Brian Sanders (British, B. 1937) "German Invasion of Greece" Signed lower right. Oil on Canvas. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the Republic of the Marshall Islands 29¢ Germany Invades Balkans stamp issued April 6, 1941. Mussolini's bungling invasion of Greece forced Hitler to assist his humiliated ally. As German bombers rained death in Yugoslavia, German troops advanced from Bulgaria into northeastern Greece. Seasoned Greek soldiers held the German Twelfth Army at the Metaxas Line, but the 2nd German Panzer Division swept westward and trapped all 70,000 eastern Greek forces. The Luftwaffe began a crippling air assault on Piraeus, and German Dornier 17Z-2 bombers filled the skies over the Acropolis. British and Anzac forces fought valiantly to stall the German onslaught but were forced to retreat to the island of Crete. On April 20, the First Greek Army surrendered and King George II fled to London. A week later, German soldiers entered Athens. Image Size: 13.75 x 16.75 in. Overall Size: 16 x 19 in. Unframed. (B12811)