Mussolini's Defeat at Hill 731

 I am on a Greek-Italian War roll. After finishing the new study of the Italian Army in the Balkans, I have been reading John Carr's study of an epic Greek defence of Hill 731 during the Italian Spring offensive of March 1941.

In the Spring of 1941, the Italian leadership needed a victory before the impending German intervention. The plan, devised by General Ugo Cavallero, envisioned a large-scale attack on a narrow, 32 km front in the centre of the Greek positions. The Italian attack aimed to break through the Greek lines, recapture Klisura, and advance towards Leskovik and Ioannina. Key to the Italian effort was a hill known as 731, which stood at the centre of the planned attack. Hill 731 is situated approximately 20 kilometres north of Këlcyrë (Klisura), near the base of Mount Trebeshinë in Southern Albania.

Hill 731 was defended by the 2nd Battalion of the Greek 5th Infantry Regiment, which was ordered to hold its positions at all costs. The Italian attack, observed by Mussolini in person, was launched on 9 March with a heavy artillery barrage and air bombardment, with over 100,000 shells dropped on a 6 km front. Despite repeated assaults by three different Italian divisions, the defenders of Hill 731 held the position. 

Although there is enough context, this is not a broad overview of the offensive. Instead, the book focuses on the small unit fighting on Hill 731. The Italian tactics were not subtle. It was early WW1-style artillery bombardment followed by relentless frontal assaults. If the 'lions led by donkeys' line works anywhere, it is here. The Italians were shocked at how ineffective their artillery was and how good the Greek mountain artillery was in response. The Italians fired 100,000 shells in the opening barrage compared to fewer than 6,000 Greek shells, yet they were more effective. Some Italian attacks were broken up before they got anywhere near the Greek trenches. 

For the Greeks, their Hotchkiss machine guns were important, but so were counterattacks with bayonets and grenades. The defence did not simply sit in their trenches blasting away. The Greek bayonet was twice the length of the standard Italian issue, and they used the Polish WZ.24 hand grenade, which carried a bigger charge.

Italian radio security was appalling, with the Greeks intercepting messages and responding accordingly. Supply was a problem for both sides with the snow and ice, coupled with mud up to the waist on occasions. The Italians tried night attacks, but didn't change their frontal attack tactics. The result was the same as daytime. Casualties are unclear, but the Italians suffered around 5,000, including over 1,000 dead. Greek losses were around 500. Four Italian divisions were rendered useless. 

This excellent study of close combat in WW2 covers an interesting campaign. Sadly for the Greeks, Hitler's invasion outflanked the Albanian positions, and they had to give up Hill 731. 

I have the armies for this campaign in 28mm and 15mm. The Greeks are below. This battle is certainly playable on the tabletop without too many challenges.