May 20, 1941: The Battle of Crete Begins

fold3 ^ | May 6, 2021 | Jenny Ashcraft

[ProtectOurFreedom]

The Battle of Crete began on May 20, 1941, when German forces began a massive airborne invasion of the Greek island of Crete during WWII. Thousands of German paratroopers (called Fallschirmjäger) landed on Crete, where they encountered tenacious resistance from Greek troops assisted by Allies from Britain, New Zealand, and Australia – and determined Cretan citizens. Though German forces suffered appalling losses on the first day, they later captured a key airfield, allowing a flood of German reinforcements and supplies to arrive. After days of intense fighting, Allied troops retreated to the south coast, where the British Royal Navy evacuated many to Egypt. Those left behind surrendered to Germany on June 1st. The Battle of Crete resulted in a German victory but came at a steep cost. Germany never launched a major airborne mission again.

In April 1941, Germany invaded the Greek mainland. After the fall of mainland Greece, Allied armies moved to Crete to reinforce the garrison on the island. The British Royal Navy dominated the sea, preventing German forces from attempting an amphibious assault on Crete. Germany responded with aerial bombing raids.

Hitler realized that if Allies held on to Crete, it could threaten Axis powers in the Eastern Mediterranean. He approved an invasion plan known as Operation Mercury. It would include 750 glider-borne troops, 10,000 paratroopers, 5,000 airlifted infantry troops, and 7,000 seaborne troops. One of the first goals was to capture Maleme Airfield. This would allow Germany to bring in additional reinforcements and supplies.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

It never really occurred to me that Germany didn't use airborne invasions in WW II and that this was their first and last big one. It's obvious now that it's pointed out here.

German paratroopers land during the Battle of Crete

Crashed German glider with two of its occupants lying dead (photo from Imperial War Museum)

[Red6]

Nice article and write up.

[Fiji Hill]

The Germans also used airborne troops in their attack on the Low Countries in 1940.

[Burma Jones]

The Crete diversion also delayed Barbarossa, which may have contributed to the German failure to take Moscow.

[SAMWolf]

The Germans would have been better served to have invaded Malta rather than Crete

[SJSAMPLE]

Having spend a fair amount of time on Crete, launching missiles into the Meditteranean, I’m convinced that 90% of the casualties were suffered landing on the ROCKS. There is no soil on Crete.

This is where the Germans were first found to be experimenting with amphetamines on their combat troops.

[Rebelbase]

Greece was the diversion that kept Germany from invading the USSR earlier than they did.

[GreenLanternCorps]

[RitchieAprile]

Not their first AB op. Read about the assault on the Low Countries a year earlier.

[AppyPappy]

Britain tried to support Greece because Greece was whooping the Italians. When the Germans jumped in, it was a lost cause but GB kept vacillating on what to do. In the end, it may have saved the war because Germany postponed Directive 21 and didn’t reach Moscow.

[T-Bird45]

In my US Army service in West Germany, I became acquainted with the older German civilian who ran the US military rifle range that was just up the road from our kaserne. He told stories of his time as a fallschirmjaeger and the invasion of Crete. He told how surprised they were by the fierceness of the resistance by the Cretan citizens. His survival there effectively saved him from other, more hazardous, war duties because they were kept on the island to hold it from being re-taken by the Allies.

He was also a great shot with just about everything and especially enjoyed when we brought our M1911A1's to the range for qualification. He would challenge all on who was the better shot with the old John Browning design.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

That’s a cool story. Thanks for telling it.

[Night Hides Not]

NAMFI was where we did our Chaparral ASP when I was stationed in Germany. I really enjoyed my two trips: first as a platoon leader, second as Battalion S-4 on the advance party. The sun, the warmth, snorkling in the Mediterranean...loved it all.

[SAMWolf]

Had that game and most of the other Avalon Hill Games

[GreenLanternCorps]

I just picked up a used copy last year.