Among the Dead

The German invasion of Crete began on 20 May 1941, and was the first large-scale airborne operation in history. Fallshirmjager jumped into battle or landed by gliders near their targets. However, the Allied defenders of Crete made the German attackers pay for those daring tactics. But they …

1941-05-26

J165

The German invasion of Crete began on 20 May 1941, and was the first large-scale airborne operation in history. Fallshirmjager jumped into battle or landed by gliders near their targets. However, the Allied defenders of Crete made the German attackers pay for those daring tactics. But they accomplished their various missions, capturing key objectives such as airfields so that reinforcements could be flown in. In the following days more troops landed on Crete, including Gebirgsjager-Division 5, which specialized in mountain warfare. They were sent immediately into combat. The town of Galatas had to be taken, but New Zealand troops set up a prepared defense and awaited the attack. Supported by Stuka dive bombers and mortar fire, the soldiers of Gebirgsjager-Regiment 100 attacked over hilly terrain still strewn with the corpses of fallen Fallschirmjager from previous days’ battles.

Galatas, Crete

The Battle of Crete was fought during the Second World War on the Greek island of Crete. It began on the morning of 20 May 1941, when Nazi Germany began an airborne invasion of Crete. Greek and other Allied forces, along with Cretan civilians, defended the island. After one day of fighting, the Germans had suffered heavy casualties and the Allied troops were confident that they would defeat the invasion. The next day, through communication failures, Allied tactical hesitation and German offensive operations, Maleme Airfield in western Crete fell, enabling the Germans to land reinforcements and overwhelm the defensive positions on the north of the island. Allied forces withdrew to the south coast. More than half were evacuated by the British Royal Navy and the remainder surrendered or joined the Cretan resistance. The defence of Crete evolved into a costly naval engagement; by the end of the campaign the Royal Navy's eastern Mediterranean strength had been reduced to only two battleships and three cruisers.

German

Greek / New Zealand

Scenario Type = Standard