The Italian invasion of Albania has unfortunately succeeded: despite our steadfast resistance the enemy has broken through the border and secured the land. The Free States are facing an existential threat as the Italians keep pushing and threaten to invade the heartlands: the strongpoints of Arta and Ioannina keep them out, but for how long?
The British Commonwealth has now recovered from the disastrous 1940 Yugoslavian campaign and is striking back. The Lancaster’s warhawks have pushed for an increased support in our favor, but it will take time. For now, we stand alone.
Arta is the first target: the Italians have pushed enough supplies and heavy artillery through the Thermopylae pass and will try to break through. We can’t stop them head on, so we will try a flanking attack to destroy their supply depots, forward airfields and hopefully even their heavy artillery batteries. Without supplies the Italian offensive will be called off, so that’s the main objective.
The mission will be carried out by an ad-hoc Varangian Corps: four brigades from the Kozani Valley. To open the path to the Sykies, however, we have to lure the enemy forward. Which means ceding ground and getting ever closer to Arta itself. I’ll need to manage the mobile forces and carefully control the enemy’s advance so I can reach their supply depots and keep Arta out of their reach.
[Imgur](https://imgur.com/0Vv6wOu)
11-12/1/1942
The enemy bombards the lines of the VII and XXX Thema with all available guns, as well as shelling our already weakened bunkers in Polichni. The first assaults starts the second day and see the 107th, 111th and 112th Hoplitai Divisions taking the brunt of the fire. The Italian 8th Centuria “Curtun” leads the charge accompanied by tanks and assault guns. In the north, Polichni falls to the 24° Arditi Brigade.
I ordered the 33rd Koursorses Division to bolster our southern flank’s defenses, but Italian Bombers immediately spotted the formation and bombed my artillery. The 69th and 100th Anachaitistis Wings try to fight off the enemy planes and down around 35 of them. The leading Italian units are closely followed by their HQs so I can’t use my Peltastes Wings to bomb them.
I push forward the 10th Katafraktoi Division between VII and XXX Thema, hoping to find an opening for a counterattack. My tanks shell the leading elements of the 8th “Curtun”, but it’s an even battle.
[Imgur](https://imgur.com/RFdRTEe)
13/1/1942
Enemy fighter planes try to rush Arta Group’s airfield, but the 44th Anachaitistis Wing stops them. A Regiment of the 5th Clibanarii Division, meanwhile, has advanced too far from his HQ’s AA range, so I pummel it with my Peltastes Wings until more than 60 tanks are turned into wrecks.
The Italian I Corpo D’Assalto keeps advancing south of Kilkis decimating the 107th and 112th Hoplitai Division. North of the town my 10th Katafraktoi pushes back the 8th “Curtun” Division. Our Interceptors decimate the 19th Stormo Bombardieri that was supporting the enemy’s advance, but I predict that soon enough the enemy vanguards will reach my 33rd Koursorses Division’s blocking positions.
The Italian IV Coorte in the north is slowly advancing toward Oraiokastro, but the town and the nearby town of Peraia are well defended.
[Imgur](https://imgur.com/7jAM1pC)
14/1/1942
The 12th “Fufluna” Division approaches the 33rd Koursorses Division’s positions so I shell it with artillery, bomb it from the air and finally attack it with my 10th Katafraktoi Division. The enemy Centuria Regiment cracks under the pressure and is almost destroyed.
Our vast minefields are preventing the IV Coorte from flanking Oraiokastro from the north. The mass of Italian troops is lumbering forward, but our frontline Thema are resisting.
15/1/1942
The Italian 5th Clibanarii Division strikes at the one Regiment of the 10th Katafraktoi that was outside of AT Guns’ cover and shatters it. I retreat the Division north of Kilkis and try to stem the advance of the 33rd Arditi Brigade and, again, of the 8th “Curtun” Division. The attacks are preceded by aerial attacks on the enemy assault guns, but the battle is still inconclusive. Dozens of the “Curtun”’s APCs and IFVs are destroyed, however.
In the south, the enemy breaks through the ranks of 108th Hoplitai Division and wipes out my artillery, leaving the 33rd Koursorses Division exposed. I have to retreat to a more defensible position further west.
Most of my planes are sent back to the airfields to reorganize and resupply.
[Imgur](https://imgur.com/YYhcqEV)
16/1/1942
The Varangian Thema has arrived! Four Brigades and their HQ. I march them forward, but not too much. The enemy must advance further, otherwise it will quickly fall back on us when we threaten Sykies. Enemy heavy artillery is also still in range of the town so it would devastate our Varangian Brigades if they advance too far too early.
The 44th Anachaitistis Wing is jumped on by two enemy Fighter Wings and it’s decimated while protecting a Peltastes Wing. The enemy air power is oppressing.
Kilkis is almost surrounded and the 10th Katafraktoi Division suffers heavy losses trying to hold its positions. I retreat it toward Peraia and patch it up a bit. The VII Thema is still holding the line, but II Coorte’s and I Coorte d’Assalto’s advance in the south may end up threatening Arta despite Oraiokastro and Peraia’s resistance.
[Imgur](https://imgur.com/57p07Ms)
[Imgur](https://imgur.com/ORwplpT)
