Battle of Tempe Gorge

Part of the Balkans Campaign during World War II

Tempe Gorge c. 1941

Date	18 April 1941
Location	Tempe Gorge, Greece
Result	Delayed German advance

Belligerents

Australia

New Zealand

Nazi Germany

Commanders and leaders

Arthur Samuel Allen

Ferdinand Schörner
Hermann Balck

Units involved

Australian 16th Brigade
New Zealand 21st Battalion

2nd Panzer Division
6th Mountain Division

Strength

~ 1 brigade

~ 1–2 divisions (elements)

Casualties and losses

Australian:
80 killed or wounded, 120 captured

New Zealand: 4 killed or wounded

140 killed or wounded

Australian:
80 killed or wounded, 120 captured

The Battle of Tempe Gorge, also known as the Battle of Pinios Gorge, was a rearguard action fought by Australian and New Zealand troops during the German invasion of Greece on 18 April 1941. The battle was fought amidst the advance of German forces through central Greece, and saw a brigade-sized element dubbed "Anzac Force" fight a delaying action against elements of two German divisions, supported by armoured forces. During a day of hard fighting, the defending Anzacs suffered heavy casualties and were forced back from the gorge, but their stand allowed other Allied forces to withdraw through Larissa, and afterwards a new defensive position was established around Thermopylae.

As the main Allied contingent retreated from German forces towards the south of Greece, a holding action was determined to be needed to delay the pursuing Germans at Tempe Gorge, a site deemed suitable for the defence. The force allocated for this action was dubbed "Anzac Force". It was relatively small, consisting of two battalions from the Australian 16th Brigade, 2nd Australian Imperial Force – the 2/2nd and 2/3rd – fighting alongside New Zealand forces consisting of the 21st Battalion, the 26th Battery of the 4th Field Regiment and L Troop of 7th Anti Tank Regiment. Some of the units had seen action recently in Libya against the Italians, before being hastily transported to Greece to help against the German invasion. Anzac Force was commanded by Brigadier Arthur Samuel Allen. The Australian units were armed with mortars, small arms and anti tank rifles, while the New Zealand force had artillery pieces, including 25 pounders, but were short of ammunition. The Boys anti-tank rifles were largely ineffective, and the Bren Gun Carriers were due for replacement. At that time, there was almost no British armour in Greece, many tanks having been destroyed by Waffen SS tanks at the Battle of Vevi on 13 April.

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