander the Great?"

[@aleembaksh1880]

Wasn't Alexander a Macedonian?

[@SkiourosTimmy]

Yea that's part of being Greek.. Just like Spartan or Athenian

[@kazimahin790]

You mean Macedonian?

[@Spartan-1821]

Aleem Baksh 3 second google search bro don’t play dumb

[@arandurion]

@@aleembaksh1880 yes he was. However in ancient times the people of macedonia were culturally, ethnically and linguistically hellenic ie. Greek.

[@shirleysiu5958]

I am thinking the Axis would do better with Italy staying neutral.

[@otakunthevegan4206]

Or just not starting a world war alltogether.

[@chrismath149]

@@otakunthevegan4206 As terrible as it was, I prefer living in a republic so thank god they started that damn war. I wouldn't want Central Europe to be North Korea.

[@TheDirtysouthfan]

@@chrismath149 If the Nazi's didn't start the war, they would've collapsed under their own weight. They had been gearing their economy for war and it was only the looting from conquered territory which allowed them to stay afloat.

[@eric11]

Without italya germany would have lost a year before

[@umarfarooq-vm4to]

@@eric11 how so? Germans had to plug in hundred of thousands troops to plug in where Italy was failing, North Africa, Greece, Italian peninsula itself. It would have been easy for Germans to concentrate on more important objectives instead of helping Italians.

[@TheANwDyNos]

Us the Greeks are very proud of our men who held the lines and kicked back the Italian forces so far. Even when outnumbered, even when they had no supplies our boys managed to win the battle. Greece fought heroically till the end for its land and people and we will always remember and thank them, our brave soldiers. ΖΗΤΩ Η ΕΛΛΑΣ🇬🇷! Amazing video thanks for taking the time to make it good👍

[@secretscipio]

Roman Legionaries(looking at WWII Italian Army from above) : *Shame*

[@pillalamarrisaikumar7205]

It is not the army it was the generals

[@kapoioskanenas2337]

Roman legionaries were from all the parts of the roman empire

[@ls200076]

@@kapoioskanenas2337 Including Greece.

[@nikostombris5505]

elektron117 Legio V macedonicca was a Greek / thrasian Legion

[@Alpha4ification]

Modern Greeks are the last descendants of the Romans, Italians are glorified Visigoths, and therefore Roman Legionaries looking from above would have been proud!!! :-p

[@turuncueller]

Respect from Turkey: Hill 731, wow..

[@ThisAlias]

@הנבחרים ישו מת האנשים ??what about me shakshuka FREE PALESTINE 🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸

[@sulemanmalik8228]

​@הנבחרים ישו מת האנשים Too bad you can´t say the same thing about rightwing zionists in Israel, who exclude people based on biology and and bulldoze palestinian houses to create racial colonies, which settlements de facto are

[@nikolaostouloumis1573]

Thank you neighbor ✋

[@aleksk4151]

Greeks are warriors. Sick battle

[@historyofitaly4364]

Hitler said that the german invasion of greece was facilitated by the italians that tired the greek army

[@chriskw4362]

Imagine that 731 was the altitude of the hill and after the battle was reduced to 728 - 729 by the bombardments if i m not mistaken.

[@aokiaoki4238]

726

[@86BlackRider86]

that is correct

[@kapoioskanenas2337]

My grandfather was transporting supplies to the greek frontlines in this war. Because the greek airforce was almost non existent they only drove in the night with lights off while they had a person walking infront of the truck with a page of newspaper strapped on his back so that they wont go offroad.

[@bananaguard]

Why newspaper on his back?

[@justADeni]

@@bananaguard to see the man in the dark

[@thetapi256]

The story of the offensive upon Hill 731 deserves to be turned into a film. Incredible!

[@commandergeokam2868]

Kings and Generals you didnt mention that the hill 731 changed to a 726 because of the repeated attacks from Italians

[@gs7256]

In other words.. Greece Hellas might be a small country with limited resources...but it’s people have a huge responsibility towards history and this gives them the passion and strength to be victorious over wealthier countries..

[@NOK2014_Corfu_Activities]

1. Argyrocastro = Αργυρόκαστρο (silver Castle) . Taken by Greek army in the 1st Balkan War (12-13). Given to Albania in 1913 by the treaty of London and Florence. Retaken by the Greek army in 1914 when Albania state had collapsed with the begging of the WWI. 2. Agii Saranta Port = Άγιοι Σαράντα (40 Saints). Taken by the Greek army in 1914. In the 1916 along with Argyrokastro was united to Greece. The peace treaty of Paris in 1919 gave again that city to Albania, along with Argyrocastro, reestablishing the 1913 treaties of London and Florence. 3. Ximara= Χειμάρρα. Greek in 1914-1916. Given to Italians in 1916. In 1921 was given to Albania. Still Greeks live in northen Epirus (south Albania) today, they speak Greek and come to Greece.

[@thanoskoumpanis9699]

Your channel is doing a better job to educate young Greeks from our government!!! Thank you for teaching us who we really are!!!

[@tonynaidos9057]

O

[@DIAKUMAS]

Αυτό σκέφτηκα και εγω ρε

[@katerinakiiii5438]

They are teaching us, you didn't payed attention.

