Battle for Crete

Deutsch: Die Luftlandeschlacht um Kreta, auch Unternehmen Merkur genannt, war die erste große Luftlandeoperation der Geschichte. Nach der Einnahme Griechenlands durch die deutsche Wehrmacht im Verlauf des Balkanfeldzugs, versuchte man, die noch von den Alliierten kontrollierte Insel Kreta zu erobern.

Ελληνικά: Μάχη της Κρήτης ονομάζεται η αντιστασιακή δράση που έλαβε χώρα στην Κρήτη κατά τη διάρκεια του δευτέρου παγκοσμίου πολέμου και συγκεκριμένα από την 20 Μαΐου 1941, όταν ξεκίνησε η αεροπορική έφοδος των Γερμανών με συνθηματικό όνομα «Unternehmen Merkur» (Επιχείρηση Ερμής) εναντίον του νησιού.

English: The Battle of Crete (German Luftlandeschlacht um Kreta; Greek Μάχη της Κρήτης) began on the morning of 20 May 1941, during World War II, when Germany launched an airborne invasion of Crete under the code-name Unternehmen Merkur (Operation Mercury).

Français : Le matin du 20 mai 1941, l'Allemagne lance une invasion aéroportée sur la Crète sous le nom de code opération Merkur, qui peut être traduit par opération mercure.

Maps

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  German assault on Crete - May 1941

Pictures

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  Lieutenant General Bernard Freyberg VC, commanding officer of the British forces on Crete, gazes over the parapet of his dug-out in the direction of the German advance. - May 1941
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  A group of British soldiers on crete in a trench with fixed bayonets. - May 1941
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  A pall of smoke hanging over the habour in Suda Bay where two ships, hit by German bombers, burn themselves out. - May 1941
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  Palls of smoke rise above the Cretan countryside. - May 1941
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  A Junkers Ju 52 troop carrying aircraft flying low over the island during the initial stages of the battle. By the evening of 20 May some 6000 German troops were on the island, the final total brought by air amounting to 22,000. - 20 May 1941
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  German paratroopers jumping from Ju 52s over Crete. - May 1941
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  Walking wounded British troops disembarking at a port in Egypt after the evacuation of Crete. - 31 May 1941
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  A crashed German glider with two of its occupants lying dead alongside. - 6 June 1941
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  German prisoners under British guard. - 6 June 1941
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  A British lorry and trailer burning after being attacked by Luftwaffe aircraft. - 25 June 1941
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  A pall of smoke hanging over the habour in Suda Bay where two ships, hit by German bombers, are burning. - 25 June 1941