Bofors Bashing

For thirty minutes the Luftwaffe hammered the airfield at Maleme, concentrating on the AA positions near the mouth of the dry Tavronitis. Certainly the Bofors gunners at Maleme had an unenviable task. They had, of necessity, to be sited well forward on the edge of the field where concealment was …

1941-05-20

94

A002

For thirty minutes the Luftwaffe hammered the airfield at Maleme, concentrating on the AA positions near the mouth of the dry Tavronitis. Certainly the Bofors gunners at Maleme had an unenviable task. They had, of necessity, to be sited well forward on the edge of the field where concealment was practically impossible, and now dust and smoke obscured their vision. Thrown into confusion by the furious air attack, the New Zealand troops stationed to protect the guns and the British gunners themselves barely fired upon the descending gliders carrying the 3rd Company under Leutnant von Plessen. At 0715, the first glider touched ground and the first German squad came out firing.

Maleme Airfield, Crete

The Battle of Maleme was one of three main battles that occurred in the Battle of Crete against the Fallschirmjäger, in the Nazi German Mediterranean campaign in 1941. The overall plan was to conquer Crete as part of Operation Merkur, with German Paratroopers landing in three main areas, Heraklion, Maleme and Retimo.The operation relied on German airborne troops, both paratroopers and in gliders. Due to a mistake, and despite being in a superior position, New Zealand troops abandoned a strategic hill, leaving it to the Germans, and then lost the airport. The airport was then used by the Germans to transport in more troops which saw the whole island lost to the Germans.

German

New Zealand

Scenario Type = Standard