The 2nd division of the New Zealand army, with Bernard Freyberg as commanding officer, fought from May 20th 1941 until June 1st 1941 on Crete. They fought together with the British, Greek and Australians against the Germans.
On April 28th 1941 the allies occupied Crete, just after Italy attacked Greece. On April 30th 1941 General Major Bernard Freyberg was promoted to commanding officer of the allied forces on Crete.
Crete was very important for the allies because it provided the British Navy with good harbor facilities.
The German attack on Crete started with planes dropping bombs. Because of this, the allied planes had to escape to Alexandria. On April 25th, Adolf Hitler gave the order to land on Crete. Because the allies controlled the waters around the island, a landing out of sea was difficult for the Germans. The Germans choose for a landing from the air. The Germans deployed 593 aircraft and their plan was that the paratroopers were going to land on important places on the island and concur these places, e.g. the airport.
On May 20th at 08.00 hrs., the German paratroopers landed on the airport. But when they landed, they were overpowered by the Greek defenders. The Greek population, armed or unarmed, joined the allies.
A special incident was an elderly Greek, who killed a German soldier with his walking stick. The population reacted fierce on the German attacks and were trying to chase the German intruders away.
At 16.00 hrs., the second wave of German paratroopers landed on Crete. This time, the Greek population and the allies gave them a warm welcome. At the end of the day, the Germans almost surrendered the hill, which gave a good view on the airport. The next day, it became clear that the defenders of the hill, by accident left the hill that night. That’s how the Germans got control over the airport.
By landings out of sea and through the air, the Germans had a force of 14,000 soldiers on the island within a couple of days. The allies organized in the night of May 21st and May 22nd a counter attack. Because a few units had to watch the waters surrounding Crete, not all units could participate in this counter attack. The counter attack failed and the allies were chased away to the eastern part of the island. The landing on Crete lasted for 3 days. During these 3 days, the Germans lost around 22,000 soldiers. The allies lost 3,500 soldiers. How many of them were from New Zealand is not known.
On April 28th 1941 the allies occupied Crete, just after Italy attacked Greece. On April 30th 1941 General Major Bernard Freyberg was promoted to commanding officer of the allied forces on Crete.
Crete was very important for the allies because it provided the British Navy with good harbor facilities.
The German attack on Crete started with planes dropping bombs. Because of this, the allied planes had to escape to Alexandria. On April 25th, Adolf Hitler gave the order to land on Crete. Because the allies controlled the waters around the island, a landing out of sea was difficult for the Germans. The Germans choose for a landing from the air. The Germans deployed 593 aircraft and their plan was that the paratroopers were going to land on important places on the island and concur these places, e.g. the airport.
On May 20th at 08.00 hrs., the German paratroopers landed on the airport. But when they landed, they were overpowered by the Greek defenders. The Greek population, armed or unarmed, joined the allies.
A special incident was an elderly Greek, who killed a German soldier with his walking stick. The population reacted fierce on the German attacks and were trying to chase the German intruders away.
At 16.00 hrs., the second wave of German paratroopers landed on Crete. This time, the Greek population and the allies gave them a warm welcome. At the end of the day, the Germans almost surrendered the hill, which gave a good view on the airport. The next day, it became clear that the defenders of the hill, by accident left the hill that night. That’s how the Germans got control over the airport.
By landings out of sea and through the air, the Germans had a force of 14,000 soldiers on the island within a couple of days. The allies organized in the night of May 21st and May 22nd a counter attack. Because a few units had to watch the waters surrounding Crete, not all units could participate in this counter attack. The counter attack failed and the allies were chased away to the eastern part of the island. The landing on Crete lasted for 3 days. During these 3 days, the Germans lost around 22,000 soldiers. The allies lost 3,500 soldiers. How many of them were from New Zealand is not known.