Battle of Leros

Battle of Leros
	Part of the Dodecanese campaign of World War II
	; German paratroopers prepare to be flown to Leros.
Date	26 September – 16 November 1943
Location	Leros Island, Aegean Sea37°7′55″N 26°51′10″E
Result	German victory
Belligerents
Italy; United Kingdom; Naval Support:; South Africa; Greece	Germany
Commanders and leaders
Luigi Mascherpa ; Robert Tilney	F.W. Müller
Strength
Italian: 8,320 soldiers and sailors; British: 3,500+ soldiers; 74 Squadron, RAF; 7 Squadron, SAAF	2,800 German soldiers; extensive air power
Casualties and losses
Italian:; 254 killed or missing; 5,350 POWs; 1 destroyer sunk; 5 auxiliary and merchant ships sunk; 5 Armored Motor Boats and Torpedo Boats sunk; British:; ~600 killed; 100 wounded; 3,200 POWs; 115 RAF aircraft lost; 3 destroyers sunk; Greek:; 1 destroyer sunk; 68	512 killed, ; 900 wounded; at least five MFPs
	20 civilians killed (Leros Islanders)

The Battle of Leros was the central event of the Dodecanese campaign of the Second World War, and is widely used as an alternative name for the whole campaign. After the Armistice of Cassibile the Italian garrison on the Greek island Leros was strengthened by British forces on 15 September 1943. The battle began with German air attacks on 26 September, continued with the landings on 12 November, and ended with the capitulation of the Allied forces four days later.

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