military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) (04/17/91)
From: military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) Friday, 18 April, 1941 Greek President Alexandros Korizis commits suicide. King George steps in to replace him, and martial law is declared in Athens. German troops force a crossing of the Aliakmon river despite fierce opposition by the 2nd New Zealand division, and Mount Olympus is surrounded. This opens a gap between the British Expeditionary Force and the Greek army, forcing another Allied withdrawal. The British government warns Italy that if Athens or Cairo is bombed, it will respond by bombing Rome. They promise that the Vatican City will be spared in any attack. In the announcement, they warn that Italy has a store of captured British bombs and is prepared to drop them on the Vatican during the first British raid on Rome. The Messerschmitt 262 twin-engine jet fighter makes its first test flight. As the jet engines are not yet available, the prototypes is powered by piston engines. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Bill Thacker military@att.att.com Send submissions for "50 Years Ago" to military-request@att.att.com "What stark tragedy haunts two simple words -- too late. Czecho-Slovakia, Poland, Norway, Dunkerque, Yugoslavia, Syria... Are we going to be too late ?" - Frank Debrest, in a letter to the New York Times