Capture of Klisura Pass

Capture of Klisura Pass
Part of the Greco-Italian War

Greek soldiers next to a captured Italian tank
Date6–11 January 1941
(5 days)
Location
Result Greek victory
Belligerents
 Italy  Greece
Commanders and leaders
Fascist Italy Ugo Cavallero Kingdom of Greece Alexander Papagos
Kingdom of Greece Dimitrios Papadopoulos
Units involved
Kingdom of Greece II Army Corps
Kingdom of Greece 29th Mechanized Infantry Brigade
Casualties and losses
300 killed & 350 captured (including 25 officers)[1] Unknown

The Capture of Klisura Pass (Greek: Κατάληψη της Κλεισούρας) was a military operation that took place during 6–11 January 1941 in southern Albania, and was one of the most important battles of the Greco-Italian War. The Italian Army, initially deployed on the Greek-Albanian border, launched a major offensive against Greece on 28 October 1940. After a two-week conflict, Greece managed to repel the invading Italians in the battles of Pindus and Elaia–Kalamas. Beginning on 9 November, the Greek forces launched a major counteroffensive and penetrated deep into Italian-held Albanian territory. The Greek operations culminated with the capture of the strategically important Klisura Pass in January 1941.[2]

  1. ^ Ιωάννης Παπαφλωράτος, Η Ιστορία της Α' μεραρχίας πεζικού, περιοδικό Στρατιωτική Ιστορία, τ. 129, Μάιος 1997, (page. 10)
  2. ^ "Balkan studies: biannual publication of the Institute for Balkan Studies". Balkan Studies. 33: 116. 1990.