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Alexander der Grosse

THE GREAT BATTLE OF CRETE

 On the 61 th anniversary of the Battle of Crete I send  you this presentation of the Great Battle of Crete in 1941, I made last year in New Zealand, in front of the Viceroy , the N/Z authorities and the Hellenic homogenia.

 Although, Greece had about 1.000.000  deads during the WW II, the highest percentage of losses - even greater than the Soviets- the Allied have forgotten all those sacrifices for Freedom , Democracy and Human values. Then they declared that "we will share the victory". After the war they engulfed Turkey in expense of Greece. [The same ingratitude of Allied happened for Yugoslavia]

The result is the following:

1/ Cyprus, that also fought bravely with Allied forces, the 38 % of the  island is under the Turkish occupation for 28 years.

2/ the newly organized Euroarmy is going to protects all its member , with the exception of Greece and Cyprus. The same happens in NATO until now.

The stratocratic and fascist Turkey, that was pro - Nazist during the war, and is charged with several Genocides(Greeks, Armenians,  Pontians, Cypriots, Assyrians etc) is now the " spoiled boy" of the USA and the "provocator" and aggressor of the area.

However, President Bush declared in Berlin "we are going to protect our western civilization". From whom Mr Bush ?

Alas, the barbarians have been already inside!!!

 Yours Sincerely
Major General Kostas Konstantinidis (Ret)
author-journalist
(Member of ex-NATO Generals for Peace & Disarmament)

 

THE BATTLE OF CRETE*

 

[By Major Gen. Kostas X. Konstantinidis (Ret)

 

Introduction

This military study* was undertaken on the 60th anniversary of the Battle of Crete for the honor of the dead in action, as well as for the living and dead veterans of the 2nd New Zealand Infantry Division, that fought gallantly side by side with the Hellenic Forces and the people of Crete for liberty, democracy and human values and dignity.

 

The general situation

The Battle of Crete took place between 20-31 of May 1941 and was the last

battle of Germans to complete the occupation of Greece. The Axis aggression against Greece started on the 28th of October 1940 with the Italian attack against NW Greek borders, in Epirus, and when it failed the powerful German military got involved. The German offensive against the Greek Macedonia took place on the 6th of April 1941. From the 6th April until the 24 of May, the Germans made a quick advance along continental Greece and when they succeeded their objectives, started the preparations for blitzkrieg against Crete.

The Battle of Crete was the first great airborne operation during WW II and the last one, due to the disproportionately heavy losses of the German Corps of Paratroopers. The use of airborne in Belgium and Holland were not independent and these operations were limited in extent and duration. The independent airborne involvement in Crete was imposed to the Germans, for two reasons:

 

a/ they did not have the naval domination in the Aegean Sea. Despite their crushing air superiority, the British and Greek Navy dominated the waters all around Crete.

 

b/ the Germans did not have sufficient time to concentrate their naval forces and landing crafts in the area, because they were in a great hurry to finish the Balkan theater of operations as soon as possible, because the Greek resistance had delayed their offensive against Russia (Barbarossa Plan).

 

Therefore, the German victory in Crete belongs to Luftwaffe, the massive attack of the German military machinery and the airborne forces. Finally, it was this delay that resulted in the defeat of Germans in Russia, because they faced the severe winter in the outskirts of Moscow.

 

The military importance of Crete

Crete is the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is 254 klm long and 32 klm wide. It controls the East Mediterranean, as well as the Dardanelle Straits and the Suez Canal. This ideal position in the middle of the Mediterranean is the reason that Crete became a sea dominator from the early prehistoric times and created the first civilization in the world.

From Crete the brilliant Minoan civilization was spread toward Egypt, Mesopotamia, Asia Minor and from the Cretan sailors to all corner of the world. The Minoan civilization was destroyed twice, the first time it happened during the Ogygus cataclysm and the second because of the eruption of the Santorini volcano.

From the Suda air and naval base the offender can control the broader area of the Middle East, the oil fields in the Persian Gulf, as well as North Africa and the Balkans. Also from Crete the aggressor using its bases and facilities can attack against the Balkans, Turkey, the Middle East and northern Africa.

