Battle of Elaia – Kalamas The Battle of Elaia – Kalamas ( ) took place in Epirus on 2 – 8 November 1940 . The battle was fought between the Greeks and the Italians during the initial stage of the Greco - Italian War . The Italian Army , deployed on the Greek - Albanian border , launched a major offensive against Greece on 28 October 1940 . The main thrust of the Italian invasion occurred in the Epirus sector , with a further flanking move through the Pindus mountains . In Epirus , the Greeks held the Elaia – Kalamas river line , but the Greek units were outnumbered and their General Staff was pessimistic as to the outcome of the fight . Nevertheless , the local Greek forces , under Major General Charalambos Katsimitros , managed to successfully stop the Italian advance . Along with the Italian failure in the Battle of Pindus , these Greek successes signified the complete failure of the Italian invasion , leading to the dismissal of the Italian commander in Albania , Sebastiano Visconti Prasca , on 9 November . In the next few weeks , the Greek forces managed to initiate a full - scale counteroffensive which forced the Italians to retreat deep into Albanian territory . Background . After the Italian invasion of Albania in 1939 , the Greek General Staff became alerted to a potential Italian attack from Albanian territory . Faced with the strong likelihood of a concerted Italian - Bulgarian attack against both Epirus and Macedonia - Thrace , the main Greek contingency plan , codenamed " IB " ( for " Italy - Bulgaria " ) , essentially prescribed a defensive stance in Epirus . Two versions of the plan existed : the first suggested forward defence on the border line , while the second dictated initial defense in an intermediate position prior to a gradual retreat to the Arachthos River - Metsovo - Aliakmon River - Mt . Vermio line , leaving most of Epirus in Italian hands . It was left to the judgment of the local commander of the 8th Infantry Division , based in Ioannina , Charalambos Katsimitros , to choose which plan to follow . A significant factor in the Greeks ' favor was that they had managed to obtain intelligence about the approximate date of the attack , and had just completed a limited mobilization in the areas facing the expected Italian plans . Battle . The attitude of the Greek High Command during the first days of the conflict was pessimistic about the ability of the Greek Army to repulse an Italian attack against a position which was difficult to defend . In general , the defensive line near the Greek - Albanian border could only be thinly manned before the general mobilization could offer the necessary reinforcements , and thus was expected to fight the enemy forces only in order to delay their advance . The commander of the only Greek division ( VIII ) in the area , General Ch . Katsimitros , realized the strategic value of the area , in which the Italian superiority in men and armour had limited value because of the mountainous and marshy terrain . Contrary to the Greek HQ directives , he concentrated the main forces of his division there , with the intention to give an all out battle in that position . The Greek HQ under General Alexander Papagos had reluctantly approved Katsimitros ' s plan after sending as a new chief of staff in the division the Brigadier Drakos , who after careful study of the area also agreed with the division ' s original plans . The Italian forces initiated their offensive on the morning of 28 October . The Italian " " Ciamuria " " Corps , spearheaded by the 51st " Siena " and 23rd " Ferrara " Infantry Divisions , as well as by the 131st " Centauro " Armoured Division , attacked toward Kalpaki ( Elaia ) , while on its right it was supported by a small brigade - sized " Littoral Group " of ca . 5 , 000 men . According to the plans the Greek screening units started a slow retreat toward the main defensive line of Elaia - Kalamas , ca . southward of the Greek - Albanian border , north of Ioannina . On 2 November , the Greek forces were positioned according to the defensive plan in the line : Kalamas - Elaia - Grabala - Kleftis hill . On this day , after repeated air and artillery strikes , the Italian infantry of the " Ferrara " Division attacked unsuccessfully in order to advance the bulk of their forces closer to Elaia sector . The Italians faced difficulties because of the harshness of the terrain . The next day , their light L3 / 35 tankette s and medium M13 / 40 tanks were unable to cope with the hilly terrain and the muddy ground . The Greek defensive line could not be breached . On its right , the Littoral Group managed a slow advance along the coast and was able to secure a bridgehead over the Kalamas River on 5 November . However , as a result of harsh weather conditions , poor leadership , and the presence of minefields , the Italians lost many men . On 8 November , the fruitless Italian offensive was suspended . Because of the complete failure of the Italian operations , commander Sebastiano Visconti Prasca was relieved of his command after only two weeks , and replaced with General Ubaldo Soddu . Aftermath . After the successful Greek defense in Elea - Kalamas as well as in the mountains of Pindus , the Greek forces were able to push back the Italians , advancing into southern Albania . Before the German intervention in April 1941 , the Greeks penetrated 30 to 80 kilometres ( 18 to 49 miles ) deep into Albanian territory .