[@JohnnyTheMontain]

Proud for my nation and for my country...Greece is a land of heroes!

[@morisco56]

Glory of hellas

[@JohnnyTheMontain]

@@morisco56 Time after time, force their enemies back to the line Call to arms banners fly in the wind For the glory of Hellas Coat of arms reading "Freedom or death" Blood of king Leonidas

[@greekviking5987]

@@aalb1873 Never saw such an uninformed person out there, lol north Macedonia with what army? they got no army. same with Bulgaria their army is basically an armed militia same with Albania. the only strong nations in the Balkans are Greece and Serbia. the Kosovo situation is actually getting fixed. and our army is strong and big enough to beat the Bulgarian Albanians and north Macedonians all combined without Serbia but I mean this is the youtube comment section so I'm not surprised.

[@JohnnyTheMontain]

@@aalb1873 I said I am proud for my ancestors not for my current policy...and mind your own business...perhaps you are from a country without a single page of history! Some day everyone will pay for their crimes! And there's no north Macedonia or south Macedonia...Makedonia is one and it's Greek...read some history idiot!

[@giorgostoskas2185]

@@aalb1873 albania doesnt have an army , economy , equipment to last 2 days against Greece... All albania's banks are Greek so if you start a war against Greece you are done

[@VirtualnomadVirtualnomad]

Italy, where Mafia is better organized and efficient than the army

[@alimohammad1934]

@@lupoligiuseppe5208 you forget the japanese who is alone beating the allied forces alone in the east.😁

[@abdelghanimeralet9423]

@@lupoligiuseppe5208man germany took france in 6 weeks, the second biggest empire in the world in six weeks!! and italy couldn't even take greece

[@jordanorfanopoulos6697]

@@lupoligiuseppe5208 Well then.....where are the dead Brits and destroyed Brit Tanks ans Planes in Albanian War theatre? There are none!!!Cause they were not there!!

[@george-stathopoulos]

@@lupoligiuseppe5208 read your text book. Italy has a lot of libraries

[@arandomguy8771]

@Alessandro Delogu Thats why he said better organised not better soldiers it does not matter what you got all you need are weapons and good leadership to control a battlefield

[@tasoszonios5021]

Greece: i dont usually go to war but when i do...

[@กสิณเถกิงสุขวัฒนา]

1st Greek division is the real MVP of this video

[@nerokota]

Fun fact, nowadays it is the Special Forces/Elite units HQ.

[@Big_E_Soul_Fragment]

Italy: *invades* Greece: *NO U*

[@vb1564]

Cadia: *shakes head*

[@aleksk4151]

meanwhile Bulgaria conquers

[@nermainmerl6108]

Greek news before the war " The fascists of Italy invaders of our motherland, we SHALL DESTROY THEM BY GOD" *A few months later* "The heroic Hellenic army successfully *liberated* Kleisoura , Himara, Sarande and half of Albania from the Fascists, General Papagos was heard of saying "We stop at Rome" There was a French village bordering Italy that put messages all over the village for the Greeks to "Greeks don't invade us here , this is french territory" Roman Emperor Justinian watching from above : Greeks were always the Romans

[@xananymous431]

After this defeat, mussolini was known as "Europe soft underbelly" by Winston Churchill.

[@nandinhocunha440]

I wonder, if Italy shouldve remain neutral in WW2

[@lucinae8512]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH! *Apply cold water to burned area*

[@Gentleman...Driver]

@@nandinhocunha440 Neutral with a fashist leader? Too late for that.

[@michaellejeune7715]

@@Gentleman...Driver Spain was neutral, even after Franco was helped to power by German and Italian troops. Mussolini wanted to prove he was the greatest fascist leader, having ruled the longest etc. Reality kicked him so hard. To a previous comment about the Italian mountains: so, so true. The Italian landscape was a dream to the German defending troops, and a huge mostly forgotten nightmare to US, Canadian and Anzac troops. The first US Army Rangers got annihilated and had to start from scratch for instance.

[@vermicelledecheval5219]

@@superspies32 France and Italy at that time had nothing to be compared to say the least. This destroys part of your argument... On the second hand I do not understand : the US should have chosen the Viets instead France during Vietnam war ? Please clarifie this awkward analysis...🤔😦🦶🧠⁉️

[@YiannissB.]

Be warned. the comment section won't be exciting. There just isn't any bad blood between Greeks and Italians. Move along

[@aleembaksh1880]

There is bad blood between Greeks and Albanians tho, that's pretty entertaining

[@otakunthevegan4206]

Yea, the Eastern front videos are fun tho, all the triggered wehraboo's trying to justify German actions.

[@YiannissB.]

@@aleembaksh1880 Guess again

[@darthwalrus4740]

@@otakunthevegan4206 And soviet wannabes doing the same from their point of view. Both are pathetic.

[@raptorjesues1445]

@@aleembaksh1880 what? why?

[@aagrafio]

I can't imagine the reactions, when the Greek officers announced to their soldiers: "Boys, tomorrow we'll fight against Pusteria division"...