That is why Crete has been characterized as a strong point and the "unsunk aircraft carrier". Many invaders from ancient times until now, e.g. the Byzantines, Francs, Ottomans, British and after the WW II the Americans are using the island as a military base of high strategic importance.

Crete is very mountainous. Its mountains are crossing from the west to the east, and they have such names as White Mountains (2.452 m. height), Idi (2.456 m. height) and Dikti (2.147 m. height). However, it has wide valleys, natural harbors and great beauties. Generally, the terrain of Crete is not favorable for air born operations (SLIDE 1)

 

The situation in Crete

After the transfer of the 5th Greek Infantry Division from Crete to the Albanian front, the island had been left only with a Military Command and a force of three recruits regiments. The allied forces arrived in Crete the night of 28/29th of April having only

their light weapons. The heavy armament had been abandoned into the hand of Germans in continental Greece because of their quick withdraw. The same night Commanding General of the 2nd New Zealand Division general Frayberg arrived to Crete from Monemvasia, aboard the cruiser "Ajax". He left among the last detachments from Greece.

 

The allied force consisted of:

1/ 2nd New Zealand Infantry Division

The data were taken from the archives of the Greek General Staff 2/ 6th Australians Infantry Division, 3/ 1st Armor Division, 4/ Some other formations, e.g. anti-aircraft and anti-tank units, artillery units etc.

The total number of the allied forces that arrived in Crete was about 25.000 men. In addition the Greek General Staff transferred in Crete 8 recruits Battalion and a armed police unit, numbering 7.500 men.

The Greek Arm Forces had the order to fight stubbornly in continental Greece in order to facilitate the withdraw of the Allied Forces to Crete and Egypt.

 

The Operation Plans

The German Operation Order n. 28/25.4.41 provided "the occupation of Crete, in order to use it as an air base against the British Forces in Mediterranean" Marshal Ghoerig was commander in chief of the whole operation. Commander of the air forces was the air force General Lher, while Lt. General Student, commander of the 6th airborne corps, was assigned as the commander for the ground operations. Lt. General Richthoffen was commander of the air forces that would destroy the allied fleet and the defenses on the island.

The main targets of the German air forces were: The airfields of Maleme, the Souda naval and air base, Chania, Rethymnon and Heraklion.

 

The British Defense Plan

It provided the repulsion of the German attacking forces from air and sea. For this reason the commander in chief General Frayberg deployed his forces symmetrically to protect the above targets and especially, the airfields, the naval and air base of Suda and the suitable coasts for landing. The main effort was given in Maleme and Chania, where is the Suda military base. However, the great distance between the above sectors, in conjunction with the very bad conditions of the road network, made the defense very

difficult, because the commander could not keep a central reserve force ready for launching a counter attack. It is evident that after the German air strikes against the bridges, the poor road system of the island became almost impassable.

 

The Organization of the Forces

The New Zealand Division was deployed in the East sector, of Maleme airfield, that was the most critical. It was the key sector for the defense of the whole island. The occupation of Maleme airfield could be used as an assault base against the vital terrain of the island that was the city of Chania and Suda air and naval base. The British and Hellenic forces under general Frayberg were deployed as follows:

1/ The Command Headquarters was at Saint Matthew, near Chania.

2/ The sector of Maleme:

Commander was the Brigadier General Pattick, having his headquarters in the village Efthimi.

a/ II New Zealand Division having : 5 New Zealand Brigade( 21, 22, 23 Battalions, and 28 Maori Battalion ) deployed all around the Maleme airfield, on the height 107 m. as well as at the village Platanias and Kontomari.(SLIDE 2 ), 4 New Zealand Brigade (18, 19, 20 Battalions) deployed at the area Efthimi, Kladissos river, Daratsos as far as the coast line.(SLIDE 4), 10 New Zealand Brigades (composite Battalion, cavalry Battalion, an artillery battery consisted of 200 men). Under the 10 Brigade was also the Greek 6 and 8 recruit Regiments, in the area of Galatas, Agia, and Alikianou.

