Yugoslavia surrenders to the Third Reich

Germany invades Yugoslavia and Greece

Preparing Operation Barbarossa – the invasion of the Soviet Union – during the spring of 1941, Hitler did not really have much time for or interest in south-east Europe. However, the landing of British troops on Crete and the launch of a coup in Yugoslavia threatened the security of his southern flank and Hitler decided to act.

Germany and its allies launched a blitzkrieg invasion of Yugoslavia and Greece on 6 April. They did not bother to issue a formal declaration of war, and the invasion was announced by devastating bombing raids on Belgrade and key airfields. German military superiority meant that Yugoslavia was overrun by 17 April 1941, whilst Greece capitulated on 23 April. Only the British garrison on Crete put up longer resistance. Whilst Germany, Italy, Hungary and Bulgaria divided the conquered territories amongst themselves, only Croatia was left with its independence and its government became a vassal state of the Third Reich.