b. Disadvantages. (1) Is a difficult amphibious operation out of effective tactical range of land based UNITED NATIONS fighter aircraft. (2) Is impossible to advance into the BALKANS without additional amphibious operations in the.face of strong AXIS opposition. (3) Does not contribute materially to the collapse of ITALY. (4) will not seriously dislocate German strategic plans, nor provide any substantial diversion of strength from the Russian front. c. Other pertinent remarks. A direct assault on the DODECANESE would be an expensive operation. Even. though an invasion of EUROPE via the AEGEAN and GREECE were envisaged, the results to be obtained would not be commensurate with the cost. This is true since an invasion of the BALKANS via GREECE could be mounted from SICILY, thus eliminating the necessity of an operation against CRETE and/or the DODECANESE. - lO - |