Battle of Lake Kastoria

Battle of Kastoria
Part of the German invasion of Greece
Lake Kastoria viewed southeast from Korisos. The plains in the background were the area where the German artillery deployed.
Date 15 April 1941 Location Kastoria, West Macedonia, Greece Result German victory
Belligerents
Greece	Germany
Commanders and leaders
Mj. Gen. Sotirios Moutousis Col. Efstathios Liosis	SS-Ogruf Josef Dietrich Standartenführer Staudinger Sturmbannführer Kurt Meyer
Strength
Cavalry Division 13th Infantry Division (elements) 1 reconnaissance battalion (horse cavalry) 2 understrength infantry battalions (understrength) 1 machine-gun battalion 7 batteries of light and heavy artillery	Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler (elements) 1 armoured reconnaissance battalion 2 motorised infantry battalions 6 medium and heavy artillery batteries 3 companies of infantry guns 40 light bombers
Casualties and losses
160+ killed 12,000 captured 34 guns destroyed 2 anti-air guns destroyed	unknown

The Battle of Lake Kastoria (Greek: Μάχη λίμνης Καστοριάς) consisted of two parallel engagements north and south of Lake Kastoria (individually known in Greek as the battles of Argos Orestiko and of Foteini Pass) between Greek and German forces on 15 April 1941. Following the Greek failure to hold the Pass of Kleisoura, on 14 April, a new attempt was made to stop the German advance east of the road Bilisht (in Albania) – Kastoria – Grevena, which was used as the main route for the withdrawal of the Greek Western Macedonia Army Section.