[@Tsotsis1]

χαχαχα

[@vasileiospapazoglou2362]

xaxaxaxa

[@ephilippos]

Pus.. Hysteria Division

[@coastsouljah]

Wow, I diddnt realise the Greeks had such little assistance from the Allies. Had previously assumed they were heavily supported or even led by the British or US troops.

[@Ak3rf3ldt]

Yea because nobody thought they could fight back with no tanks or air support. If Greeks had the armaments of British or Americans they would have repelled the Germans too, but they eventually got pincered by both Germans and Italians, the Wehrmacht tanks were too much to handle

[@ΣτεφανοςΣυκουτρης]

I feel happy seeing that foreign channels cover our history, many dont see what we did on WWII. If you can cover the Line of Metaxas

[@Menelaosmintokleineis]

Greeks kicked and will kick ass when it comes to someone threatening their land. Mad respect.

[@Funk5Punk]

Greece always fights the wars of the west and then goes bankrupt and betrayed, while Italy after the war managed to built a strong industry and economy.

[@raptorjesues1445]

calling italian economy strong must be the funniest thing you ever said

[@Funk5Punk]

@@raptorjesues1445 I know they have some struggles the last 10 years but they still belong to the seven major developed countries (G7).

[@golkas9971]

Pusteria division? With a name like this, it is impossible to defeat a Greek force.

[@thanospappos1078]

for people that don't get it basically poustis or pustis means homosexual in Greek. So Pusteria division roughly translates to the division of gays.

[@StergiosMekras]

@@thanospappos1078 Not just "homosexual" ...it also carries the taint of being dishonorable. (ramped up to 11 if the "poustraki' variant is used).

[@Astraman1989]

I heard they later split into two divisions, The Pustardeli Division and the Karapustario division.

[@kelek5229]

@@Astraman1989 HAHAHAHAHAHHAH

[@lodbroksson]

A Greek song was written around 1940-'41, specifically to mock Mussolini. To this day, it's still being taught to children in the first few years of primary school and is always played during celebrations of "Ohi" (No) Day.

[@georgeevangel899]

I spoke to my Aunt who was a teenager during the ocupation the song was "Mussolini the Buffoon",it was forbiden to sing this but a German office demanded it be played at a restaurant when they did all the Germans got up and song it in Greek

[@StergiosMekras]

I've been humming it throughout the video...

[@PatrasPhantom]

Mussolini: Invades Greece Greece: I'm about to ruin this man's whole career.

[@Durahan82]

*Laughs in German*

[@Koproshillos-]

@@Durahan82 Yeah...daddy germany! go help us!!! HAHAHahah

[@chris-qe4yc]

The Epos of Greco-Italian war was one of the greatest stories ever witnessed during the 2WW . Worthy Sons of mighty Ancestors and a heavy Legacy that was renewed at that particular moment. Greek attitude towards their Land throughout the centuries in one phrase : Not much worthy to live on but much worthy to die for. ''Παπαί, Μαρδόνιε, κοίους επ’ άνδρας ήγαηες μαχησομένους ημέας, οι ου περί χρημάτων τον αγώνα ποιούνται, αλλά περί αρετής'' saying of a Persian General to Xerxes when they heard that at the Olympic games the price for the winner was a branch of wild olive tree !

[@aleksk4151]

Alas Maradonius: I brought them to swim

[@Thaumazo83]

I'm Italian but one must only thank the military incompetence of the fascist Italian generals. Too bad for all the victims, poor guys, may they rest in peace, Greeks, Italians and Albanians alike.

[@raptorjesues1445]

gia, i nostri generali erano di livello uno. Meglio così probabilmente, non avrei voluto rendere la faccenda più facile al crauto baffuto dopo tutto

[@shorewall]

I always have little respect for the leaders and generals who throw their men's lives away. In olden times, people lived for the King. Nowadays, governments exist for the sake of the people.

[@DIAKUMAS]

I can t believe to a deafeat like that, that its only incompitence of the generals. It s sure must have been the dominance of the individual warrior too fella. It was unbelievable so many battles and counterattacks , no supplies . Except the mountain terrain that made Italian heavy armor almost useless the Greeks were so disadvantaged .

[@Thaumazo83]

@@DIAKUMAS The Italians had awful officers and insufficient morale: the soldiers did not really understand why they were deployed in Greece to fight and die. The Greeks were defending their homeland and, often, their very homes and villages.

[@historyofitaly4364]

@@raptorjesues1445 **ringrazia il giappone**

[@thereisnoneedtoknowmyname8143]

The Greek Army has managed to annex North Epirus ,three times in the 20th century...but this region was never given to Greece

[@thereisnoneedtoknowmyname8143]

ilir AL There aren’t Albanians there my friend .... These people are ethnically Greek ,but they speak a Greco-Albanian language which is called Arvanitica 😉

[@patrickweber3954]

"Sad isn't it."

[@avitiusrufinus6980]

@@Leoforos13 yes another lie to use as an excuse because you don't want to accept that you did a genocide on Chams just because they were Albanian. You stole Çameria their home, and to this day they aren't allowed to visit their homes or family members graves.

