Invasion of Crete
With Greece under German control, Hitler sets his sights on the nearby island of Crete.
Once again the German war machine jumped into action - literally - as thousands of German paratroopers took part in landings around the island of Crete. Allied air defenses proved deadly at first, where some 50% of German transports were being destroyed in the air before dropping their cargo of troops. However, any Allied victory chant was short-lived as German forces quickly engaged strategic points.
Valiant British, New Zealand and Australian troops all battled it out with modest successes until eventually being forces on the run. By the end of May, the Allies were forced to evacuate and give control of the island to the Germans.
Several important Royal Navy ships were also lost in the fighting. At the very least, the Allies didn't make it an easy campaign for the Wehrmacht.
Total Events: 25
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Fuhrer Directive No.28 is issued by Adolph Hitler, calling for the invasion of the island of Crete through Operation Mercury led by General Kurt Student. |
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Allied codebreakers intercept word of the impending German invasion of Crete. |
1941
Wednesday
April 30th |
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Allied forces based on Crete receive a new leader in the form of Major-General Bernard Freyberg. |
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In advance of the Crete invasion, RAF fighters are relocated to Egypt for safe-keeping. |
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Allied codebreakers intercept word that Operation Mercury will commence the very next day. The Allies begin preparations. |
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The first day of the German invasion of Crete sees little progress as many strategic positions are not under German control yet. |
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Allied flak teams destroy as many as 50% of the invading German transport planes in the first few hours of the operation. |
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Operation Mercury is officially launched. |
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At approximately 7:00 AM, the first German airborne troops land at locations near Maleme and Khania. |
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At least 500 Junkers Ju 52 transport aircraft are utilized in the first wave of airdrops over Crete. |
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Between 1:30 and 2:00 PM, the second wave of German airborne troops take off from Greece towards drop zones in Crete. |
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In-air losses for the second wave of German paratroopers is nearly equal to the first thanks to the stellar Allied flak defenses on Crete. |
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At about 2:00 PM, the second wave of German paratroops land around Heraklion and Rethymnon. |
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German Army troops making their way to Crete via the sea are intercepted and pummeled by elements of the Royal Navy. Just 60 of these German soldiers live to see another day. |
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A German offensive against Heraklion is pushed away by at least 8,000 dug-in Allied soldiers. |
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The HMS Greyhound, a British destroyer, is downed by German bombers. |
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New Zealand troops are repelled from an attempt to retake the airfield at Maleme from the Germans. |
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German dive bombers destroy the HMS Kelly and HMS Kashmir, two Royal Navy destroyers. |
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German dive bombers destroy the HMS Gloucester and the HMS Fiji, two Royal Navy cruisers. |
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The German Army takes Heraklion and her all-important airfield. |
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Allied forces retreat to defensive positions at Galatas. |
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The evacuation order is given by Major-General Freyberg for the gradual withdrawel of Allied troops from the island of Crete. |
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Heraklion in the north and Sphakia in the south of Crete will serve as major evacuation junctions for the Allies. |
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The brave defense of Rethymnon by Australian soldiers finally falters under intense pressure from the German Army. |
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By this date, Crete is firmly entrenched under German rule. |
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