 In early April 1941 , Greek , Yugoslav and British commanders met to set in motion a counteroffensive , that planned to completely destroy the Italian army in Albania in time to counter the German invasion and allow the bulk of the Greek army to take up new positions and protect the border with Yugoslavia and Bulgaria . On 7 April , the Yugoslav 3rd Army in the form of five infantry divisions ( 13th " <unk> " , 15th " Zetska " , 25th " <unk> " , 31st " Kosovska " and 12th " Jadranska " Divisions , with the " Jadranska " acting as the reserve ) , after a false start due to the planting of a bogus order , launched a counteroffensive in northern Albania , advancing from Debar , <unk> and Podgorica towards Elbasan . On 8 April , the Yugoslav vanguard , the " <unk> " Cavalry Regiment crossed the treacherous <unk> Mountains and captured the village of <unk> in the <unk> River Valley , and the 31st " Kosovska " Division , supported by Savoia @-@ Marchetti <unk> bombers from the 7th Bomber Regiment of the Royal Yugoslav Air Force ( VVKJ ) , broke through the Italian positions in the Drin River Valley . The " <unk> " Division , due to the fall of Skopje was forced to halt its operations in Albania . In the meantime , the Western Macedonia Army Section under General Tsolakoglou , comprising the 9th and 13th Greek Divisions , advanced in support of the Royal Yugoslav Army , capturing some 250 Italians on 8 April . The Greeks were tasked with advancing towards Durrës . On 9 April , the Zetska Division advanced towards Shkodër and the Yugoslav cavalry regiment reached the Drin River , but the Kosovska Division had to halt its advance due to the appearance of German units near Prizren . The Yugoslav @-@ Greek offensive was supported by <unk> bombers from the 66th and 81st Bomber Groups of the VVKJ , that attacked airfields and camps around Shkodër , as well as the port of Durrës , and Italian troop concentrations and bridges on the Drin and <unk> rivers and Durrës , Tirana and Zara . 
