military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) (03/27/91)
Thursday, 27 March, 1941 As unrest in Yugoslavia peaks, a bloodless coup is staged. Prime Minister Cvetkovic and Foreign Minister Cincar-Markovic are arrested, and Prince Paul resigns. Prince Peter, 17 years old, is proclaimed King Peter II and with the aid of the Air Force CinC, General Simovic, forms a new anti- Axis government. Hitler immediately issues Directive 25, calling for the invasion of Yugoslavia, to be conducted simultaneously with the attack on Greece. A delay of Operation Barbarossa is considered necessary and acceptable. Fighting around Keren, Eritrea ends. The Commonwealth forces have lost 536 killed and 3229 wounded, mostly from Indian troops, while Italian losses stand at about 3000 killed and 4500 wounded. Harar is also captured. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Bill Thacker military@att.att.com Send submissions for "50 Years Ago" to military-request@att.att.com "We shall give all the aid we can to those who are fighting to defend their freedom and their native land, and I am sure that the President for the United States will be actuated by the same generous feelings of sustaining those who are fighting to be free." - Winston Churchill