[@avitiusrufinus6980]

@David Parry greece didn't earn shit. Epiri is Albanian land since antique. Gjergj Kastrioti Skenderbeg is from epiri ShqipEpiri (Albania). In the other hand Korfuz and Çameria that is Janina the medival Albanian capital 🇦🇱

[@dmtrs_ras3224]

@@avitiusrufinus6980 My great great grandfather lived there with he's family long ago before the state of Albania ever existed for THE FIRST TIME. Also my grand father named Karathanos speaks greek and Albanian he lives in Albanian territory and he is 100% greek. Also you have to learn history better

[@Ak3rf3ldt]

Two of my great grandfathers were part of the 5th division from Crete, both returned alive. I was also lucky to serve under the 5th Cretan division now called the "The 5th Airmobile Brigade" The motto of the division is "Prevail or be Destroyed"

[@Aristotelis_Hellas]

Italians wanted to take Greece but they couldn't even take a hill 731mtrs high in Albania.... . . . . . Ofcourse, I mean in Northern Epirus🇬🇷🦅

[@avitiusrufinus6980]

@George K. That's Albania and and you can only day dream! Çameria in the other hand is much more realistic to happen which will soon. 🇦🇱🦅 Edit: I didn't saw his comment below mine, so here we go. You never could and will never win Against Albanians aka illyrians. We kicked serbs not a long time ago. I guess it's time for Albania to split greece with Turkey. Just like Cyprus 😁

[@Ανδρεας-γ5δ]

@@avitiusrufinus6980 I'm not saying Northern Eprius should be Greek, neither do I hate Albanians, however if you try to take "Cameria" we'll be forced to split you half and half with the Serbians so i don't know if that'd be a smart move.

[@MrGentilushi]

@George K. Xhorxh Kari

[@kohterg3713]

@George K. Greece tried to invade Albania after ww2 and failed miserably (even tho outnumbered and out machined the Albanian army) and the latest attempt to intervene during the civilian war of 1997 never happened. The last guy to take arms and be a hero has lead now where should had his brains. That's so much about your bravery. The only reason Greece has the borders it has was cause of the immense support of the French British and Russians. The same goes for Serbia. The last war we had with them, they lost "Kosovo" and lost shamefully every battle against the organised army... your only success lays in killing unarmed civilians, but can't do shit when met with force (even tho always we were outnumbered and fought alone against everyone). Please gives us war, we are bred in war, war excite us, we don't fear death.

[@MrGentilushi]

@George K. O Xhorxh o palikari

[@אדםעבדאלרחמן]

I love greeks wonderfull people from an arab guy :D

[@Koproshillos-]

Thank you bro

[@miramax6165]

Ahhh... i still can't forget of Yarmouk!

[@aleksk4151]

yeah heck Yarmouk what a fight

[@אדםעבדאלרחמן]

@@miramax6165 ahhaha,we are not enemies now :D it was in the past bro

[@aleksk4151]

@Hakan Gök lol stop it bruh

[@Greeneye567]

Italians and Greeks are brothers. Never again we will spill each other's blood. One face, one race. Una faccia, Una razza. May our brothers be healthy and safe during the pandemic.

[@liltrixie2281]

thank you sir! let us both live in peace & trade with each other

[@foris84]

uno popolo

[@foris84]

may Zeus protect the brave

[@ΜικηςΖεζας]

thats true my friend 🇮🇹 🇬🇷

[@firstnamesecondname852]

Italians and Greeks are not brothers, they are not even cousins. Modern Greeks stem from Turks while modern Italians mostly stem from Celts and Teutons. Even their most famous Emperor - Augustus - was blond (and Nero was a red head). Ancient Greeks had some colonies in the Mezzogiorno, homeland of the Mafia. These Mafiosi are descendants of Greeks and Moors. And Rome hates them. That's it.

[@taxiarchiskalyvas8198]

That's what i needed right now. 🤗

[@Taistelukalkkuna]

*Hill 731, Italian side* "Right men, prepare to attack (again)." *Nervous scrambling for gear and checking of weapons. Older sergeant just sits there and lights new cigarette* "Hey sergeant!? How can you be so calm?" "Isonzo."

[@kx4998]

How many battle was it again? 13 right??

[@pez4]

@@kx4998 yes, 12 Italian offensives, and the 13th battle of the Isonzo was a combined Austro-Hungarian and German offensive that knocked Italy out of the war...

[@JM-mg4el]

@@pez4 ????

[@petergray2712]

@@JM-mg4el Well, almost knocked them out.

