[Von Paulus]

Dammit, I got so far then the computer crashed, so I'm not going to type out the timeline, just copy and paste some stuff (Yes, I know I'm cheap) But there are some cool pics So, Enjoy...

Crete, April 27 - May 31, 1941

The collapse of Greek resistance on the mainland and the evacuation of British Commonwealth forces left Cretan Commander New
Zealand General Bernard C. Freyberg with the knowledge that the island would be the next logical strategic target. Crete’s
geographic location put its three airfields within striking distance of the Rumanian oil fields, cut the Aegean off from the
Mediterranean, and provided a base to strike at Italy, North Africa, and Greece.

Some 27,000 Commonwealth troops, mostly without heavy equipment and exhausted, joined the 28,000 already on Crete. They
joined 19,000 Greek and Cretean defenders, mostly without equipment or training. Freyberg’s command was subjected to an
enormous air bombardment that lasted for three weeks, which rendered the airfields unusable for the RAF. 700 German aircraft flew
300 sorties a day, strafing and bombing everything. Never present in sufficient numbers, the RAF pulled out on May 19, 1941,
leaving Crete without air cover. The Royal Navy took heavy losses.



The next morning, 10,000 paratroopers landed on the three airfields and began to try to link up. Most of the first wave was killed
of wounded as the British opened up. 170 Ju-52 transports and most of the gliders were destroyed. 4,000 Germans were dead and
2,600 wounded.



But they moved against heavy resistance, and by May 31 General Freyberg was signaling that he needed to be withdrawn. The
Royal Navy evacuated 18,000 men from Sfakia, leaving 13,000 behind. Three cruisers, six destroyers were lost, ending the Royal
Navy presence in the Aegean. Aircraft carrier HMS Formidable was badly damaged.



The Germans never mounted another major paratrooper operation. They fought well in Italy and Holland, but were delivered by
train, truck or foot, just like other regular army units. Kurt Student’s forces were broken in their victory on Crete.

[This message has been edited by Von Paulus (edited August 04, 2001).]