This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (June 2011) |
Battle of Kleisoura Pass | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Part of the German invasion of Greece | |||||||
![]() Kleisoura pass Greek plan of defense. | |||||||
| |||||||
Belligerents | |||||||
![]() |
![]() | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
![]() Lt. Col. Vasilios Mantzouranis (80th Reg.) |
![]() | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
unknown | 6,500 | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
heavy 1,000 captured (German claim) | unknown |
The Battle of Kleisoura Pass (Greek: Αγώνας στενωπού Κλεισούρας[1]) took place from the evening of 13 April 1941, when first contact was made, until the midday of 14 April, when Greek organized resistance collapsed. The battle was fought over the narrow pass that crosses between Mt. Vitsi and Mt. Siniatsiko, between elements of the Greek 20th Infantry Division which were occupying the pass and the German Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler, a mechanized infantry unit of brigade level. The pass was strategically important for it stood on the main Allied defensive line (Mt.Vitsi– Mt. Siniatsiko– river Aliakmon – Mt. Olympos), behind which passed the withdrawal route of the Greek army engaged against the Italians in Albania.[2]