The Invasion of Yugoslavia (code-name Directive n. 25), also known as the April War (Croatian: Travanjski rat, Serbian/Bosnian: Aprilski rat, Slovene: aprilska vojna), was the Axis Powers' attack on Kingdom of Yugoslavia on April 6, 1941 during World War II. The invasion ended with the unconditional surrender of the Royal Yugoslav Army on April 17, 1941, annexation and occupation of the region by the Axis and the creation of the Independent State...
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The Invasion of Yugoslavia (code-name Directive n. 25), also known as the April War (Croatian: Travanjski rat, Serbian/Bosnian: Aprilski rat, Slovene: aprilska vojna), was the Axis Powers' attack on Kingdom of Yugoslavia on April 6, 1941 during World War II. The invasion ended with the unconditional surrender of the Royal Yugoslav Army on April 17, 1941, annexation and occupation of the region by the Axis and the creation of the Independent State of Croatia (Nezavisna Država Hrvatska, or NDH).
In October 1940, Fascist Italy had attacked Greece only to be forced back into Albania. German dictator Adolf Hitler recognised the need to go to the aid of his ally, Italian dictator Benito Mussolini. Hitler did this not only to restore diminished Axis prestige, but also to prevent Great Britain from being able to bomb the Romanian oilfields from which Germany obtained most of her oil.
Following agreements with Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria that they would join the Axis, Hitler put pressure on...
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