On April 20, 1941, the Germans had already arrived in Larissa, having won the battles at Kliidi and Kleisoura. At the same time, the Greek troops were retreating from Northern Epirus, having largely disbanded themselves.
The shock of the disbandment had hit most Greek divisions, first of all the V Infantry Division (MP) of Crete. It gradually spread to the others. The heroic VIII MP, the one that alone held the Italians in the first critical days of the war, under the experienced lieutenant general Charalambos Katsimitros, he also had to deal with cases of dissolution and indiscipline.
The VIII MP had suffered the worst between January and March 1941 defending the accursed Kourvelesi plateau, in arctic conditions, under Italian fire. Nevertheless, it lasted. But retreating before an enemy he had defeated (the Italians) shook the morale of the men. However, the situation did not escape the management's control, at least to the extent that this happened in other departments.
The VIII MP, after marching for four days, arrived, on April 20, Easter day, in Kakavia, where it deployed defensively, having under its command the famous 34th Infantry Regiment (SP) of Piraeus. A battalion of the 34th SP together with the horsemen of the VIII Reconnaissance Group of the division were installed as a guard of the defensive location of Kakavia, in Grapsi.
At 08.00 in the morning the battalion commander of the III/34th Battalion Major Giannoulis , informed Katsimitro that Italian forces, infantry, cyclists and mainly tanks appeared in front of his location. An Italian infantry battalion moved against the Greek positions while an Italian company approached within firing distance and opened fire.
Another Italian battalion also appeared along with a squadron of artillery. Katsimitros ordered Giannoulis to leave the outpost location and enter the main resistance location of Kakavia. So it happened. At the same time, however, Italian and German planes appeared which, without an opponent, began to hit the Greek divisions hard. The III/34th Battalion was particularly tested, suffering a loss of 11 dead and 32 wounded.
In the meantime, the Italians approached and their artillery and mortars began to fire at the Greek positions. Then their infantry rushed out. But then they experienced a great surprise... The Greeks had not yet been defeated, at least not the soldiers of Katsimitro.
The Greek artillery opened fire first against the attacking Italians, slowing them down. The Italians taking advantage of the support of their artillery and air force continued the attack. However, when they fell in front of the barrier of III/34th Battalion, they were intercepted with very heavy losses.
The Italians persisted. Their attacks were aimed at capturing hill 364 of Kakavia where the III/34th Battalion was defending. Although their attacks continued throughout the day, until darkness fell, the Italians were unable to gain a foothold on the hill. VIII MP and the "loan" III/34 Battalion were still fighting. The next day, April 21, an armistice was signed. It was the ultimate victory…