However, it would be risky to leave our flank exposed: a Byzantine counterattack from the hinterland could threaten to split our front in two, hence the decision to launch Operation Hasta. Two small Coorti (XI and XII) will expand the bridgehead westward and take three mining towns that could start providing resources for our industry. It’s a small operation, and we don’t expect the enemy to put up much of a resistance given the ongoing existential threat against the two most important Albanian cities.
My units have to follow the only two roads leading west, securing the several bridges that cross the small rivers in the area. There is a valuable small city near the middle of the region, Erseke, that hosts a small airfield that we can use to drop supplies and as a future base of operations for a Wing or two.
12/4/1941
I send the 31st and 33rd Divisioni Motorizzate forward to scout for enemy presence and eventual minefields. The 31st in the north finds nothing, and the XII Coorte starts crossing the bridge at Krrabe unimpeded.
In the south, the 33rd leading elements find the 41st Hoplitai Division defending Memaljaj, so I have to deploy the whole XI Coorte to engage the enemy.
13/4/1941
The enemy doesn’t dare to leave its fortified positions around Memaljaj, but it has an entire Artillery Regiment in the town that shells our motorized troops, so I have to push forward and engage it. The XI Coorte envelops the town and the 9° Arditi spearheads the assault, leading to the destruction of an enemy Regiment.
In the north, Krrabe is conquered and the XII Coorte advance unbothered toward Erseke.
14/4/1941
The XII Coorte has reached Erseke, still no sign of enemy presence but the resistance at Memaljaj makes me cautious, so I’ll refrain from blindly advancing on the bridge and instead I’ll use my Engineers Battalion to probe the town’s defenses. The 11° Arditi Brigade is preparing to cross the river northeast of the town, and the 31st Divisione Motorizzata is waiting to see what’s the best course of action.
In the south, the Byzantines counterattack mauling a Regiment of the 33rd Divisione Motorizzata, but with the artillery support of my Artiglieria Motorizzata Regiment I am able to crush the enemy’s own artillery, decimate a Hoplitai Regiment and surround the remaining one in the town center.
15/4/1941
As suspected, enemy infantry surges forward from Erseke and pushes back our Engineers. The Arditi and the Motorized infantry will now try to cross the river northeast of the town while a Motorized Regiment engages the enemy infantry to keep the enemy’s focus there.
Memaljaj is conquered and the enemy Hoplitai Division is almost annihilated. The XI Coorte starts moving toward Bajze.
