in Patras to relieve the 139th Brigade, who moved to the outskirts of Athens. On 8 February, the Foresters moved from Salonika to Athens. In addition to guard and security duties, the division seized weapons from ELAS caches, assisted in transporting disbanded ELAS troops home, and trained. In March, the division expanded its operations into the rest of the Peloponnese peninsula, Ithaca, and Epirus. Most of the division's activities during this period were peaceful, with a notable exception being a skirmish at Corinth, when ELAS members were found attempting to smuggle weapons towards Athens. On 5 April, the division was relieved by the 23rd Armoured Brigade and began the return to Italy on 7 April although it took to the middle of the month until the entire division was available. Post War By the time the division arrived, the Allied Spring 1945 offensive in Italy had already begun. The division was not expected to be ready for action until 13 May. On 2 May, Axis forces in Italy surrendered. Six days later, the war in Europe ended. The division then moved into Austria as part of the Allied occupation force. One of the division's first duties, during May and June, was to assist in the repatriation of Yugoslav nationals who had served in the German military to Yugoslavia to be tried. The division was then assigned to the province of Styria and arrived in July following the withdrawal of Soviet forces. Some elements of the division, such as the 16DLI, advanced into the Austrian capital of Vienna. In the coming months, elements of the division were disbanded. For example, the 16DLI was stood down over January and February 1946. During 1946, the division took part in Operation Keelhaul, which included the forced repatriation of Cossacks to the Soviet Union. The author Ian Mitchell wrote the division was ordered, on 26 May, "to provide 'static picquets' along the route the Cossacks were to travel". Mitchell stated the 138th Brigade was informed that "the return of the Cossacks to Russia is part of an international agreement", many were wanted for war crimes, and "any Cossack who escapes will be a menace to British troops stationed in the area". The men of the division were ordered "to capture or shoot any Cossack" who attempted escape, but were to avoid any potential mass shootings. The historian and writer Giles MacDonogh wrote the division, along