Battle of Lake Kastoria

Battle of Kastoria
Part of the German invasion of Greece

Lake Kastoria viewed southeast from Korisos. The plains in the background were the area where the German artillery deployed.
Date15 April 1941
Location
Kastoria, West Macedonia, Greece
Result German victory
Belligerents
Greece Greece Nazi Germany Germany
Commanders and leaders
Greece Mj. Gen. Sotirios Moutousis
Greece Col. Efstathios Liosis
Nazi Germany SS-Ogruf Josef Dietrich
Nazi Germany Standartenführer Staudinger
Nazi Germany Sturmbannführer Kurt Meyer
Strength

Cavalry Division
13th Infantry Division (elements)

  • 1 reconnaissance battalion (horse cavalry)
  • 2 understrength infantry battalions (understrength)
  • 1 machine-gun battalion
  • 7 batteries of light and heavy artillery

Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler (elements)

  • 1 armoured reconnaissance battalion
  • 2 motorised infantry battalions
  • 6 medium and heavy artillery batteries
  • 3 companies of infantry guns
40 light bombers
Casualties and losses
160+ killed
12,000 captured
34 guns destroyed
2 anti-air guns destroyed
unknown

The Battle of Lake Kastoria (Greek: Μάχη λίμνης Καστοριάς) consisted of two parallel engagements north and south of Lake Kastoria (individually known in Greek as the battles of Argos Orestiko and of Foteini Pass) between Greek and German forces on 15 April 1941. Following the Greek failure to hold the Pass of Kleisoura, on 14 April, a new attempt was made to stop the German advance east of the road Bilisht (in Albania) – KastoriaGrevena, which was used as the main route for the withdrawal of the Greek Western Macedonia Army Section.