The Italian Spring Offensive began, on the 2nd Army Corps front, in the area of Trebesina, on March 9, 1941. The main objective of the Italians was the capture of the uncontested hill 731.Within 10 days, the Italians launched 17 successive attacks against the hill, which were repulsed with heavy casualties by the men of the Greek I Infantry Division.
On March 19, the Italians decided to launch what turned out to be a final assault against the high ground, supported by tanks. The attack was undertaken by the 31st Infantry Regiment (SP) of the Italian "Siena" Division. The Italians placed in the first echelon a specially trained infantry company, which was trained to work closely with the tanks.
At 06:30 in the morning the Italian artillery began to excavate, once again, the hill, in the sector of the Greek III/19 Battalion of the famous 19th SP of Serres. The Italians, for the first time, took advantage of their rolling artillery barrage and closed in on the Greek positions, with a platoon of four CV-35 light tanks leading the way, followed by the elite company.
The rest of the Italian 31st Infantry Division followed, in a second echelon, ready to capitalize on the success of the first echelon attack. The Italians reached the Greek positions, suffering losses from the Greek artillery. Their two chariots were blown up by the Greek shells.
Another was hit and grounded, its crew killed. The fourth Italian tank made a 180° turn and ran away. The Italian company, meanwhile, had reached within striking distance of the Greek trenches.
The Italians reached the Greek positions, suffering losses from the Greek artillery. Their two chariots were blown up by the Greek shells. Another was hit and grounded, its crew killed. The fourth Italian tank made a 180° turn and ran away. The Italian company, meanwhile, had reached within striking distance of the Greek trenches.
Surge, through the spear...
Then the commander of III/19, the heroic Serrean captain Panagiotis Koutridis, ordered:"Ef weapon lance. Excursion". Suddenly, through the fragmented trenches, dozens of shadows flew out, gray with the soil that had covered them from the Italian bombardment.
With torn arms and legs, with bandages on their bodies, but absolutely determined to keep the piece of land entrusted to them by the Motherland, Koutridis' men rushed forward, screaming "Air"!
The Greeks, heedless of the Italian fire, rushed furiously at the elite company, surrounded and crushed it. Over 100 Italians were killed, in the fierce battle with grenades and spears that took place on the rugged hill and lasted an hour and 10 minutes.
Five other Italians were captured and wounded. At the time when III/19 was crushing the Italian attack, the Greek artillery concentrated its fire against the Italian forces of the second echelon, which were moving towards the hill.
The well-aimed Greek fire forced the Italian divisions to retreat. The 18th and final attack against 731 had been repulsed.
The Italians, after their repulse, launched a fierce bombardment against the Greek positions, avenging their bloody failure. The Greeks mourned that day 29 dead lads. Another 121 Greeks were injured.