Axis order of battle for the invasion of Yugoslavia facts for kids

The German-led Axis invasion of Yugoslavia as shown in the United States government Why We Fight documentary series

This article explains the different armies, air forces, and navies that the Axis powers (Germany, Italy, and Hungary) used to invade Yugoslavia during World War II. The invasion began on April 6, 1941.

The main forces involved were the German 2nd Army and parts of the 12th Army, along with a large air force called the Luftwaffe. Germany had 18 divisions, including five panzer divisions (tank divisions), two motorised infantry divisions (soldiers who moved in vehicles), and two mountain divisions. They also had two special motorised regiments and over 800 aircraft.

Italy's 2nd Army and 9th Army sent 22 divisions, with the Royal Italian Air Force providing over 650 aircraft. Hungary's 3rd Army also joined, supported by the Royal Hungarian Air Force.

Before the invasion, the Axis ground forces had surrounded Yugoslavia. German troops were in Hungary and Austria, ready to attack from the north. Other German forces were in Bulgaria and Romania, prepared to strike from the east. The Italian 2nd Army was in northeastern Italy, planning to move down the coast. The Italian 9th Army was in Albania, mostly for defense. Hungarian forces were along the border, aiming to take certain regions.

Over 1,500 Axis aircraft were ready for the invasion, based in Austria, Italy, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, and Albania. Naval forces were limited to a few Italian destroyers in the Adriatic Sea.

German Forces

German Land Forces

Germany sent over 337,000 soldiers to invade Yugoslavia. They had more than 2,000 mortars, 1,500 artillery guns, 1,100 anti-tank guns, 875 tanks, and 740 other armored vehicles. The German land forces were led by Generalfeldmarschall Walther von Brauchitsch.

2nd Army

The German 150mm sFH18 heavy howitzer was used by heavy artillery units during the invasion of Yugoslavia

The German 2nd Army was commanded by Generaloberst Maximilian von Weichs. It was made up of one motorised corps, one mountain corps, and two infantry corps. These forces gathered in southwestern Hungary and southeastern Austria.

12th Army

An eight-wheeled Sd.Kfz. 231 armored car of the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler in Yugoslav Macedonia in 1941

The German 12th Army was led by Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm List. Most of this army was preparing to invade Greece. Only two motorised corps from the 12th Army were used in Yugoslavia. The First Panzer Group was also assigned to the 12th Army for the first part of the invasion.

First Panzer Group

German Panzer III tank in Yugoslavia, 1941

The First Panzer Group was commanded by Generaloberst Paul Ludwig Ewald von Kleist. It gathered northwest of Sofia, Bulgaria.

German Commanders

• Major German Army Commanders
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  Generalfeldmarschall Walther von Brauchitsch led all German land forces.

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  Generaloberst Maximilian von Weichs commanded the 2nd Army.

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  General der Panzertruppe Heinrich von Vietinghoff led the XXXXVI Motorised Corps.

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  General der Infanterie Ludwig Kübler led the XXXXIX Mountain Corps.

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  Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm List commanded the 12th Army.

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  General der Panzertruppe Georg Stumme led the XXXX Motorised Corps.

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  General der Panzertruppe Georg-Hans Reinhardt led the XXXXI Motorised Corps.

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  Generaloberst Paul Ludwig Ewald von Kleist commanded the First Panzer Group.

German Air Force (Luftwaffe)

The Luftwaffe flew from bases in Austria, Romania, and Bulgaria. They had over 809 aircraft ready for the invasion. More than half of these were also supporting the invasion of Greece. The German air force included 296 fighter aircraft, 89 light bombers, 26 medium bombers, 23 reconnaissance aircraft, 318 dive bombers, and 57 heavy fighters.

4th Air Fleet

Junkers Ju 88A divebombers were operated by the 51st Bomber Wing.

The Luftwaffe 4th Air Fleet was commanded by General der Flieger Alexander Löhr. Its headquarters was in Vienna, Austria. This fleet had 25 medium bombers, 89 light bombers, 55 dive bombers, 6 reconnaissance aircraft, and 1 heavy fighter.

Fliegerführer Graz

This air unit was commanded by Oberstleutnant Karl Christ and was based in Graz, Austria. It had 54 fighters, 1 medium bomber, and 35 dive bombers.

Fliegerführer Arad

This unit was commanded by Oberstleutnant Clemens Graf von Schönborn-Wiesentheid. Its headquarters was in Arad, Romania. It had 116 fighters, 31 heavy fighters, and 68 dive bombers.

VIII Air Corps

Henschel Hs 123 dive bombers were operated by the 10th Dive Bomber Squadron.

