Among the Dead MTO (id:#62615)

(ASL Journal #11 ID: J165)   [next]   [previous]

Galatas, Crete 1941-05-26 (1 other)

Overview:

The German invasion of Crete began on 20 May 1941, and was the first large-scale airborne operation in history. Fallshirmjäger 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 Gebirgsjäger-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 Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 100 attacked over hilly terrain still strewn with the corpses of fallen Fallschirmjäger from previous days’ battles.

Defender: Greek / New Zealand (Galatas Garrison and 18th Infantry Battalion, 4th New Zealand Brigade with 4th Hussars)  

Errata (source)