New Zealanders in Greece, Part 2 of 4

Rights Information
Year
1941
Reference
12148
Media type
Audio
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Rights Information
Year
1941
Reference
12148
Media type
Audio
Series
U series
Categories
Interviews (Sound recordings)
Sound recordings
Duration
00:04:00
Broadcast Date
08 May 1941
Credits
RNZ Collection
Laurenson, Doug, Speaker/Kaikōrero

The NZBU Commentator, M. D. Laurenson continues with an account of the operation in Greece, which came to an end with the evacuation of the allied forces.

When the German attack commenced, their mechanised units found the weakest point in the allied defence - towards the Yugoslavian frontier where the weakened Greek army, together with a hastily formed Yugoslav army, were trying to hold the line. The Yugoslav army collapsed and the German army swept through. The New Zealand troops withdrew to the Mount Olympus area, after inflicting heavy losses on the Germans as they attempted to cross the Aliakmon River.

It fell to the New Zealand brigade to hold its position to the East of Mount Olympus against two German Divisions, making the odds 6:1 against the brigade.