Operation Koronis

Date	June 14/16 - August 20/21, 1948 (sources differ)
Location	Grammos, border of Ioannina and Kastoria, Epirus, northwestern Greece
Result	tactical Hellenic Army victory, strategically inconclusive

Belligerents

Provisional Democratic Government (Democratic Army of Greece)

Kingdom of Greece (National Army)

Commanders and leaders

Markos Vafiadis

Ioannis Kitrilakis (2nd Corps)
Thrasyvoulos Tsakalotos (1st Corps)

Strength

12,500
50 artillery

40,000-70,000 (6 divisions)

Casualties and losses

3,128 killed
589 captured
603 deserted

801 killed
31 captured/missing

Operation Koronis (Greek: Επιχείρηση «Κορωνίς», "crown" in Greek) was a military campaign launched by royalist government in Athens against the main stronghold of the communist forces during the Greek Civil War. The communist defenses were two lines of fortifications with minefields and concealed bunkers. Initial air attacks used small-sized bombs and inaccurate targeting, but eventually the frequency of attacks was more than tripled. After neutralizing the minefields by forcing herds of animals to walk over them, the government army launched simultaneous attacks from two sides. In the southwest, the hill of Kleftis changed hands repeatedly. With heavier casualties against a numerically superior opponent, the communists had their wounded and artillery moved across the border to the People's Republic of Albania, while the remaining 8,000 retreated to Mount Vitsi.

Aftermath

Although the Hellenic Army failed to completely defeat the communists, the latter realized the lack of assistance they received from the Soviet Union, while the royalist government became stronger with assistance from the United States (Truman Doctrine). During the campaign, the Tito–Stalin Split developed between Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union which would eventually split the Greek communists into separate factions.

Bibliography

A Military History of the Cold War, 1944–1962 By Jonathan M. House
Encyclopedia of Insurgency and Counterinsurgency: A New Era of Modern Warfare edited by Spencer C. Tucker

Greek Civil War
Background	4th of August Regime Axis occupation of Greece Greek Resistance National Liberation Front Greek People's Liberation Army National Republican Greek League Collaborationist governments Security Battalions Greek government-in-exile Red Terror Lebanon Conference Caserta Agreement Dekemvriana Treaty of Varkiza White Terror 1946 general elections 1946 monarchy referendum
Events	Litochoro attack Truman Doctrine Battle of Konitsa Thessaloniki bombing Operation Charavgi Operation Koronis Operation Peristera Operation Pyravlos Tito–Stalin split Operation Pyrsos
Communists	Communist Party of Greece National Liberation Front Provisional Democratic Government Democratic Army of Greece Popular Civil Guard Nikos Zachariadis Markos Vafiadis
National Government	George II of Greece Paul of Greece Archbishop Damaskinos of Athens Themistoklis Sofoulis Konstantinos Tsaldaris Alexandros Papagos Konstantinos Ventiris Dimitrios Giatzis Thrasyvoulos Tsakalotos James Van Fleet Hellenic Army Royal Hellenic Air Force Greek Gendarmerie Rural Security Units
Impact and aftermath	Refugees of the Greek Civil War Makronisos Sacred Bond of Greek Officers Centrist Interlude Greek military junta of 1967–74 Metapolitefsi

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