Churchill's folly ; The Battles for Kos and Leros, 1943

Today many of the Greek islands of the Dodecanese are popular tourist resorts. However in 1943 they were the scene of the last successful German invasion of the Second World War. The islands had been occupied by the Italians since 1912 but this was to change with the Italian Armistice of September 1943. With the downfall of Benito Mussolini, Winston Churchill seized the opportunity to open a new front in the eastern Mediterranean. Rejected by the Americans outright as a needlessly wasteful idea, it was a proposal fraught with difficulties and, ultimately, one that was doomed to an ignominious failure. British and Commonwealth lightly armed and insufficiently trained 'Garrison troops' were ordered into occupied territory with the assistance of naval forces, but most crucially with little or no air cover present, and with a feeling of utter hubris that they could rout the enemy with ease. They were opposed by some of the Reich's finest most highly trained Soldiers, including units of the esteemed Brandenburg Division, supported in depth by both Luftwaffe and Kriegsmarine Units just as well trained and efficient in battle conditions, many of whom had served during the Air & Sea battles on and around Crete in 1941. After only 12 Weeks of operations, in which the Luftwaffe controlled the Airspace above the Dodecanese with ease, it all ended in an ignominious British defeat and with the Aegean now firmly under German occupation and control, which remained unchanged until the end of the war. The author has drawn on British, Commonwealth, German and Italian sources and uses graphic eyewitness accounts to provide a detailed retelling of the struggle for possession of the Dodecanese in 1943, and in particular the battles for the islands of Kos and Leros in particular.Originally Published 2003, this is the 2017 Reissue. In autumn 1943 the Italian-held Dodecanese was the setting for the last decisive German invasion of World War II—and the last irreversible British defeat. After the Italian armistice that followed the downfall of Il Duce Benito Mussolini, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill seized the opportunity to open a new front in the eastern Mediterranean, thereby increasing the pressure against Germany and at the same time hoping to provide an incentive for Turkey to join the Allies. Rejected by the Americans, it was a strategy fraught with difficulties and, ultimately, one doomed to failure. Spearheaded by the Long Range Desert Group and the Special Boat Squadron, British garrison troops were dispatched to the Aegean with the support of naval units, but with little or no air cover. They were opposed by German assault troops with the advantage of overwhelming air superiority. Within three months, German forces had seized nearly all of the Dodecanese, which would remain under occupation until the end of the war. In Autumn 1943 The Italian-held Dodecanese Was The Setting For The Last Decisive German Invasion Of The Second World War – And The Last Irreversible British Defeat. After The Italian Armistice That Followed The Downfall Of Mussolini, Churchill Seized The Opportunity To Open A New Front In The Eastern Mediterranean, Thereby Increasing The Pressure Against Germany And Hoping To Provide An Incentive For Turkey To Join The Allies. Rejected By The Americans, It Was A Strategy Fraught With Difficulties And Doomed To Fail. Spearheaded By The Lrdg And Sbs, British Troops Were Dispatched To The Aegean With Naval Units, But Little Or No Air Cover. They Were Opposed By German Assault Troops With Overwhelming Air Superiority. Within 3 Months, German Forces Had Seized Nearly All Of The Dodecanese, Which Was Occupied Until The End Of The War. Churchill's Folly: The Battles for Kos and Leros, 1943 in World War II