ELAS partisans with ~250 men halted a 4,000-strong Italian force at Porta pass, causing the Italians to abandon planned anti-partisan sweeps in western Thessaly.
Key Facts
- Date
- 8–9 June 1943
- ELAS partisan strength
- ~250 men
- Italian force strength
- ~4,000 men
- Italian division
- 24th Pinerolo Infantry Division
- Location
- Porta and Mouzaki passes, western Thessaly
- Field preparation time
- Over two weeks of fortification work
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
In spring 1943, the Greek Resistance gained momentum against Axis forces, liberating large mountainous areas. The Italian 11th Army planned a major anti-partisan sweep for June. Warned of this, ELAS GHQ ordered its forces to withdraw to the central Pindus, assigning two detachments of roughly 250 men to guard the Porta and Mouzaki passes during the withdrawal.
On 8 June 1943, approximately 4,000 Italian troops from the 24th Pinerolo Infantry Division, supported by artillery and aircraft, attacked the ELAS positions. Despite orders to conduct only hit-and-run tactics, the partisan commanders chose to defend the passes. They held at Porta on the first day, though Mouzaki fell. On 9 June, Italian flanking movements threatened encirclement, forcing the partisans to withdraw into the mountains.
Although the ELAS partisans ultimately withdrew, their determined resistance inflicted significant casualties on the Italians. The Italian force abandoned its planned anti-partisan sweeps in the mountainous interior of western Thessaly, marking the engagement as a strategic success for the Greek Resistance despite the numerical disparity.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Side B
1 belligerent