battle for crete

The Battle for Crete was one of the most dramatic battles of the Second World War. Over 12 days in May 1941 a mixed force of New Zealanders, British, Australian and Greek troops desperately tried to fight off a huge German airborne assault. Despite suffering appalling casualties, the parachutists and glider-borne troops who led the invasion managed to secure a foothold on the island and eventually gained the upper hand. The battle ended with the evacuation to Egypt of the bulk of the Allied force.

Day one – 20 May 1941: the invasion begins

On 20 May 1941 the Germans launched their invasion of Crete. Landing among or near concealed defensive positions, the glider-borne troops and paratroops suffered heavy casualties. Pockets of survivors managed to establish a foothold on the island, but at the end of the first day the German position was still extremely tenuous.

Day four – 23 May 1941: securing the line

On 23 May the bulk of the New Zealand forces around Maleme airfield retreated to a new defensive line at Platanias. This position was soon threatened by fresh German forces moving in from the south and the New Zealanders were forced back toward Galatas.

Day seven – 26 May 1941: decision to withdraw

On 26 May the Germans continued to advance eastwards across the island. New Zealand forces withdrew to a line east of Galatas and were subjected to continued air and ground attacks. Elements of Creforce began moving toward Sfakia on the south coast, which seemed to offer the best evacuation point. 

Day ten - 29 May 1941: awaiting evacuation

As the remnants of Creforce retreated across Crete’s Askifou Plain, the first ships left Sfakia for Egypt. The Germans finally entered Retimo, forcing most of its Australian defenders to surrender. The garrison at Heraklion was evacuated by sea but their convoy suffered heavy losses from German air attacks.

Battle for Crete: the Army says 'thank you' to the Royal Navy

In appreciation of the huge effort that the Royal Navy had made in the battle around Crete and in evacuating as many troops as possible from the island, the 2NZEF held a collection once they returned to Egypt. £820 was raised.

Denis Sampson recalls his involvement in the ceremony to present the cheque to the Navy:

Creforce surrenders

On the morning of 1 June 1941, the 5000 Allied troops left at Sfakia realised that they had been abandoned. Their trek over the mountains of Crete had been for nothing. Bewildered and angry, they now faced the prospect of captivity.

Prisoners of war

About 2000 New Zealanders were taken prisoner on Crete. Those captured by the Germans at Sfakia were marched back over the White Mountains to a prison camp near Canea. The heat, and lack of food and water took a toll on the men.

Conditions at the camp were very poor.  There was little to occupy the men's time, although some joined work parties to bury the dead or to work on the airfield at Maleme. Food and shelter were scarce.

People have argued about the Battle for Crete since it occurred. The Allied forces on the island knew of the enemy’s intentions and had the chance to inflict a humiliating defeat on the Germans – the first they would have suffered on land during the war. Who was responsible for the mistakes that allowed the Germans to gain control of the vital airfield at Maleme and hold it against subsequent counter-attacks?