History of the Second World War

The Italo-Greek War, which began as a purely regional conflict in October 1940, would transform into a broader European confrontation as both Germany and Britain made the fateful decision to intervene in Greece. For the Germans, concerns about protecting vital Romanian oil fields from potential British air attacks, combined with fears of Italian collapse, drove the planning of Operation Marita, an invasion designed to secure the Balkans before the launch of Barbarossa. Meanwhile, Churchill and the British leadership saw Greece as an opportunity to distract Axis forces, demonstrate support for smaller nations, and potentially build a Balkan alliance with Yugoslavia and Turkey. Greek leader Metaxas initially resisted British ground forces, fearing they would provoke German intervention, but his death in January 1941 led to a shift in policy under his successor. As German forces moved into Romania and Bulgaria throughout early 1941, and British RAF squadrons began arriving in Greece, both sides prepared for a confrontation that would expand the war far beyond the mountains of Albania where Italian and Greek forces had been locked in bitter combat.

History of the Second World War is part of the Airwave Media podcast network.

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For this interview I was joined by Timothy Manion to discuss his upcoming book Why Barbarossa Failed: Germany and Russia in the Second World War which released March 5, 2026.

https://www.helion.co.uk/military-history-books/why-barbarossa-failed-germany-and-russia-in-the-second-world-war.php

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History of the Second World War is part of the Airwave Media podcast network.
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Because so many questions were sent in for the first Questions episode, I had to make another.

If you have First or Second World War Questions send them to [email protected].

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History of the Second World War is part of the Airwave Media podcast network.
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This episode continues the story of the Italo-Greek War following the disastrous Italian invasion of Greece in late October 1940. After the Italian defeat at Kalpaki, the Greeks launched a counteroffensive that quickly pushed Italian forces back across the border and into Albania, capturing the city of Korce and taking over 10,000 prisoners. The episode examines the Italian leadership shake-ups that followed, with General Soddu replacing Prasca and Marshal Badoglio being publicly scapegoated before his replacement by Cavallero. As winter set in, both armies suffered terribly from frostbite and harsh conditions that made offensive operations nearly impossible. The RAF arrived in limited numbers but disappointed Greek hopes for major air support, while the Royal Hellenic Air Force performed the remarkable Engineers' Epic, moving aircraft 26 kilometers through blizzard conditions to preserve their fighting strength. The episode concludes with the death of Greek leader Metaxas in January 1941 and his replacement by Koryzis, whose willingness to accept British ground forces would set the stage for the war's expansion beyond a regional Greco-Italian conflict.

History of the Second World War is part of the Airwave Media podcast network.

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In October 1940, Mussolini launched an invasion of Greece from Albania, determined to secure Italian expansion in the Balkans before any peace could be negotiated. This episode examines the lead-up to the Italo-Greek War, beginning with Greece under the Metaxas dictatorship and its efforts to build up military strength despite limited industrial capacity. We explore Italy's decision to target Greece after delays in North Africa, the flawed assumptions Italian leaders held about Greek willingness to fight, and the fabricated provocations used to justify the invasion. When the Italian ultimatum was delivered at 3AM on October 28th, Metaxas famously rejected it, and Greece mobilized with unexpected unity as political divisions evaporated overnight. The episode follows the opening days of the invasion, hampered by torrential rains and mountainous terrain, culminating in the Battle of Kalpaki on November 2nd where Greek artillery devastated Italian tank attacks. By November 8th, the Italian offensive had completely stalled, forcing a major reorganization and change of command that set the stage for further failures to come.

Contact [email protected] to advertise on History of the Second World War.

History of the Second World War is part of the Airwave Media podcast network.

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