2-611-849 - Keystone Archives/Heritage Images

Surrender of Athens to the Germans, World War II, 1941. The Nazis invaded Greece on 6 April 1941 after the botched invasion of the country by their Italian allies. The Germans made rapid progress and reached Athens by 27 April. Although the campaign was concluded quickly, some historians regard the invasion as an important turning point in the course of the war. By having to come to the aid of the Italians, Hitler was obliged to delay his planned assault against the Soviet Union, which would fall just short of taking Moscow the following winter.