Kos And Leros 1943
by Anthony Rogers /
2019 / English / PDF
22 MB Download
A highly illustrated account of the fighting on the Dodecanese in 1943 as the British sought to take advantage of the Italian armistice by opening a new front against Nazi Germany. Fully illustrated with specially commissioned artwork, this is the story of the Nazi Germany's final conquest of World War II. The Italian armistice of September 1943 the British saw an opportunity to open a new front in the eastern Mediterranean in order to add yet more pressure to Nazi Germany. For the operation to have any chance of success it was imperative that Rhodes be seized together with the island's all-important airfields. Before the British could act, however, the German Sturmdivision Rhodos, with around 7,500 officers and men, seized control of Rhodes. Nevertheless, there was hope in the British camp that even without Rhodes some islands might be occupied. Kos, Samos and Leros were duly secured and garrisoned primarily by troops of 234th Infantry Brigade, the SBS, and the Long Range Desert Group. They would quickly face a German counterattack though, from land, sea, and air and soon the British and Italians would be forced into retreat and surrender.