This defensive force had 16 artillery pieces, 16 anti-aircraft canons and 14 light tanks (SLIDE 4)

Missions

5 New Zealand Brigades to defend the airfield and the strong terrain all around it.

10 New Zealand Brigades Brigade to control the coast line and repel any sea and air landing operation.

4 New Zealand Brigades to stay in reserve behind the defensive position, in the Efthimi and Kladissos area.

 

In the defensive area of Chania and Suda base were other British, Australian and Greek forces, as well as the first class of the Hellenic Cadet School, that fought bravely. The commander in chief had also deployed smaller forces at the sectors of Rethymnon and Heraklion, where the German threat was estimated limited. (SLIDE 1)

 

Total Allied Forces in Crete

Total Allied Forces were 42. 980 men as follows:

British (plus the New Zealanders and Australians) 31. 500 men

Greek Forces 11. 480 men.

However the numerical comparison would be deceiving, because the allied forces

lacked the heavy armament, armor, trucks, fortifications, tasted plans and

moral.

 

The Resistance of the Cretan People

Furthermore, in the defensive force must be included the Cretan civilian people that without modern weapons they run voluntarily to participate in the defense of their island. They fought bravely and killed many German paratroopers, using only their hunting guns, agricultural tools (axis, shovels wooden, sticks etc.) However they paid a great price for their brave resistance. When the Germans occupied the island, they committed collective reprisals against the civilian population and destroyed completely many villages, as happened with the village Kandanos.

 

Mode of action of German Forces

1/ General Lher was the chief of the IV Airborne Fleet having under his command the following formations:

11th Airborne Corps with the following units: 7th Airborne Division with 3 paratrooper regiments and other Divisional support and administration units. An Assault Regiment (having 4 battalions and other support units) 5th Mountainous Division (commander Major General Rinkel) having 3 infantry regiments and other support and administrative units. Other Units were transferred with boats, such as the armor, artillery, engineers and other heavy units. This transfer was made by the vice admiral Shooter, with 2 flotilla of light crafts, 2 steam boats, 2 destroyers, 12 torpedo boats etc.

 

2/ 8th Air force Corps (air force Major General Richthoffen) having under his command: 530 cargo air crafts (three engine Joungers) 53 gliders, 280 bomber air crafts, 150 diving fighters (Stukas), 180 different types fighters, 40 reconnaissance aircrafts. The total German force was 24.000 men

 

Method of German Attack

The German Command did not have not sufficient forces to operate in all fronts. That is why the operation took place in two phases: Phase One: Attack on the 20th of May from 08.00 am until 15.00 hours against Maleme-Chania (SLIDE 1). Phase Two: Attack on 20th of May from 16.00 hours until the sunset against

Rethymnon and Heraklion. (SLIDE 1 )

 

Group A (West), consisted of the majority of German forces and were directed against Maleme- Chania.

Group B (Center), which included only the 2nd Airborne Regiment was directed against Rethymnon, in order to occupy the airfield and Rethymnon.

Group C (East), which included only the 1st Airborne Regiment was directed against the airport and town of Heraklion. Two Airborne Battalions were kept in reserve.

The Morale of opposing Forces

The British forces had suffered a very long withdraw, from the North Greek borders until the southern harbors of Peloponnese, about 900 klm. Therefore, they were extremely tired and their morale was low. However they fought bravely. On the opposite, the Germans, although they had suffered the same fatigue, their morale was high, because they were winners. Especially the selected airborne forces were considered invincible. The Greek forces, although they had suffered the psychological trauma from the

occupation to our fatherland, they fought bravely in order to revenge.

 

The Battle

D- DAY 20 May 07:50 hours (SLIDE 2 )

Before the main battle the Germans made reconnaissance and bombing activities against airfields, bridges, harbors and other targets.

On the 20th of May from 07:50 hours until 08.00 hours the Germans bombed severely

Maleme, Chania and the defensive sites around the Maleme airfield.

