16 April 1941. Athens, Greece.
General Papagos’ Headquarters was in an uproar when General Wilson arrived. In some ways he noted this seemed to be the normal state of affairs, as Wilson’s opinion of the Greek temperament being somewhat scathing. Once in the inner sanctum the Greek General showed Wilson the current situation regarding the pull back of the Greek army from Albania.
Generally, things were going to plan. The Greek forces had disengaged from the Italians and were mostly falling back in good order, but only at walking pace, with the Italians giving chase in some places. Communications were patchy and Papagos’ HQ was in turmoil due to trying to make sense of what was going on. The three crucial passes held by the Greek Cavalry, 2oth and 12th Divisions were all under heavy pressure, but holding. The weather had been clearing up, so the Luftwaffe were much more evident, something that Wilson was very aware of. Wilson noted the help that British Empire forces had been giving to these three Greek Divisions, which Papagos appreciated as well.
Wilson asked about the rumours of a defeatist attitude that was being widely talked about. Papagos shrugged his shoulders. The Greeks had fought the Italians to a standstill and pushed them right back into Albania. Now they were being stabbed in the back by the Germans, and frankly the Greek army was incapable of reversing this setback. Wilson could see the strain that Papagos was under, so when the Greek General asked him for an update, Wilson laid out the current situation.
The 2nd New Zealand Division had been hard pressed all along their front. It was only the demolition of the Platamon tunnel and road that had prevented them from being having their flank turned. The 6th Australian Division, had also been attacked strongly, but had managed, so far, at considerable cost, to hold the Germans back. The German Mountain Divisions were proving to be formidable opponents. The First Armoured Brigade had fallen back behind the Aliakmon River line. Their losses had been serious, but they were still a potent force.
Wilson explained that he was worried about his left flank. If the Germans broke through the passes, there was a real danger of them cutting off the retreating Western Macedonian and Epirius Armies before they could get into a defensible line. He informed Papagos that he sent 17th Australian Brigade to Grevena to shore up that flank, just in case the Germans broke through before the main Greek forces were able to withdraw. He then outlined the plan to fall back towards a shorter line at Thermopylae. The Australians and New Zealanders would fall back in leaps and bounds, with the Armoured Brigade covering them. The Quartermasters and RASC were working hard at re-organising stores to prevent as much as possible from falling into the hands of the Germans, or indeed simply being destroyed in place. The timetable had been worked out with Generals Blamey and Freyberg, and it could be put into effect almost immediately.
Papagos felt that this was a reasonable plan for the British, but knew that there would be no way for his footsore soldiers could make it back as far the positions Wilson was planning before the Germans arrived. Papagos at this point suggested as things may become critical in the future, Wilson should plan to re-embark British troops and ‘save Greece from devastation’. Wilson was taken aback. While that eventuality had always been in the minds of the planners of Operation Lustre, to hear it from the Greek commander was shocking. The defeatist attitude that Wilson had asked about seemed to start from the top. This was something that he would need to consult Wavell about, it would probably also need to be reported to London. The question that Wilson knew he’d be asked was whether this was just the Greek Commander-in-Chief’s opinion, or that of the Greek Government. Papagos admitted he hadn’t consulted anyone, but, at the very least, the British might start planning for the eventuality. Wilson agreed to pass on the suggestion, knowing full well that planning was already well underway.
In the meantime, the current situation was likely to be maintained for at least another day, allowing more of the two Greek armies to make progress towards their new positions. If the Australians and New Zealanders could hold their positions until starting to withdraw on 18 April, then the Greeks could use the cover of the Pindos mountains to continue to pull back. Wilson agreed, but noted that a great deal of his transport would be needed to move as much of the main supply dump at Larissa back towards Athens. He also noted that falling back to the south of Greece would mean the RAF and remaining Greek Air Force would need to move, which would mean they wouldn’t be in a position to cover the withdrawal. German command of the air would be something the Greeks and Imperial forces would have to learn to live with.