Crete

The Airborne Invasion 1941

Nonfiction, History, Military, Aviation, World War II
Cover of the book Crete by Tim Saunders, Pen and Sword
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Author: Tim Saunders ISBN: 9781783460632
Publisher: Pen and Sword Publication: March 4, 2008
Imprint: Pen and Sword Language: English
Author: Tim Saunders
ISBN: 9781783460632
Publisher: Pen and Sword
Publication: March 4, 2008
Imprint: Pen and Sword
Language: English

The invasion was launched to round off Hitler’s Balkan Campaign against Crete in May 1941. The Island was important to Britain’s control of the Eastern Mediterranean and Churchill was determined that the Island would be held.

The British garrison was largely made up of New Zealand and Australian troops who had been evacuated from Greece, with little more that what they stood up in. On the other hand the German Commander, Kurt Student, had overwhelming air superiority, which negated the Allied naval superiority. But the Germans had almost fatally underestimated the number of Allied troops.

While British, New Zealand and Australian soldiers, however, showed what they were capable of, the battle for Crete was eventually won through sheer nerve, the confidence of the German soldier in his superiority and the power of the Luftwaffe. That said, the cost in killed and wounded was such that Hitler would never again contemplate another large airborne operation.

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The invasion was launched to round off Hitler’s Balkan Campaign against Crete in May 1941. The Island was important to Britain’s control of the Eastern Mediterranean and Churchill was determined that the Island would be held.

The British garrison was largely made up of New Zealand and Australian troops who had been evacuated from Greece, with little more that what they stood up in. On the other hand the German Commander, Kurt Student, had overwhelming air superiority, which negated the Allied naval superiority. But the Germans had almost fatally underestimated the number of Allied troops.

While British, New Zealand and Australian soldiers, however, showed what they were capable of, the battle for Crete was eventually won through sheer nerve, the confidence of the German soldier in his superiority and the power of the Luftwaffe. That said, the cost in killed and wounded was such that Hitler would never again contemplate another large airborne operation.

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