At 08.00 hours cargo aircrafts bringing the airborne troops made their appearance the. At 08:15 hours the first paratroopers started jumping from planes and gliders above the area of Agia- Alikianos and a smaller force to the western area of Kastelio-Kissamou. (SLIDE 1 ) The paratroopers east of Maleme airfield suffered a real catastrophe. Most of them were killed by the 21st and 23rd New Zealand Battalions and Engineer Battalion. From the 126 Germans paratroopers 112 were killed. The few survivors concentrated in

the Pyrgos area and resisted to survive.

However, the German aggressors made their main effort to seize the height 107(SLIDE 2). On the other side, the New Zealander defenders fought heroically to keep that stronghold, which controlled Maleme airfield, in any way in their hands. The German airborne Detachment of major Koch, that were launched upon the height 107 within the defensive lines of 22 New Zealander Battalion, suffered serious losses but at the end they succeeded to make a bridgehead.

 

For the Germans it was the key for the final success of the Battle of Crete. It determined the whole operation, while for the Allied forces it was the beginning of the defeat. In the mean time a greater airborne force of the Assault Regiment, under the major Braun , landed with their 50 gliders along side of Tavronitis river, where no British forces existed and established a serious stronghold. After that another force under the German major general Mild landed in this area

and established a base for further attacks against the main objective, that was the Maleme airfield.

This German force attacked right away against Tavronitis village and the height 107, that were the key of the whole allied defensive position. Under the German pressure the British company retreated from the height 107 eastward and discovered the whole defensive position and the Maleme airfield. The military analysts criticized the British command that did not launch a direct counter attack to regain the height 107. However, the 5th New Zealand Brigade was knocked out -and especially the degraded 22 Battalion

were unable to react that night. At that critical moment the inability of the commander in chief, General Frayberg, to launch a direct counterattack to seize the height 107, might have been the main reason of the defeat of the Battle of Crete. If the British command launched a counterattack that night, it is certain that the Germans could not survive, because they were very weak, disorganized, their troops were decimated and most of their commanders were dead (major Braun and Koch). Instead of the counterattack the

commander of the already decimated 22 Battalion, at 24:00 hours took the initiative to retreat it behind the defensive positions of the 21st and 23rd Battalions at Pyrgos and Modion. We cannot criticize him because he did not take any reinforcement from the Brigade and the Division to take over a night counterattack. During the critical time of night 20/21 of May the commander of the 5th Brigade, brigadier general Hagert ,did not have any communications with the Division commander to brief him and ask for reinforcements and did not launch a counterattack with the 21 and 24 Battalions.

Within this confusion he did not stop the retreat of the 22nd Battalion, which proved fatal for the further outcome of the whole operation.

 

SECOND DAY 21 May ( SLIDE 7 )

With the exemption of the capture of height 107, the first day of the battle was disappointing for the Germans, because they suffered a full surprise from the stubborn resistance of the British forces and the local population. That day they suffered heavy losses and the struggle would have been in a very critical point, if the British forces had launched a timely night counterattack.

 

When the commander of the II N.Z Division, brigadier general Pattick was informed of the situation he reacted in a hurry and launched a counterattack early in the morning of the 22 May , in order to regain the height 107. However, the attack failed, because it was executed during the day light, under the German strong air strikes from the Luftwaffe, which struck severely the allied attacking forces. After the seize of Maleme airfield, new fresh German units aboard cargo aircrafts started their landing, even under the heavy British artillery fires.

 

The 3rd Airborne Regiment was launched in Alikianou sector at 08:15 hours and later the staff of the 7th Air born Division landed with gliders, with the exemption of Commanding General Schusman whose glider crushed in the island of Aegina near Piraeus and all aboard were killed.

From the second day the German side started to land fresh reserve units and reorganized their forces in order, a/ to keep their own bridgeheads and b/ clear the remaining British resistance within their lines. The earmarked sea transfer of troops and heavy material during the first night was postponed, because the occupation of the Maleme airfield permitted them a more safe transfer. Despite the fact that the airfield was still under allied artillery fire and its runways were excavated, the Germans succeeded the normal landing and take off of their planes.

 

THIRD DAY 22nd of May (SLIDE 8 )

Early in the morning the 5 Brigade plus the 28 Maori Battalion launched a counterattack against Maleme airfield during the daylight that failed with heavy losses.

