Battle Of Crete

Download or read book Crete written by Antony Beevor and published by John Murray. This book was released on 2011-10-13 with total page 386 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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.

Download or read book Crete 1941 written by Peter Antill and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2012-11-20 with total page 266 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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.

Download or read book Battle of Crete written by George Forty and published by Ian Allan Pub. This book was released on 2009 with total page 336 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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.

Download or read book Battle for Crete written by Matthew Wright and published by . This book was released on 2018-08-08 with total page 120 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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

Download or read book Ten Days to Destiny written by G. C. Kiriakopoulos and published by Holy Cross Orthodox Press. This book was released on 1997 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For ten dramatic and bitterly fought days in May, 1941, British Commonwealth and Greek soldiers fought with the valiant assistance of Cretan civilians -- men and women, young and old -- to hold their island against a Nazi onslaught. This is the documented story of the one of the most important yet least acknowledged battles of World War II.

Download or read book Battle of Crete written by Albert Palazzo and published by Big Sky Publishing. This book was released on 2007 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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.

Download or read book Battle for Crete written by John Hall Spencer and published by Casemate Publishers. This book was released on 2008-09-18 with total page 387 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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.