[@FlorentPlacide]

I was waiting for this second episode, frantically checking your channel everyday. I'm not disappointed, Greeks are so strong and determined ! Something tells me It won't be same story with the Germans. Now I'll wait for the third episode in the same fashion. Thanks for this amazing content and keep up the good work :)

[@professornikos4905]

I just have to expand upon the story of the 5th "Cretan" Division. The 5th was the only division left in the greek army that all of its battalion were from one prefecture. This officially was because they were considered a defensive unit to be used only for Crete, but unofficialy they served as Venizelos (The most important greek politician of the 20th Century) praetorian guard. Venizelos was a liberal and an abolishionist, who did not hesitate to escalate even unimportant matters. After his death and the Metaxas coup, the liberals of Greece lost a lot of power but not amongst the Cretans and in 1938 some disgruntled army officers instigated a counter coup, most likely backed by the British. The coup was swiftly dealt with, but many army barracks and armories on the island were looted. This was used as an excuse and the 5th division was left barely armed and barely exercised. After the start of the war, Metaxas called the Cretans to return the stolen weapons and they answered with a thriple number of the original reported stolen. But the Cretan division was not immidiately called to the Epirote front (again defensive unit), the most modern guns were given to the Divisions already fighting. When the British came to fortify Crete and they freed up the 5th, they were rushed to the front. In the front they were to serve as reservists due to the fact the Cretans were considered unfit for fight in the snow, Crete is the southernmost part of Europe with a desert like climate due to its proximity in Sahara. But the greek army command did not calculate 2 things. 1st the vast majority of the people of the island were shepards, with many living in the mountains for months living by just hunting and scarvenging of the land and 2nd, even the junior officers of the battalion were themselves Cretans which, added with the fact that in Crete family and village allegiances are above and state allegiances as well as the guerilla tradition of the Cretans, sharpened by centuries of war, created a unit that was loyal and obedient only to themselves. With this arrogant attitude, the division did not follow the senior officers commands, that notioned caution, but rushed to the fight, something that peaked with the capture of the 1920m height Mt. Trembeshine, by Lt. Isiodos Tsingkos, who handpicked some reknowned , men who were stealing sheep as a sport from mountain fields and scaled the mountain with them during a night blizzard, only to find it abandoned, as the Italians thought noone was crazy enough to attack with this kind of weather. They even left their entire heavy guns, which the greeks used to repel them the next day. Though the fights around Trembeshine cost them dearly as almost one third of the division was COWs. When General Tsolakoglou surrundered to the Germans, the Cretans refused to obey and deserted, under the motto . The high command issued a "shoot on sight" order on deserters, to which the acting commander of the division stated . Many were eventually captured and placed in concentration camps, many found refuge in friends and family in Athens and many were left to starve in the streets of Athens. But many managed to return to Crete, by comandeering fishing boats from mainland Greece. Now back in Crete the situation was different. There was a rumour going around that the high casualties were from the government methodically exterminating any political opposition, which was untrue, you can even say the opposite is true, since they were a reserve unit, but the Cretans found such a position insulting and fought way more aggresively that they should. After the desertion of the 5th, the communication with their families was cut off, enhancing the tensions, Now in this climate the poor old general Papastergiou, original commander of the 5th, who was at the capital during the collapse of the front, followed the government in their escape to Crete. When he set foot in Crete, a Cretan gendarmere, who lost 2 brothers in Trembeshine, recognised him from the newspapers, approached him and stated and shot the poor guy dead. The Cretans fought on until the end of the war. The 5th eventually returned to Crete as an airborne brigade, but maintaining the honourable name . Their motto is (To prevail or to die), while their emblem is the minoan bull.

[@professornikos4905]

@@BayStateObserver Done!

[@professornikos4905]

@Johannes Terzis Yeah, i used the term kind of arbitarily. He wanted to either completely abolish or to maintain to its bare minimum the monarchy. He hated any form of power sharing with either kings or generals (pun intended). He was a liberal tyrant, but he was excelent at that.

[@247micko]

@@professornikos4905 The Anzacs admired Cretan courage.

[@USERCRETE]

That is the essence of liberalism and democracy. Kings and military should not dictate to a man elected by the people what he has to do. Venizelos was the greatest democrat had to provide . He made this country greater and bigger. He is the one who saved the situation after the defeat in Asia minor. Many more like should have existed for the sake of Hellas!

[@professornikos4905]

@@USERCRETE Venizelos was most likely the best diplomat Greece ever produced. He was a visionary and a man with commitment and focus. But he was a democrat only in name. He refused to be anything else than the first. Whenever he lost the elections, not only he refused to contact parliamentary opposition, he would leave the country all together. He took command of many coups by the military without elections and did not hesitate to institute heavy press suppression. He even tolerated men like Pavlos Gyparis to roam free in Athens, which was borderline terrorism. You could argue it was a necessary evil, but it was evil nonetheless...

[@kodiak_qp614]

I never knew anything about the battle's in this part of the war. Happy to learn something new. Keep up the good work.

[@airzorne]

*Mussolini* : I'm gonna recreate the Roman Empire! *Greece* : I'm literally the guy you're talking about

[@Archmagos_Faber]

ahahah no

[@matthewyang2543]

Ahahah yes

[@Archmagos_Faber]

@@matthewyang2543 nope

[@StergiosMekras]

@@Archmagos_Faber Modern Greece is a continuation of the Eastern Roman Empire (aka Byzantium) which was basically Ancient Greece after being conquered by the Romans. History proves you wrong.

[@dikaioskyrios]

​@@StergiosMekras Correct. And you are correct too Andreja. Greeks today who retain knowledge of their history from a traditional perspective and not through the enlightenment/nationalistic perspective, consider themselves Romans.

