A map of operation merkur, the german airborne invasion of crete in may 1941. The capture of crete would also stop allied forces from launching counterstrikes into the newly occupied balkan region, which the german war machine had trampled through in 1941. The ariadne objective by wes davis takes place during the time when german military might seemed unstoppable. Though a victory, the battle of crete saw these forces sustain such high losses that they were not used again by the germans. The battle for the island of crete was a short, but violent affair. German and italian troops had overrun greece in less than three weeks in april. The greek successes forced nazi germany to intervene.
To the germans, possession of crete was of great strategic importance. There was some discussion among the german high command about whether to invade crete or focus efforts on the soviet union. Simple grave complex at the place where in may 1941 after the german airborne invasion of crete the heavily battled hill 107 was. The german invasion of crete the german army has been ordered to take the island. Germanys lightning airborne assault, peter antill, operation mercury, the german airborne assault on the island of crete in may 1941, was the first strategic use of airborne forces in history. The german invasion of crete, may 1941 imperial war. The greek army drove back the italians but was then faced with the might of the german army, with its superior armament, and was soon defeated and was forced to capitulate. The battle of crete is considered one of the most sensational events os t he second world war in 1941 it highlights the final act of the german greek war. Overshadowed by operation barbarossa, the invasion of the soviet union a little over a month later, the battle for crete has been downplayed by many historians because the strategic implications of the german victory never came to pass, i. Includes victorious troops raising nazi swastika flag and troops and equipment parading through streets. German propaganda film showing the invasion and capture of crete in 1941. The battle of crete was a battle fought in world war 2 between the nazis and british commonwealth soldiers with greek support.
But british naval commanders believed they had accounted for thousands more. Download subtitles and closed captions cc from youtube. Downloading videos from a website is illegal infringement in any country that has laws. What if the nazis had not invaded crete in world war two. The invasion began after dawn on 20 may 1941 with a heavy bombardment by the luftwaffe german air force. Map 6 as long as the british held the island, they were able to maintain naval. How risky is it to download youtube videos in germany.
The british had occupied the island of crete when the italians had invaded greece on october 28, 1940. The british cinema produced many propagandist, flagwaving war films glorifying their finest hour of battle against germany and japan, including the inspiring in which we serve 1942 about a valiant crew of a british destroyer hms torrin during the battle of crete in wwii. Combine reading this book with watching some wim hof videos on youtube and youll. The germans invaded greece and yugoslavia on 6 april 1941, and overran both countries within a. Military history of greece during world war ii wikipedia. Battle of crete simple english wikipedia, the free. Axis garrison in crete and dordonecesse islands were isolated and cut off when germany was desperate for more manpower at later stages of war i am talking about 50. Suda provided the mediterranean fleet with a forward base 420 miles forward of alexandria. Because of the occupacion of crete kriti was considered an unrealistic military obsective, no significand defense preparationshad been made of the island. A blazing german troopcarrier ju52, hit by machinegun fire from an entrenchment adjacent to the bombed area during the invasion of crete, may 1941.
German invasion of crete how does law protect in war. Invasion and battle of crete the german armed forces. The battle of crete,the german invasion of crete,german. During the german invasion of greece, crete was at first the main supply base for british operations in the balkans and later the collecting point for most of the troops evacuated from greece. The kidnap of heinrich kreipe was a second world war operation executed jointly by the special operations executive soe and the cretan resistance. The germans occupied the western three prefectures of the island the prefectures of chania, heraklion and rethymno with their. Geography made defending the island a difficult task, as did the poor communications equipment among the fighting forces. As the axis forces drove the allies south through the peloponnese, allied command realised that crete must become a target for german invasion. For the new zealanders on crete who had endured daily air attacks for over a week the arrival of german aircraft promised just another day of bombing and strafing. There is a youtube clip showing the greek version of this is your life in which. German paratroops waiting to board planes for the invasion. Before dawn on the 20th may 1941, the ju52s, tante jus, warmed up.
Homer, the odysseyin the early hours of a june morning in 1942, maleme airfield was a hive of activity. Of the 50,662 troops embarked from greece, about 30,000 were landed in crete, without most of their vehicles and heavy weapons. Maleme german military cemetery by kretaner may 20, 2020 may 20, 2020 chania. The film was the directorial debut of david lean with noel coward as producer. This game covers the german airborne invasion of crete, and provides both twoplayer and solitaire rules.
Operation tidal wave in the midst of the dark sea is a land called crete, fair and fertile, surrounded by the waves. The ww2 airborne invasion of crete was the reason hitler. It began on the morning of 20 may 1941, when nazi germany began. The occupation in the mainland lasted until germany and its ally. The scale of the game is relatively small, with turns representing eight hours and counters representing infantry batallions and armored. Estimates of the exact losses vary greatly there were around 4,000 german graves on crete.
It saw the germans make largescale use of paratroopers during the invasion. The nazi invasion of crete in 1941, spearheaded by an innovative airborne assault. The germans count the cost of crete world war ii today. It will carry out this order possession of crete was of great strategic importance.
