Capture of Klisura Pass

The Capture of Klisura Pass ( el, Κατάληψη της Κλεισούρας) was a military operation that took place during 6–11 January 1941 in southern Albania, and was one of the most important battles of the Greco-Italian War. The Italian Army, initially deployed on the Greek-Albanian border, launched a major offensive against Greece on 28 October 1940. After a two-week conflict, Greece managed to repel the invading Italians in the battles of Battle of Pindus, Pindus and Battle of Elaia–Kalamas, Elaia–Kalamas. Beginning on 9 November, the Greek forces launched a major counteroffensive and penetrated deep into Italian-held Albanian territory. The Greek operations culminated with the capture of the strategically important Gorge of Këlcyrë, Klisura Pass in January 1941.

Background

After its successful counter-attack and the Battle of Morava–Ivan, the Hellenic Army penetrated deep into Italian-held Albanian territory, taking control of the local urban centers of Gjirokastër and Korçë by December 1940. In a war council on 5 December, General Alexander Papagos, worried about the possibility of Nazi Germany, German intervention in support of the Italians, attempted to hasten the advance. Moreover, Generals Ioannis Pitsikas, Pitsikas and Georgios Tsolakoglou, Tsolakoglou suggested the immediate capture of the Klisura Pass so as to secure the Greek positions.

During the period of the Greek counter-offensive, the Greek forces had much greater distances to contend with and their logistics and road network were substantially inferior compared to the Italians. The Klisura Pass was a particularly strategic location near the town of Berat and the topography of the terrain in addition to bad weather made the operation extremely difficult.

Battle

The attack was led by the II Army Corps (Greece), II Army Corps, and especially by the 1st Infantry Division (Greece), 1st and 11th Infantry Division (Greece), 11th divisions.Army History Directorate (Greece)
''An abridged history of the Greek-Italian and Greek-German war, 1940–1941''.
Hellenic Army General Staff, 1997. , p. 128 During the battle, the Italians used for the first time the new Fiat M13/40, M13 medium tanks of the 131st Armoured Division Centauro, ''Centauro'' Armored Division. They were used in frontal attacks, but were decimated by Greek artillery fire. On 10 January, after four days of fierce battles, the Greek infantry divisions finally captured the pass. The final assault that resulted in the location's capture was led by the recently arrived 5th Infantry Division (Greece), 5th Division, which consisted mainly of Crete, Cretans.

The Italian headquarters immediately launched counterattacks to recapture the sector. Italian Supreme Commander Ugo Cavallero ordered the newly arrived 7th Infantry Division Lupi di Toscana, ''Lupi di Toscana'' Division to support the 3rd Alpine Division Julia, ''Julia'' Alpine Division, but the operation was ill-prepared. Although they faced only four Greek battalions, they rapidly lost one battalion of their own due to encirclement. By 11 January, the Italian attack had been pushed back and over the next days, the ''Lupi di Toscana'' were almost annihilated. This failure secured Greek possession of the pass.

Aftermath

The capture of the strategic pass by the Greek army was considered a major success by the Allies of World War II, Allied forces, with the Commander of the Middle East Command, British forces in the Middle East, Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell, Archibald Wavell, sending a congratulatory message to Alexander Papagos.

In the following weeks, the front lines stabilized, with the Greek forces facing a bad logistical situation and the Italians managing to gain numerical superiority in order to stop their retreat. Both sides kept their positions until the Battle of Greece, German intervention in April 1941.

On January 22, 2018, following an agreement between the Greek and Albanian foreign ministers, a systematic effort to recover the bodies of fallen Greek soldiers from the battle was undertaken between the two countries. The remains of the Greek soldiers will be buried in the Greek military cemetery located within the pass.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Klisura Pass, Capture of
Conflicts in 1941
1941 in Albania
1941 in Greece
Battles of the Greco-Italian War, Klisura
Battles and operations of World War II involving Greece
Battles and operations of World War II involving Italy
Aerial operations and battles of World War II involving the United Kingdom
January 1941 events