 On 17 November 1940 , Metaxas proposed a joint offensive in the Balkans to the British government , with Greek strongholds in southern Albania as the operational base . The British were reluctant to discuss Metaxas ' proposal , because the troops necessary for implementing the Greek plan would seriously endanger operations in North Africa . During a meeting of British and Greek military and political leaders in Athens on 13 January 1941 , General Alexandros Papagos — Commander @-@ in @-@ Chief of the Hellenic Army — asked Britain for nine fully equipped divisions and corresponding air support . The British responded that all they could offer was the immediate dispatch of a token force of less than divisional strength . This offer was rejected by the Greeks , who feared that the arrival of such a contingent would precipitate a German attack without giving them meaningful assistance . British help would be requested if and when German troops crossed the Danube from Romania into Bulgaria . 
