Crete

Author: Antony Beevor
Publisher: John Murray
ISBN: 1848546351
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 386

Book Description
Acclaimed historian and best-selling author Antony Beevor vividly brings to life the epic struggles that took place in Second World War Crete - reissued with a new introduction. 'The best book we have got on Crete' Observer The Germans expected their airborne attack on Crete in 1941 - a unique event in the history of warfare - to be a textbook victory based on tactical surprise. They had no idea that the British, using Ultra intercepts, knew their plans and had laid a carefully-planned trap. It should have been the first German defeat of the war, but a fatal misunderstanding turned the battle round. Nor did the conflict end there. Ferocious Cretan freedom fighters mounted a heroic resistance, aided by a dramatic cast of British officers from Special Operations Executive.

Battle of Crete

Author: George Forty
Publisher: Ian Allan Pub
ISBN: 9780711034464
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 336

Book Description
Following the successful German invasion of the Balkans and the capture of mainland Greece, the Axis powers' focussed their attentions upon the strategic island of Crete. The island was Britain's last foothold in the northeast Mediterranean and was perceived as being pivotal to the ongoing defence of the Middle East and the crucial sea-lanes leading to the Suez Canal. By early 1941 the British position in the Mediterranean was wavering; in North Africa Rommel's forces were sweeping towards Egypt, and the remaining British fortresses such as Malta were threatened. Against this background, German forces launched an airborne attack against Crete in late May 1941. Drawing upon an incredible selection of contemporary photographs, allied with first-hand recollections from those who fought,'Battle of Crete' examines one of the most bitterly contested engagements of the early war years. Uniquely recounted from the viewpoint of the individual fighting soldier, sailor and airman, this timely examination of an important but often overlooked battle will be essential reading for all historians of World War 2.

Crete 1941

Author: Peter Antill
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1782007105
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 266

Book Description
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 assault began on 20 May, with landings near the island's key airports, and reinforcements the next day allowed the German forces to capture one end of the runway at Maleme. By 24 May, the Germans were being reinforced by air on a huge scale and on 1 June Crete surrendered. This book describes how desperately close the battle had been and explains how German losses so shocked the Führer that he never again authorised a major airborne operation.

Battle for Crete

Author: Matthew Wright
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780908318162
Category : Operation Mercury, 1941
Languages : en
Pages : 120

Book Description
Confronting the might of the Luftwaffe! New Zealand soldiers arrived in Crete during early May 1941, short of equipment after a hasty evacuation from Greece. Three weeks later Germany invaded from the air, and the fate of New Zealand

Battle of Crete

Author: Albert Palazzo
Publisher: Big Sky Publishing
ISBN: 9780980320411
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 0

Book Description
Between 20 May and 1 June 1941 the Second World War came to the Greek island of Crete. The Commonwealth defenders consisted of Australian, New Zealand and British refugees from the doomed Greek Campaign who had not recovered from defeat.

The Cretan War, 1645-1671

Author: Bruno Mugnai
Publisher: Century of the Soldier
ISBN: 9781911628040
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 0

Book Description
The army and the navy of Venice and Ottoman Empire during the campaigns fought for the possession of the 'pearl of the Mediterranean'. The legendary Venetian resistance impressed the courts of whole Europe, transforming the conflict in the 'Campo di Marte' of the continent.

The Lost Battle

Author: C. A. MacDonald
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780330490597
Category : Crete (Greece)
Languages : en
Pages : 350

Book Description
A highly intriguing and moving account of this significant and wasteful battle. The invasion of Crete in 1941 should have been a textbook battle for General Kurt Students German troops, a swift and decisive blitzkrieg based on technical surprise. In fact it was based on a series of misjudgements which resulted in large and bloody losses and Crete became the graveyard of the German parachute troops.

The Struggle for Crete, 20 May - 1 June 1941

Author: I. McD. G. Stewart
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN:
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 556

Book Description
Providing an account of the struggle for Crete during World War II, this book contains some of the author's own experiences as a Medical Officer at the time of the battle. The author describes the leadership, the geography, the communications problems and the delayed counter-attack.

Battle for Crete

Author: John Hall Spencer
Publisher: Casemate Publishers
ISBN: 178159466X
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 387

Book Description
This WW2 military history “combin[es] a look at the background to the battle . . . and the ground level memories of the participants with great skill.” (History of War.org) After two years’ extensive research, John Hall Spencer has written a thorough account of the political and military background to the German invasion of Crete and the bitter fighting that followed the first airborne assault on an island in history. Battle for Crete tells of confused negotiations between the British and Greek governments; the misunderstandings between Winston Churchill’s War Cabinet and commanders in the field; the near capture of the King of Greece; the lack of preparation by the defenders and the suppression of a critical post-battle report by General Wavell. There are vivid eyewitness accounts of the fighting both during the invasion and the subsequent campaign and ultimate retreat and evacuation. The Royal Navy and Royal Air Force’s contribution is well documented, as are the roles of the German air force, in this “close run” campaign fought with aggression by both sides.

Creforce

Author: Stella Tzobanakis
Publisher:
ISBN: 1742030823
Category : Premier's Reading Challenge
Languages : en
Pages : 186

Book Description
In the first parachute drop of World War II, the Germans invaded Crete on 20 May, 1941. Australian, New Zealand and British troops, alongside Greek soldiers and the people of Crete, formed a crucial bond as they defended the tiny island.