The VIII Air Corps was commanded by General der Flieger Wolfram Freiherr von Richthofen. He was in charge of all air operations for the invasion. This corps was based in western Bulgaria. It had 126 fighters, 17 reconnaissance aircraft, over 25 heavy fighters, and 160 dive bombers. These aircraft supported both the Yugoslavia and Greece invasions.

X Air Corps

The X Air Corps was based in Sicily, Italy. It had 168 aircraft, including bombers and fighters. It was available to help the 4th Air Fleet if needed, but its main job was to stop Allied supply ships going to Malta.

German Air Force Commanders

• Major German Luftwaffe Commanders
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  General der Flieger Alexander Löhr commanded the 4th Air Fleet.

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  General der Flieger Wolfram Freiherr von Richthofen commanded the VIII Air Corps.

Italian Forces

Italian Ground Forces

The Italian 2nd Army and 9th Army sent 22 divisions, which was about 300,000 soldiers. This also included the Italian soldiers in Zara, an Italian area on the Dalmatian coast.

2nd Army

The World War I-era Obice 149/13 heavy howitzer was used by Italian artillery units.

The Italian 2nd Army was commanded by Generale d’Armata Vittorio Ambrosio. It had one fast corps, one motorised corps, and three infantry corps. These forces gathered in northeastern Italy.

German troops and Italian Bersaglieri in Yugoslavia, 1941

9th Army

The Italian 9th Army units involved were led by Generale d’Armata Alessandro Pirzio Biroli. They included two infantry corps and other troops stationed in northern Albania.

The Fiat M13/40 light tank was used by the 131st Armored Division Centauro and other Italian units.

Zara Garrison

The Italian garrison (military base) in Zara had about 9,000 soldiers. It was commanded by Generale di Brigata Emilio Giglioli. This force included land defense units, sea defense units, and supporting artillery and engineer troops. They also had some small L3/35 tankettes.

Italian Commanders

• Major Italian Commanders
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  Generale d’Armata Vittorio Ambrosio commanded the Italian 2nd Army.

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  Generale d’Armata Alessandro Pirzio Biroli commanded the Italian 9th Army.

Royal Italian Air Force (Regia Aeronautica)

The Royal Italian Air Force flew from bases in Italy and Albania. They had 658 aircraft ready for the invasion. Some of these also supported the German invasion of Greece. The Italian air force had 296 fighter aircraft, 40 dive bombers, 192 medium bombers, 12 bomber floatplanes, and 118 reconnaissance aircraft.

2nd Air Force

Macchi C.200 fighters were used by several Italian fighter units.

The 2nd Air Force was based in Padua, Italy, and commanded by Generale di Squadra Aerea Tullio Toccolini. It had 90 fighters, 61 medium bombers, and 49 reconnaissance aircraft.

4th Air Force

Junkers Ju 87 dive bombers were used by two Italian dive bomber groups.

The 4th Air Force was based in Bari, Italy, and commanded by Generale di Squadra Aerea Augusto Bonola. It had 73 fighters, 20 dive bombers, 131 medium bombers, and 12 bomber floatplanes.

Air Command Albania

Fiat G.50 fighters were used by two fighter groups in Albania.

Air Command Albania was located in Tirana, Albania, and commanded by Generale di Squadra Aerea Ferruccio Ranza. It had 133 fighters, 20 dive bombers, and 69 reconnaissance aircraft. These aircraft supported both the Yugoslavia and Greece invasions.

Royal Italian Navy (Regia Marina)

Three destroyers from the Royal Italian Navy were sent to the Adriatic Sea to directly support the invasion. Other ships were tasked with stopping the Royal Yugoslav Navy.

Hungarian Forces

Royal Hungarian Army

The Hungarian Mobile Corps used Italian-made L3/35 tankettes, which were small tanks with machine guns.

The Hungarian Army sent its Mobile Corps, I Corps, IV Corps, and V Corps from Vezérezredes Elemér Gorondy-Novák's 3rd Army to invade. The 1st Parachute Battalion was ready for airborne operations (dropping from planes). The Hungarian invasion force was positioned along the Yugoslav border, mainly between the Danube and Tisza rivers.

Royal Hungarian Air Force (MKHL)

Fiat CR.42 biplane fighters were used by the MKHL during the invasion.

The Royal Hungarian Air Force (MKHL) sent its 1st Air Brigade. This included four fighter groups with Fiat CR.42 biplane fighters. They also had one bomber group with Junkers Ju 86 and Caproni Ca.135bis bombers, and one reconnaissance group with Heinkel He 170A aircraft. Savoia-Marchetti SM.75 transport planes were used to carry the 1st Parachute Battalion.

See Also

• Invasion of Yugoslavia