Battle of Crete (World War II)
The Battle of Crete, fought during World War II, took place from May 20 to May 31, 1941, and marked a significant military engagement between German forces and Allied troops. Following the British withdrawal from mainland Greece, Major General Bernard C. Freyberg led a poorly equipped defense on the island of Crete, facing challenges such as insufficient artillery and a lack of air support after the Royal Air Force retreated. The Germans launched their assault with elite paratroop and glider troops targeting key locations like Maleme, Rethymnon, and Herakleion. Despite initial setbacks, including the sinking of naval convoys, the Germans ultimately succeeded in securing the island through relentless airborne operations. The battle resulted in heavy casualties, with the Allies suffering over 17,000 losses, including many captured, while German casualties were significantly lower. This battle was historically notable as it represented the first successful airborne invasion where ground forces were not critical to the operation's success. However, the high German casualties led Adolf Hitler to reconsider the use of large-scale airborne assaults in future operations. The German occupation of Crete continued until 1944 when they withdrew from the island.
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Battle of Crete (World War II)
Type of action: Air assault in World War II
Date: May 20-31, 1941
Location: In and around Maleme, Rethymnon, and Herakleion, on the island of Crete
Combatants: 27,500 British and 14,000 Greek troops vs. 22,000 Germans
Principal commanders:German, Lieutenant General Kurt Student (1890–1978); British, Major General Bernard C. Freyberg (1889–1963)
Result: German conquest of Crete
Following the withdrawal from Greece in April, 1941, Major General Bernard C. Freyberg’s battered command lacked sufficient artillery, armor, and transport. Worse, he had too few antiaircraft units and was denied effective air cover because the Royal Air Force retreated to Egypt. Although intelligence reports accurately predicted the assault, Freyberg was ordered not to reinforce key positions lest he reveal the sources of British information to the Germans.
Student’s elite paratroop regiments and glider troops attacked Maleme, Rethymnon, and Herakleion on May 20, 1941. When two naval convoys of German reinforcements were sunk or scattered by the Royal Navy and airborne reinforcements could not capture the Maleme airfield, Lieutenant General Kurt Student tipped the scales by landing more glider troops under fire. Facing severe pressure and short of supplies, Freyberg evacuated the island by May 31. The ferocious fighting resulted in 17,325 British casualties, including 2,011 sailors and 11,835 prisoners, as well as the loss of three cruisers and six destroyers. German casualties totaled 5,670.
Significance
The German conquest of Crete marked the first successful airborne invasion in which attacking ground or naval forces did not play a vital role. Adolf Hitler, however, was so appalled by the high casualties that he never again ordered a large-scale airborne attack, and German forces abandoned Crete in 1944.
Bibliography
Kiriakopoulos, G. C. Ten Days to Destiny: The Battle for Crete, 1941. Hellenic College Press, 1997.
MacDonald, Callum. The Lost Battle: Crete 1941. New York: Free Press, 1993.