[@docste78]

There was absolutely no chance for greeks to be defeated by an army with a division named "Pusteria". Everyone who speaks greek understands that

[@Αυγολεμονος-ι5γ]

Αερα!!!!!!

[@av6079]

@@rocketleague2136 Tripoliçe Katliamı - Nikitaras the Turk-Eater

[@sap9245]

a v manzikert and istanbul is enoug for u i guess 😂

[@thenebula5630]

Αέρα ρε!

[@ΜάρκοςΕΦΕΝΤΑΚΗΣ-ε7ω]

After the artillery barrage in Hill 731, the Italians believed that there is no chance someone could be still alive. Unfortunately for them they attacked the hill but the Greeks were there, dirty and wounded. Italians said that they were attacked by ghosts in hill 731.

[@ΔημήτρηςΗλιάτορας]

Long Live Greece!!!

[@exudeku]

Call to arms, banners fly in the wind For the glory of Hellas Coat of arms reading "Freedom or death" Blood of king Leonidas!!!!

[@bayuadhi3671]

At dawn envoy arrives, morning of October 28th "No day" proven by deed Descendants of Sparta, Athens and Crete

[@aleembaksh1880]

@@bayuadhi3671 Strike hard The tables have turned Drive them back over the hills

[@StergiosMekras]

expectedSabaton

[@KZHVNKLM]

I'm searching for Sabaton's fans. Have a great day

[@diegostime9634]

Imagine Greece taking over all Albania and starting an invasion to Italy on 1943. Damn, that would have been one of the most savage moments in history

[@eZgr]

hahah true

[@rokkazzon3172]

Italy send a very small part of its army to Greece as the majority was in Africa and Russia

[@solaek21]

@@rokkazzon3172 russia was not that time in the war. If Albania was lost,south italy would be invaded. Troops from Africa would return for defence.

[@illyrianshield4234]

Greece did not even have enough troops to invade Sicily, for the entire Italy logically this is simply impossible. We are talking only for the infantry. If we will analyse the logistics support, the means of transportation, the vessels, artillery, aircraft etc, well we all know that this is a dream.

[@historyofitaly4364]

@@solaek21 nope… there was a stalmet in the mountains how they would invade all Albania?

[@ΑντώνιοςΕυάγγελοςΒασιλειάδης]

After all that, it's safe to say that the 1st Division honoured its title, "Σιδηρά Μεραρχία" ("The Iron Divison").

[@ang47]

until the germans arrived. Then you saw real iron

[@DBJDJDBEKSK]

@@ang47 Say that to Dimitrios Itsios who slaughtered alone 250 germans and an officer.

[@ΑντώνιοςΕυάγγελοςΒασιλειάδης]

@@ang47 Point being? they attacked an under-maned, under-equipped defensive line with their far superior forces and didn't manage to put a dent in it. If it wasn't for the disintegration of the Yugoslav army the germans would've taken a very long time to break through (assuming they'd do). And everything else aside, Greece was nothing but a minor power already in war with one of the "strongest" militaries of Europe, and by sheer willpower alone managed to keep itself alive. Even France and Britain couldn't hold (the germans) them, and they were far stronger than us. That's like making fun of a teen for getting beaten by a professional MMA fighter.

[@ang47]

@@DBJDJDBEKSK Stop the fairy tales kid. Once the panzers arrived you became a german colony. Its just a fact, no need to fight it. Nobody could resist german might 1 on 1, no shame there.

[@ang47]

@@ΑντώνιοςΕυάγγελοςΒασιλειάδης They also attacked an "over" manned, more armored, better supplied force in the east, and mauled it to near death. Western allies supplies and offensives in italy pulled troops away from Fall Blau. It took the entire fuking world to defeat germany, stop downplaying it lmao.

[@someoneintheworld4671]

When the Italians promise you land and prestige if you join them, but then proceed by losing all of their prestige and half of your land. "Disappointed Albanian noises".

[@serenisma3402]

Italy : It's over Greece I have the highground ! Greece : *You underestimate my power !*

[@alchemist6819]

Nazi Germany: DON'T DO IT!!!! Invades Yugoslavia and Greece

[@-et-8934]

Rajesh Kathiriya ‘don’t try it’ I think it’s meant to be

[@monkey_ona_donkey6272]

thats why its called the empire strikes back........ i meant to say greece strikes back

[@aleksk4151]

and I shall further underestimate Greek power i wanna see what's gonna happen :xd

[@christermi]

@@aleksk4151 so you hate Greece for no reason , don't you ? You insult greece in every opportunity and , when it doesn't suit you , meaning when you are outsmarted or not knowledgeable enough to start a dialogue , then you're all about peace and understanding . Hipocrite! There are always people like you that think they know history and refuse to hear what's true and historically accurate.

[@musicasylum2327]

This type of war presentation is brilliant!!! I love the map and how the little divisions are battling it out Very helpful and easy to understand. Makes it way easier to remember the names and places

[@dannyalex5866]

Heroes fought as Greeks or Greeks fought as Heroes? 🏺🏛🕊

[@tasoslts3480]

These two videos of the Greco-Italian war were Marvellous!! Thank you so very much!!!

