World War II in the Balkans

(Redirected from World War II in Yugoslavia)

The Balkan region in World War II, had Yugoslavia, Greece, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, and other countries participate on both the allied and axis side.

Balkans in World War II
Part of The Mediterranean and Middle East and European theatre of World War II
Date1940 — May 8 1945
Location
Result 1940–1941 Axis victory
1944–1945 Allied victory
Belligerents

 • Balkan Air Force

 •  Yugoslav Partisans

  •  Germany
  •  Italy (until September 1943)
  •  Hungary (from November 1940)
  •  Romania (from November 1940 — August 1944)
  •  Bulgaria (from March 1941 — September 1944)
  •  Croatia (from April 1941)
  •  Albania (from September 1943 — November 1944)

 Chetniks (1941-1945)

Commanders and leaders
Casualties and losses
  • United KingdomAustraliaDominion of New Zealand 986,788 killed
  • Kingdom of Greece 464,525 killed, 20,650 partisans killed
  • Yugoslavia unknown
  • Yugoslavia 247,549 killed
  • Communist Albania 28,000 partisans killed
  • Soviet UnionKingdom of RomaniaKingdom of Bulgaria unknown
  • Nazi GermanyIndependent State of CroatiaGerman occupation of Albania 4,246,384 killed
  • Kingdom of Italy 324,821 killed
  • Kingdom of Hungary (1920–1946) 270,120 killed in the invasion of Yugoslavia and siege of Budapest
  • Kingdom of Romania unknown
  • Kingdom of Bulgaria 1,532 killed

History

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1940-1941

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Greece was invaded by Italy in October of 1940, but the Greeks counter attacked, and pushed through Albania. Not long after in November, Hungary and Romania joined the axis.[1]

Yugoslavia joined the axis in march of 1941, but left after a coup, so both Yugoslavia and Greece were invaded by the axis powers. Both fell to the invasion shortly after, and resistance was formed.[2]

1944-1945

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The Soviets invaded Romanian territory in March 1944, and in August, Romania and Bulgaria both capitulated. the Soviets helped the Yugoslav Partisans liberate Yugoslavia, and the British landed in Greece to liberate the country. In November, Albanian partisans liberated Albania, and set a provisional government. Soviet forces also invaded Hungary, encircling and eventually capturing Budapest.

In April, the Soviets and Partisans launched a final offensive into Axis territory. On the 8th of May, Germany officially surrendered. [3]

References

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  1. "War in the Balkans, 1941-45 | National Army Museum". www.nam.ac.uk. Retrieved 2024-09-09.
  2. "World War II - Central Europe, Balkans, 1940-41 | Britannica". www.britannica.com. 2024-09-09. Retrieved 2024-09-09.
  3. "German Surrender". encyclopedia.ushmm.org. Retrieved 2024-11-24.