Military Model Scene

Title: German Breakthrough in Greece Then and Now
Author: Jeffrey Plowman
Publisher: After the Battle
ISBN: 978-1-39907-905-1

The 1941 Battle of the Pineios Gorge. A 176-page hard cover book in the usual Then and Now format.
This is a greatly expanded version of 2 articles first published in After the Battle Magazine issue 194 in February 2022. In addition to the fighting for the Pinieos Gorge, it also covers the sinking of 2 German cargo vessels, the Kybfels and the Marburg. The story tells us how British & Commonwealth troops became involved in trying to help the Greek government in resisting a German invasion. New Zealand and Australian troops, along with a British armoured brigade were diverted from North Africa to assist. The New Zealand Division, along with the 6th and 7th Australian Divisions meant that Anzac troops would be fighting alongside each other for the first time since WW1. Some of the places where they fought are well known from Greek history, while others are less so. After being forced back from the Platamon Ridge they mounted a defence of the Pinieos Gorge, where the river and the railway tunnels played an important part of the story. There was also some rivalry between the Australian and New Zealand commanders. German troops of the 2nd Panzer Division deployed Panzer I, II, III and IV variants, including some of the early self-propelled guns with the 150mm infantry gun mounted on the hull of a Pz I. There were successes and failures by all sides, but the Anzac troops were gradually forced back until they had to be evacuated from Greece. As for the British Tanks, of 52 deployed, only 1 was knocked out by enemy action, the remaining 51 were all lost to mechanical failure as they were worn out even before they got to Greece. The final section tells the story of the loss of the 2 German cargo vessels, and their loads of equipment and personnel from the 2nd Panzer Division, which after the victory in Greece, were being sent home in readiness for involvement in the invasion of Russia, Operation Barbarossa.
The whole story is heavily illustrated, and the photos, both archive and modern comparisons, all have comprehensive captions which add even more details for the story, plus helpful maps. The archive photos show some great detail on the early panzers, as well as a few unusual pictures of some Guy Quad gun tractors, knocked out and abandoned. A fascinating story and I have long been a fan of the Then & Now format of these books from After the Battle Publications. If you are holidaying in Greece, this gives a great guide for places to visit, and to retrace this story of a small part of the war in 1941.
Thanks to After the Battle/Pen & Sword for the review copy.

Robin