During the third day both sides were very tired, disorganized and exhausted from the previous 48 hour heroic battle. So, no serious battle activity took place. Both sides had suffered heavy losses and should bury their dead and treat their wounded. They were also busy reorganizing their forces and transferring them in places for the future operations.

The commander in chief, general Frayberg ordered the commander of the 5th Brigade to initiate a new counterattack against the height 107. The brigadier general responded that he could not start such an attack because its troops were exhausted, so the plan was aborted. Instead of that the commander of 5th Brigade retreated eastward in new positions, to

avoid being isolated from the main body in the case that the Germans would cut off the main road Maleme - Chania.

 

FOURTH DAY 23rd of May (SLIDE 12 )

The new German commander of Crete and commanding general of the 5th Mountainous

Division, general Ringel reorganized his forces in four Groups as follows:

Group "A", under the Lt. Colonel Stette, to defend the sector of Maleme (height 107 and the airfield)

Group "B" (airborne troops), under Colonel Ramke to advance against Chania.

Group "C" (5th Mountainous Division minus), under the Colonel Ouz to make

an outflanking movement through the areas of Revma, Keritis, Koufos and Galatas toward Chania.

Group "D", to make a secondary movement against Stalou (east of Agia Marina)

The British commander in chief lost any hope to regain the Maleme airfield and took measures to facilitate the future evacuation of Crete. In the meantime, he gave a struggle of rear guards along side of the road Alikianou - Chania- Suda.

The battle stricken 5th Division retreated eastward to relax and reorganize during the night of 23rd to 24th of May

 

FIFTH DAY 24th of MAY (SLIDE 12 )

During the fifth day the Allied forces prepared themselves to defend the Chania - Suda sector, while the Germans prepared themselves to launch an attack eastward to capture Chania and the Suda military base. In the mean time they continued the pressure against all directions. A German force of motorcyclists moved against the village Kandanos and Palaiochora at the south coast of the island. That force was decimated from the brave resistance of the local people. Later on the 3rd of June the Germans destroyed even the ruins of this village and put a sign that read:

"SOMETIME KANDANOS EXISTED HERE"

 

SIXTH DAY 25TH OF MAY

On the sixth day the Germans having the crushing air superiority struck the allied forces and launched a strong attack against 4th New Zealand Brigade. The New Zealand fighters despite the fatigue and the great losses they had suffered during the previous days fought heroically and repelled the German offensive all day long. But at 20:00 hours the German troops seized the village Galatas, which was a stronghold in the area. The New Zealanders with 2 tanks made a counterattack and the fight continued body to body with swords and hand grenades and finally the New Zealanders regained the village Galatas.

 

It was an epic battle of the New Zealanders, which was respected even by the

Germans for their gallantry. At the point of the battle the Germans built an impressing monument, which is still in good condition.

From the moment that the Maleme airfield was seized by the Germans the battle of Crete had already been determined. From now on the fight for the Allied forces were trying to gain time in order to evacuate orderly from the south coast of the island, while the German forces were in a hurry to catch the strategic points of the island and cut off the allied evacuation to the Middle East.

 

SEVENTH DAY 26 MAY

The commander in chief, General Frayberg after the estimate of the tragic situation of his forces he communicated with the Middle East commander in chief, General Wayvel in Cairo and submitted a proposal for the evacuation of the island. That night the allied lines were 2 klm west of Chania and the Germans with air strikes and ground attacks were pushing them eastward.

 

 

EIGHTH DAY 27th of MAY

The condition in the British forces was tragic. The commander in chief of Crete contacted again General Wayvel and asked him to order the urgent evacuation of his forces in the Middle East otherwise they were in danger to be caught prisoners by the Germans. Finally, that day the Prime Minister Winston Churchill gave his permission and Wayvel ordered the evacuation.

 

THE OTHER SECTORS (SLIDE 1 )

The sectors of Rethymnon and Heraklion, constituted secondary attempts for the Germans.