[@vasilisgorgogiannis5517]

You should have mentioned major Kaslas that guy was the leader of the defenders of 731 hill that crushed the Italians.

[@pseudomonas03]

Major Kaslas, was the hero of the battle of the Hill 731, the new Achilles (since he was from Thessaly, like the rest of the soldiers of this Division)! A veteran of the war in Asia Minor. He said before the battle "no one of us, will retreat from this hill, and i believe that the Italians will not pass".

[@EmporerAaron]

Was just waking up this morning when I saw this was uploaded. My morning is great now.

[@aleksk4151]

Respect to Greek people from bulgarian. *peace*

[@christermi]

Respect to Bulgaria , my friend . Our countries are friendly .

[@aleksk4151]

@@christermi :)) politicians create this schysm between brotherly orthodox nations. We are not enemies. But Politicians create propaganda and sow historic hatred

[@afull375]

I really like this map layout, probably the best I've seen from any history channel

[@LostMyselfInTheDust]

As a Greek From Xanthi, Greece. Near Metaxas line, I cannot wait for the next episode!

[@Corcolos]

My great grandfather died in Trebesina mountain. He was with the 5th Cretan Division. His body still lies on that mountain unfound..

[@JohnyKar1]

An interesting hint, the hills were named after their current height like hill 731. So after a day of severe bombardment by everything, the hill height reduced by 5 meters and it was named hill 726. Lastly during that bombardment by the Greek and Italian army no one expected to be survivors, and when they tried to occupy it they saw men with missing arms legs and heavy injuries still shooting them back!!!

[@WR288]

Philip V be cackling in the afterlife.

[@morisco56]

Hello juggernog

[@user-bu4xm7jq6p]

Italy was amazing, but they could do better. Italy successfully won all of its fights besides the ones that were against Greece. Italy successfully invaded Egypt, France, Yugoslavia, Ethiopia and many more. The only defeat they had was in Greece.. The Greeks made many operations with their special forces and won both Germany and Italy forces. (In Santorini, Simi, and many many more) (Not talking about the Greco Italian war only, since there Greece won every single battle and they were almost near to go deep into french-italian borders and even take Milano etc , since in the town Menton they wrote: Our allies, Greeks, dont advance further, this is a french territory). Greece turned the invasion into an invasion of Italy itself as you amazingly analyse in the documentary, and then the Germans had to strike from behind to stop the Greek Army. And im being serious, Greece could've even won Germany! The battle of "Metaxas line" the first Battle, was a defeat of the German Army basically, because they sent special divisions etc etc and they had around 3k casualties and Greece only 30-40) Respect to Greece! Italy was very powerful tho, Greece was just good organized (amazing Generals that rly cared about their soldiers and with a HUGE experience, after getting involved in around 5 wars before, and winning all of them since the Hellenic Armed Forces is one of the oldest, has participated in every big war and has only lost once in Minor Asia Campaign against the Turks and that's because they attacked them with no real reasons, had x3 equipment but Ataturk with the help of Soviet Union managed to win them) and had a good army, pilots with skills, the company "PYRKAL" that made many weapons and was rewarded as one of the best weapon manufacturers and many more.. Also let's not forget that on the Italian Spring Offensive ( the last attempt of the Italian Army to defeat the Greek Army, they lost around 12k people when Greeks lost around 1k and 3 or 4k wounded. That's because the Greek Soldiers knew how to use the Artillery, had tons of experience and as I mentioned before, amazing Generals with HUGE experience in wars. (Same with ww1, Greece was the army that won the Bulgarian forces and Liberated Serbia Montenegro and some others in 1918 almost alone, and was the army with the least killed soldiers. Again because, the Generals always cared about their divisions and army in general!) Una Faccia, Una Razza!

[@everynamewastakenomg]

Italian military was a joke in ww2. Navy destroyed by British, needed Rommel to save them in North Africa. Italy was nothing without the help of Germany 🤣

[@illyrianshield4234]

Where did you found such an information that Italy had invaded: Egypt, France, Yugoslavia, etc. This is not correct. During the WW II Italy managed to invade only Albania, a county with no army at this time and and Ethiopia, who fought back with spears and bows.

[@historyofitaly4364]

@@illyrianshield4234 Egypt in 1940, British Somaliland in 1940, France in 1940 and in 1942 with “case anton”, Jugolsavia in april 1941. Study

[@historyofitaly4364]

@@illyrianshield4234 1/3 of the ethiopian army was ready for a modern warfare

[@historyofitaly4364]

@@illyrianshield4234 it is correct. You study from memes

[@Gameflyer001]

Repeated Italian attempts to retake Hill 731.... it's the numberless battles of the Isonzo River all over again from WWI.

[@nikostombris5505]

When eastern romans clashed with the west

[@ls200076]

oh yeah

[@eliaspapanikolaou3563]

3 major cities ,For Roma n history founded by Greeks A Pallatine Hill about the shame place 600 years Rumulus found Rome 70 years before Trojan war ,By Evander and the Arcadians from Pelloponese ,B Troy founded from Dardanus from Arcadia Aenias the Trojan was Ansestor of Romulus the .founder of Rome ,C Byzantion the city founded by ..Byzas from Megara of South Greece..the city later took the name Costandinopole ,chec and Found why London is the Third Rome ..and Why the Big island opposite of France took the Name Britannia

[@nikostombris5505]

Elias Papanikolaou I know

[@CMAzeriah]

*Soviets invade Finland* *Italians invade Greece* *Germany invades Soviets* What do all these have in common?

