Operation Koronis
Operation Koronis | |||||||
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| |||||||
Belligerents | |||||||
Provisional Democratic Government (Democratic Army of Greece) | Kingdom of Greece (National Army) | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Markos Vafiadis |
(2nd Corps) Thrasyvoulos Tsakalotos (1st Corps) | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
12,500 50 artillery | 40,000-70,000 (6 divisions) | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
3,128 killed 589 captured 603 deserted |
801 killed 31 captured/missing |
Operation Koronis (Greek: Επιχείρηση «Κορωνίς», "crown" in Greek) was a military campaign launched by royalist government in Athens against the main stronghold of the communist forces during the Greek Civil War. The communist defenses were two lines of fortifications with minefields and concealed bunkers. Initial air attacks used small-sized bombs and inaccurate targeting, but eventually the frequency of attacks was more than tripled. After neutralizing the minefields by forcing herds of animals to walk over them, the government army launched simultaneous attacks from two sides. In the southwest, the hill of Kleftis changed hands repeatedly. With heavier casualties against a numerically superior opponent, the communists had their wounded and artillery moved across the border to the People's Republic of Albania, while the remaining 8,000 retreated to Mount Vitsi.
Aftermath[]
Although the Hellenic Army failed to completely defeat the communists, the latter realized the lack of assistance they received from the Soviet Union, while the royalist government became stronger with assistance from the United States (Truman Doctrine). During the campaign, the Tito–Stalin Split developed between Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union which would eventually split the Greek communists into separate factions.
Bibliography[]
This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. (May 2016) |
- A Military History of the Cold War, 1944–1962 By Jonathan M. House
- Encyclopedia of Insurgency and Counterinsurgency: A New Era of Modern Warfare edited by Spencer C. Tucker
- 1948 in Greece
- Conflicts in 1948
- Battles and operations of the Greek Civil War
- Modern history of Epirus