 At the outbreak of World War II , Ioannis Metaxas — the fascist @-@ style dictator of Greece and former general — sought to maintain a position of neutrality . Greece was subject to increasing pressure from Italy , culminating in the Italian submarine Delfino sinking the cruiser Elli on 15 August 1940 . Italian leader Benito Mussolini was irritated that Nazi leader Adolf Hitler had not consulted him on his war policy and wished to establish his independence . He hoped to match German military success by taking Greece , which he regarded as an easy opponent . On 15 October 1940 , Mussolini and his closest advisers finalised their decision . In the early hours of 28 October , Italian Ambassador Emanuele <unk> presented Metaxas with a three @-@ hour ultimatum , demanding free passage for troops to occupy unspecified " strategic sites " within Greek territory . Metaxas rejected the ultimatum ( the refusal is commemorated as Greek national holiday <unk> Day ) but even before it expired , Italian troops had invaded Greece through Albania . The principal Italian thrust was directed toward Epirus . Hostilities with the Greek army began at the Battle of <unk> – <unk> , where they failed to break the defensive line and were forced to halt . Within three weeks , the Greek army launched a counter @-@ offensive , during which it marched into Albanian territory , capturing significant cities such as <unk> and Sarandë . Neither a change in Italian command nor the arrival of substantial reinforcements improved the position of the Italian army . On 13 February , General Papagos , the Commander @-@ in @-@ Chief of the Greek army , opened a new offensive , aiming to take Tepelenë and the port of Vlorë with British air support but the Greek divisions encountered stiff resistance , stalling the offensive that practically destroyed the Cretan 5th Division . 