[@hi1gr196]

war...war never changes.

[@panos617]

They failed

[@anastasiosvervantidis2026]

Never underestimate your opponent, no matter how weak they look like....

[@panosts432]

@@comradekenobi6908 Not always.Sometimes they come back lol

[@coooll56]

@@LegendNinja41 oh the 20 million pigs loss .. that was to much meat to waste

[@nightviber2097]

Respect to the Italians from Greece

[@raptorjesues1445]

same here man, really respect your country. Never again shall we spill each other's blood

[@nerdmassa9086]

Respect and admiration for the Greek people

[@SerenusNoctus]

What really is striking, is that these fierce fights never lead to hatred of the Greek population towards Italians. I remember my grandfather -living in a village on the Pindus mountains- telling me how his father gave shelter to two Italian soldiers towards the end of the war. I assume they were dissidents after Mussolini fell, since many of them approached the village in a really bad condition, covered in lice, and were begging for food and shelter. And they were hospitalised by the same people who fought them a few years earlier, in villages that were literally amidst the battlefield.

[@theodoros9428]

Three countries hit our country in order to defeat us .Italia Bulgaria and Germany

[@CivilWarWeekByWeek]

It wasn't an invasion it was a convulated way to give the greeks supplies.

[@vasilisgorgogiannis5517]

And tanks.

[@romanvalkansproductions5376]

Tell that to the tens of thousands dead greek and italian men whose bodies where left there in the freezing mountains rotten

[@geo.sta21]

Greeks and Italians are the same people, the same race! We will stay together and if it's needed we will fight together..!

[@elesad1910]

Klaus Brinck yes of course, because before year 0, there was nothing, right??? Dumb ass. The roman empire was the biggest empire that lasted over decades. After it was destroyed, everybody called themselves the „new rome“ and wanted to immitate its reputation. Greece < Roman Empire

[@geo.sta21]

@@elesad1910 Before the year 0 there was the greek civilization which was mentally superior than roman's you idiot. You are right that the greeks wanted to claim the Roman heritage. However due to the fact that they were speaking almost the same language and the greeks along with the Italians were together for more than 1500 years they had a real reason to use this claim for themselves. The italian and the greek population was mixed more than you imagine.

[@josephdalelio6684]

@@elesad1910 Constantinople -new Rome or second Rome, Moscow third Rome after Constantinople falls to Turks and then Romanians proclaimed Bucharest as fourth Rome when Communists took over Russia in 1917.

[@thearchangel983]

He forgot to mention that the heavy ammunition was carried from the women of the villages up to the cold mountains and every time a man was killed,a woman was taking his place. In mountain Pindos 20000 italian commandos alpinists with code name "Jullia" were defeated from 2000 Greek soldiers and women!

[@MrGenoHydra]

I wasn't looking for a second and i heard the 19 or so attempts to take hill 731 and scratching my head if the Italians were going overboard to reenactment of all the battles of the Isozo river.

[@rewoppop]

@17:40 It feels like history is repeating itself with so many attacks on the same section,just like the battles of the Isonzo in WW1

[@DimZ_F1]

Όταν έκανα την θητεία μου στο στρατό το 2011, η επέτειος της 28ης Οκτωβρίου με βρήκε στο κέντρο εκπαίδευσης της Θήβας. Δεν κρύβω πως διαβάζοντας και βλέποντας τους ηρωικούς προγόνους μας σε τόσες μάχες, φορτίζομαι συναισθηματικά και προσπαθώ να τους τιμήσω σε κάθε ευκαιρία και με κάθε τρόπο, αφού ο Β' Παγκόσμιος Πόλεμος δεν είναι και τόσο μακρινός όσο θα θέλαμε να νομίζουμε. Όμως, κατά τη διάρκεια της προβολής του ντοκιμαντέρ στην αίθουσα, αυτό που μπορούσα να διακρίνω ήταν η αδιαφορία από την συντριπτική πλειοψηφία των στρατιωτών, νέων μάλιστα στην ηλικία, που δεν παρακολουθούσαν την ταινία αλλά τα κινητά τους και φώναζαν καθ' όλη τη διάρκεια της προβολής μη δίνοντας καμία σημασία στα όσα κοσμογονικά ξετυλίγονταν μπροστά τους. Άσε που οι περισσότεροι δεν πρέπει να τα ήξεραν κιόλας. Ένας λαός που αδιαφορεί και ξεχνά την ιστορία του, είναι καταδικασμένος να κάνει τα ίδια λάθη και να ζήσει παρόμοιες με του παρελθόντος άσχημες στιγμές και δυστυχώς ο νεο-έλληνας έχει ξεχάσει προ πολλού αξίες όπως η παιδεία, οδεύοντας προς την καταστροφή. Ξυπνάτε Έλληνες όσο είναι ακόμα καιρός!