World War II in the Balkans

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
Map of the Invasion of Yugoslavia
Date 1940 — May 8 1945 Location Balkans Result 1940–1941 Axis victory 1944–1945 Allied victory
Belligerents
1940-1941 United Kingdom Australia New Zealand Greece Yugoslavia	1940-1941 Italy Albania Nazi Germany Hungary
1944-1945 Soviet Union DF Yugoslavia Greek partisans Albania Former Axis Powers Romania (from August 1944) Bulgaria (from September 1944) Hungary (Debrecen government) (from December 1944) Support: United Kingdom Balkan Air Force SOE United States	1944-1945 Nazi Germany Hungary Romania (until August 1944) Bulgaria (until September 1944) Axis puppet states Croatia Albania (until November 1944) Hungary (Axis government) (from October 1944) Greece (until October 1944) Chetniks 22x22px Balli Kombëtar
Commanders and leaders
Winston Churchill George II Peter II Josip Broz Tito Enver Hoxha Joseph Stalin	Adolf Hitler   † Benito Mussolini  Executed Miklós Horthy

1940-1941

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. Bulgaria joined in March.

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

1944-1945

The Soviets invaded Romanian territory in March 1944, and in August, Romania capitulated. and then Bulgaria did in September. 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, at this point Hungary wanted to join the war against Germany but a pro-axis coup (Operation Panzerfaust) removed Miklós Horthy (regent of Hungary) from power. And a puppet government was established. The fighting caught up to the Hungarian capital city Budapest and the Soviets encircles the city and a few months later, Budapest was under control by the Soviet Union.

In march, the Yugoslavs formed a Provisional Government. In April, the Soviets and Partisans launched a final offensive into Axis territory. Sarajevo was liberated on the 6th, the Soviets entered Austria and entered Vienna. On the 8th of May, Germany officially surrendered.

World War II In The Balkans Media

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  Map of Albania during World War II

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  Italian soldiers in an unidentified location in Albania, April 12, 1939.

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  Enver Hoxha as a partisan

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  Mehmet Shehu as a partisan

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  NLM flag (often seen without a star)

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  Lapidar commemorating partisan forces in Southeastern Albania

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  Major General Spiro Moisiu as military chief of the NLA.

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  Balli Kombëtar leaders Ali Këlcyra, Mit'hat Frashëri, Thoma Orollogaj (from left to right) in Berat.