202 TURNING THE TIDE 1943–1944
Paxoi
Cerigo
Sikinos
Peloponnesus
Vis
Brac
Hvar
Korčula
Mljet
Šolta
Ios
Naxos
Mikonos
Tinos
Andros
Paros
Amorgos
Thira
Astipalaia
Nicaria
Samos
Khios
Psara
Skopelos
Lliodhomia
Skiathos
Samothrace
Lesbos
Idhra
Corfu
HUNGARY
ITALY
GREECE
RO
M
AN
IA
Y U G O S L A V I A B
U
L
G
A
R
IA
TU
RK
EY
Ad
ri
a
ti
c
S
e
a
SERBIA
MONTENEGRO
CROATIA
ALBANIA
Vr
ba
s
D
rin
a
Va
rda
r
Sem
an Ma
ri
ts
a
Vij
ose
Sa
va
Un
a
Sa
va
Drav
a
Mo
rav
a
Da
nub
e
Lake
Balaton
Lake
Skadar
Tisza
Neretva
Bo
sn
a
Aegean
Sea
Dubrovnik
Klagenfurt
Timisoara
Deta
Ljubljana
Kranj Kamnik Celje
Subotica
Sabac
Scutari
Maribor
Potenza
Taranto
Pristina
Presevo
Surdulica
Leskovac
Obrenovac
Brindisi
Durazzo
Prizren
Sibenik
Szeged
Trieste
Skopje
Veles
Tirana
Zara
Fiume
Plaskio
Graz
Sofia
Pecs
Sombor
Srbobran
Split
Pula
Bari
Nis
Bela Palanka
Vlasotince
Sarajevo
Zenica
Tuzla
Mostar
Gacko
Žabljak
Šavnik
Andrijevica
Kolašin
Bileća
Cetinje
Banja
Luka
Jajce
Drvar
Bihać
Gospić
Zagreb
Požega Vinkovci
Varaždin
Budapest
Arad
Novi Sad
Zrenjanin
Belgrade
Požarevac
Vidin
Bor
Petrovac
Paraćin
Sokobanja
Mihajlovac
Smederevo
Kragujevac
Janina
Trikkala
Koritsa Salonika
Monastir
Florina
Kavala
Xanthi
Adrianople
Athens
Piraeus
Thebes Chalcis
Distamo
Thermopylae
Patras
Pirgos
Corinth
Lamia
Kalamata
Volos
Larissa
Osijek
Allied/Partisan joint base
Allied/Partisan raids on Adriatic islands
Allied air bases in southern Italy
Allied Easter bombing raids
Apr 16–17, 1944
THE BRITISH ARRIVE IN YUGOSLAVIA
JANUARY–JUNE 1944
After initially supporting the Chetniks, the British
decided to back Tito in July 1943. In January 1944,
they landed troops on the Yugoslav island of Vis,
previously held by Italy, to prevent it falling into
German hands. They set up a joint base with the
Yugoslav Partisans and raided other German-held
islands. They also attacked from southern Italy,
but a controversial carpet-bombing campaign at
Easter 1944 killed more than 1,000 civilians and
left most German military targets intact.
1
Oct 19–21, 1941
Kragujevac massacre;
the Germans shoot
2,800 men and boys
in retaliation for a
partisan attack.
Sep 24–Oct 5, 1944
Partisans execute 48 men
suspected of collaborating
with the Nazis.
Oct 8, 1944
The Germans
evacuate Corinth.
Feb 22, 1945
Axis forces
leave Mostar.
Apr 4, 1945 Axis
forces abandon
Sarajevo.
Oct 14–20, 1944
Belgrade is liberated
by Tito’s partisans and
the Soviet Army.
THE BALKANS LIBERATED
The Allies’ arrival in the Balkans in
1944 helped partisan groups to liberate
Yugoslavia and Greece, but enmity
between Communists, Republicans, and
Royalists threatened Greece’s peace.
2
3
4
1
TIMELINE
JAN 1944 APR JUL OCT JAN 1945 APR JUL
5
6
7
KEY
Croatia (German puppet state)
Serbia (under German occupation)
Montenegro
(Italian
protectorate)
Greece
Yugoslavia
GERMANY STRIKES AT TITO
APRIL–JUNE 1944
In April 1944, the Germans launched Operation
Rösselsprung, their sixth major offensive against
partisans since 1941. German airborne and ground
troops attacked the town of Drvar, headquarters
of the Yugoslav Partisans; they took the town after
door-to-door fighting, but suffered heavy losses in
a Partisan counterattack. Tito escaped unharmed,
and later reestablished headquarters on Vis.
2
German attack on Drvar
THE BELGRADE OFFENSIVE
SEPTEMBER 1–OCTOBER 20, 1944
In a bid to liberate the Yugoslav capital Belgrade,
Tito and the Western Allies cut German lines
of communication by bombing roads and railroads
in Operation Ratweek. However, suspicious
of British intentions and needing to reach an
understanding with the fast-approaching Soviets,
Tito met with Stalin. Alongside the Soviet Army
and the Bulgarian People’s Army, the Yugoslav
Partisans finally freed Belgrade on October 20.
3
Soviet army
movements
Partisan army
movements
Bulgarian army
movements
Major Operation
Ratweek bombing
1941–1945 Germany allows
pro-Fascist Croatia to form a
nominally independent state.
1941–1944 Greece is occupied by
Italian and German forces, and
parts are annexed by Bulgaria.
In 1943, Germany takes over
the large Italian occupation zone.
1941–1945 Serbia is
subjected to a brutal
German military
occupation.
US_202-203_Greece_and_Yugoslavia.indd 202 27/05/19 2:07 PM