Battle of Rhodes (1943)

Battle of Rhodes (1943)
Part of the Dodecanese Campaign of the Second World War

German Panzer IVs in Rhodes.
Date9–11 September 1943
Location36°20′12″N 27°55′12″E / 36.33667°N 27.92000°E / 36.33667; 27.92000
Result German victory
Territorial
changes
German occupation of Rhodes
Belligerents
 Italy  Germany
Commanders and leaders
Kingdom of Italy Inigo Campioni Surrendered Nazi Germany Ulrich Kleemann
Strength
39,100 men (34,000 Army, 3,000 Air Force, 2,100 Navy) 6,000–8,000 men
Casualties and losses
447 dead
300 wounded
30,000 POW
1 merchant ship captured

The Battle of Rhodes took place between Italian and German forces for the control of Rhodes, a Greek island in the Italian (1912–1943) Dodecanese islands in the Aegean Sea. The Italian authorities in Rome had been negotiating the Armistice of Cassibile with the Allies and the Germans had been manoeuvring to launch a coup in Italy and Italian-garrisoned areas in southern Europe, at the first sign of treachery to the Axis. German troops had been sent to Rhodes with tanks, artillery and air support. The British deception Operation Mincemeat intended to divert German attention from Sicily may have added to German apprehensions over the Aegean area.