Admiral schuster thereupon decided to call back to milos the first naval convoy, which was approaching crete under escort of. The smallest part is operation marita, the invasion of greece by german and italian forces and the subsequent evacuation of allied force to crete. Greek and other allied forces, along with cretan civilians, defended the island. The second part is the largest, consuming 55 pct of the book and covers the invasion of crete by the germans and the evacuation of the allies back to egypt. The key positions were all on the northern face of crete, which was just 100 kilometers away from from the axisoccupied mainland. Seaborne invasion 2022 may during the night of may 2021, a british light naval force broke through the german aerial blockade and searched the waters north of crete.
Hitler and his generals decided the crete, the most populous and largest of the greek islands, would be the perfect foothold to start germanys invasion of the middle east. From crete, axis naval and air forces would dominate the eastern mediterranean. German invasion of crete 2030 may 1941 digger history. It would both give the germans a good base in the eastern mediterranean and prevent the british using it to mount operations in the balkans.
Battle of crete 1941 world war 2, photos mike hotel. German army atrocities in crete resistance in crete. The maleme german war graves is located at the north western part of crete close to the maleme airfield that was on of the main targets during the german attack on crete in may 1941. 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 launched an airborne invasion of crete under the codename unternehmen merkur operation mercury.
Its air component was, and its still is, one of the lesser known aspects of this campaign. The tos of youtube dont allow it, but you dont have to accept the tos before watching a video at youtube, so they dont count. On 30 april, general freyberg was given command of all the forces on the island with orders to defend it against a. Luftlandeschlacht um kreta, also unternehmen merkur, operation mercury, greek. If you can see something on youtube you can suggest, that its legal, cause its the duty of youtube itself to delete everything thats against the law or against the will of the holder.
In november 1940, and after months of internal discussion, the first british royal army detachments began. Which includes germany further this is also against. The battle of crete, 20th may 1941 the airborne invasion of crete took place during wwii when german paratroopers landed at maleme airport near chania. This film is a documentary on the german airborne invasion of crete operation mercury in 1941 and its eventual fall in ten days. This would be the first ever airborne invasion in military history. It emphasizes the german victory over british, new zealander and. The fallschirmjager, supported by the famous gebirgsjager mountain troops, are up against 40,000 allied soldiers who will fight to the bitter end to protect crete. Battle of crete explore crete, guide for real crete. Get your kindle here, or download a free kindle reading app. For the first time since the failed german attempt to capture crete in 1941, american bombers rolled up to the airstrip and their crews began their final preparations for. And yes, you are right, all the horror stories come from people using torrents in germany. The german parachute troop losses during the invasion of crete were high. Battle of crete, the days after on 20 october 1940, war was declared between greece and italy, following the italian ultimatum demanding the surrender of greece.
Scenes of paratroops preparing and ju88 transport planes taking off and in flight over sea and crete. Includes victorious troops raising nazi swastika flag and troops. It isnt illegal usually, and a swat team wont come bursting through your door when you click the download, but i have to ask what your downloading, if its music or tv, please attempt to access the videos through some other more legal means, if i. Greek and allied forces, along with cretan civilians. Mcdougall traveled to crete to examine the physical and mental capacity of greek war heroes. Unternehmen kreta german invasion of crete 1941 youtube. The battle of crete took place on the greek island of crete. On may 20, 1941, an invasion begun with elite german paratroopers, the fallschirmjager, invading the island. The battle of crete was fought during the second world war and. On may 20th, 1941, hitler launched historys first ever airborne invasion, when german paratroopers landed on the island of crete. The assault began on 20 may, with landings near the islands key airports, and reinforcements the next day allowed the german forces to capture one end of the runway at maleme. German airborne invasion of crete 1941 world war 2 documentary. Is it illegal to download youtube videos in germany.
The underground war to rescue crete from the nazis davis. It began on the morning of 20 may 1941, when nazi germany began an airborne invasion of crete. The germans ultimately prevailed on crete but at great cost. Crete was the scene of the largest german airborne operation of the war, and the first time in history that an island had been taken by airborne assault. The german high command debated whether to seize the island or focus efforts on the planned invasion of the soviet union. German airborne invasion of crete 1941 world war 2. This game has some of vae victiss more complicated rules governing combat, but the rules still clock in at just over six pages.
The battle of crete was fought from may 20 to june 1, 1941, during world war ii 1939 to 1945. Over the course of 11 days in may of 1941, the beautiful greek island of crete was the scene of a fascinating battle between its allied defenders. For the british it was to maintain naval supremacy in the eastern mediterranean. Crete in world war ii summary photographs show burning german glider about to crash during air borne invasion. Following the conquest of crete, all of greece was occupied by june 1941. Germany had already forced the allies out of mainland greece and crete was home to over 7000 new zealand soldiers, as well as thousands. Each game includes its own mapboard and counters and shares only a minimum of components with the other, however, they share the same basic rules system. The battle began in the morning of 20 may when german paratroopers began operation mercury. On the basis of sworn testimony of german soldiers who participated in the fighting on crete, plus interrogation of greek and british soldiers, and. Photographs show burning german glider about to crash during air borne invasion.
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