A German advance into the Balkans would depend on Italian supply lines, cooperation with Bulgaria, or an opposed crossing of a major river. The clean route on a map becomes an engineering and logistics problem once defenders can fire on bridging sites. Junkers Ju 87 dive bombers also could not reproduce training-ground precision while facing fighters and ground fire. Air support might help a crossing, but it cannot remove the terrain or supply problem. The abstract operation fails unless troops can build and supply the crossing under fire.
Notable Point · 39:45-41:23
Balkan river crossings test German logistics
German operations in the Balkans would be constrained by supply routes and a difficult opposed river crossing, despite how simple the plan looks on a map.