A delaying action at Tempe Gorge allowed Allied forces to withdraw through Larissa during the German invasion of Greece in April 1941.
Key Facts
- Date
- 18 April 1941
- Theater
- German invasion of Greece, World War II
- Defending force
- Brigade-sized ANZAC Force
- Attacking force
- Elements of two German divisions with armour
- Outcome
- ANZAC withdrawal; Allied retreat through Larissa enabled
- Follow-on position
- New defensive line established at Thermopylae
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
In April 1941 German forces advanced rapidly through central Greece as part of their invasion. Australian and New Zealand troops were tasked with fighting rearguard actions to slow the German advance and allow Allied units to withdraw southward in good order.
On 18 April 1941, a brigade-sized element known as ANZAC Force engaged elements of two German divisions, supported by armour, at the Tempe (Pinios) Gorge in Thessaly. Through a day of hard fighting the ANZAC defenders suffered heavy casualties and were ultimately forced to give ground and withdraw from the gorge.
Although driven back with significant losses, the ANZAC stand at Tempe Gorge succeeded in delaying the German advance sufficiently to allow other Allied forces to retreat safely through Larissa. A new Allied defensive position was subsequently established at Thermopylae, continuing the effort to slow the German conquest of Greece.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Side B
1 belligerent