Word: yugoslavic
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...subtitle on the cover is perfect. In fact, it may be regarded as a synopsis of the essential belief of the Yugoslav people. Through centuries the Serbs, Croatians and Slovenes fought and died for their liberty and independence, always placing the value of liberty high above the value of their lives. Disregarding tremendous odds they always had to face, they defended their freedom, led by a deep and unshaken belief...
...dawn the Germans attacked northern Greece in five spearheads. Three divisions of Greeks defended that area, and it was intended that they should delay the Germans as much as possible, then retire in order behind Salonika to the main Anglo-Greek force. This plan was disrupted by Yugoslav weakness, which was due to troop dispositions which had been made for political rather than military reasons by the pre-coup, pro-German Government of Dragisha Cvetkovitch...
...British and Greeks were beaten on the third day of fighting-with the Yugoslav collapse in the Vardar Valley. From the information so far available, it appears that from then on less than three full divisions of British-Anzacs troops and perhaps five divisions of Greeks (perhaps ten Greek divisions were facing the Italians on the Albanian front) bore the brunt of the best attack that could be mounted by 40 divisions of Germans. Under these conditions the Allies had virtually no reserves except a British tank division which backstopped the line wherever it weakened. The British and Anzacs held...
Casualties. In men lost by death, injury and capture, the Nazis came off far ahead. They knocked off the entire Yugoslav and Greek Armies, perhaps 1,000,000 men. British losses were not known last week and may not have been heavy, but the British, with one-third the divisional strength of the Germans, can ill afford to lose even handfuls of men. The highest estimate of German losses, which the Germans are almost certain to deny, is 60,000 men. This seems heavy, but it is no more than 10% of Germany's Balkan strength, and Adolf Hitler...
What the Nazis planned for the stubborn Serbs they did not disclose. But whether there would be a puppet state or a new province of the Reich, it was certain that Germany's hand would be heavy upon them because: 1) the Germans blame the Serbs for Yugoslav resistance; 2) Germany needs Serbia's copper and foodstuffs. They would probably not get much food from Serbia this year, thanks to war damage and the dislocation of agriculture which the German push has caused in all Balkan countries...