The situation in Rethymnon on 20 May was as in the slide (SLIDE 18)

So, the small airborne forces that dropped in those sectors either were neutralized or created strongholds to survive from destruction. All this time the German air force had a crushing superiority over the island. Only on the 23rd of May 12 British aircrafts "Hurricanes" appeared from Egypt, that had a dog fight with the German aircrafts. As a result, two British aircrafts crushed from their own anti-aircraft fire and four landed in Heraklion airfield, due to their damages.

The evacuation of British troops took place in the night of the 28th to the 29th from the

harbor of Heraklion. For this purpose a British naval force arrived under admiral Rollings (3 cruiser and 6 destroyers).

 

 

After the successful evacuation of 400 men the flotilla left at 03:00 hour, without being noticed by the Germans. However, during the day the German air force attacked and sunk two destroyers. It is remarkable the telegram from British admiral Cunningham to that flotilla" A battle ship takes three years to be made, but the naval fame takes three centuries"

 

28 MAY - 1 JUNE THE EVACUATION ( SLIDE 1)

The situation in the sector of Suda - Sfakia early in the morning of 28 May was as on the slide (SLIDE 17 )

A commando detachment arrived from Egypt to cover the evacuation from the

south coasts of the island. From the Chania -Suda sector only 4000 men were evacuated on their way to Egypt. The rest either were killed in action, or wounded or were caught prisoners from the Germans. General Frayberg left on the 1st of June with the last ship.

 

THE LOSSES

a/ German side:

Dead: 2.000 plus 1900 missing in action (3.900)

Wounded: 2.600

 

b/ British side:

Dead: 1.750 plus 2.500 naval losses (4.250)

Wounded: 2.300

Prisoners of war: 11.350

 

c/ New Zealand side:

The 2nd New Zealand Division (Maori) suffered great losses:

Among the 7.000 men that went to Crete: 671 were killed, 967 were wounded and

2.180 were prisoners of war.

 

d/ Greek side:

Dead : 456

Wounded : Great number of military and among the population too.

Prisoners of war: 5.300

 

Damages:

Germans lost 350 planes (mostly cargo aircrafts)

British lost 3 cruisers, 6 destroyers and all the heavy equipment, trucks and armament that remained in the island.

The Greeks suffered great damages in infrastructure, buildings, harbors, ships and agriculture. After the German occupation the local population suffered collective reprisals, such as mass executions, destruction of their villages and private properties, imprisonment, hunger, starvation etc.

 

CONCLUSIONS

The Battle of Crete is an epic confrontation between the Axis and the Allied forces. It is a great historic example of people from different nations that come together to fight a common enemy. Now in a similar manner people from all over the world come together to fight hunger, diseases, unemployment and poverty. It is also a great example of strategic thinking. The Allied forces did not know the exact magnitude of the German attack and they found themselves outnumbered by the force of the German attack. However, it was the delay and the spirit of decisiveness that might have been critical in the outcome of this battle.

 

From the military point of view, during the WW II and especially in the Battle of Crete, the importance of air superiority and vertical attack in waging the modern warfare was emphasized. However it was the first and the last independent air born operation in history that although it was successful, it was rejected because of the huge losses. Hitler commented on the German losses: "Crete proved that the paratroopers belong to the past"

The British forces fought bravely, despite the fact that they were extremely tired after their long retreat along the continental Greece. When they reached the island they tried hastily to organize the defense system, however, they lacked air support, armor units, transportation, defense fortifications, enough supplies and reserves. Despite the fact that General Frayberg estimated correctly the German attack against the Maleme airfield and Suda base, the lack of reserves permitted the Germans to create the fatal bridgehead in Maleme. Finally the higher Germans morale and Luftwaffe gave them the victory.

Now, the Battle of Crete seemed as a civil European War. The soldiers and officers from both sides fought gallantly for the glory of their fatherlands, despite the responsibility of Nazi regime, which committed crimes against the humanity.

 

 

Eternal to be their memory and a paradigm to the present generation to establish a lasting Peace all over the world.

 

Major General Kostas Konstantinidis (Ret)

 

The information were taken from the historical book

"THE BATTLE OF CRETE" of the Military History of Army

directorate of the Hellenic Army General Staff

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