May 20: Commemorating the Battle of Crete

·

On May 20 every year, the Greek community commemorates one of the most dramatic battles of the Second World War – the Battle of Crete. Over 12 days in May 1941 a mixed force of Greek, Australian, British and New Zealand troops desperately tried to fight off a huge German airborne assault. The events that followed remain ingrained in the minds and hearts of many Greek people around the world today.

The German air attack and eventual victory:

The invasion began on the morning of May 20. Shortly after 8 am, the men of Creforce (the designated name for the Allied troops on the island) saw gliders in the sky overhead, quickly followed by the rumbling of an approaching air armada. Hundreds of planes lumbered through the sky, dropping German paratroops into the area around Maleme and Canea, as well as in the airfields at Rethymno and Heraklion.

German paratroops, part of the German airborne invasion of Crete, parachuting onto the village of Souda. Source: Australian War Memorial.

At Rethymno and Heraklion, Greek, Australian and British defenders kept the invaders off the airfields. But at Maleme, a mistaken withdrawal of a New Zealand battalion on the night of May 20 was exploited the next day by the Germans, who captured the airfield and were able to bring in the reinforcements they needed to defeat the allies.

After six days of hard fighting, parts of the Creforce pulled back to Sfakia on the south coast and from here, about 10,500 troops left the island over four nights. A separate evacuation at Heraklion rescued a further 6000 soldiers. The soldiers left behind, around 6500, formally surrendered to the Germans on June 1. The majority would spend the rest of the war in prisoner-of-war camps.

More than 1700 British and Commonwealth soldiers had been killed and 15,000 captured during the battle. From the Greek battalion, there were 426 casualties and 5225 prisoners of war.

Troops on the shore of Souda Bay awaiting evacuation, May 1941. Source: Australian War Memorial.
Cretan Convention - Web Banner

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

From crisis to compassion: Timos Roussos and his family’s mercy mission in war-torn Cyprus

When Turkish troops landed on Cyprus on 20 July 1974, six-year-old Timos Roussos was sitting on the floor of his family’s home in Lemesos.

A granddaughter returns: Georgia Georgiou retraces her yiayia’s occupied village in Cyprus

When Georgia Georgiou handed over her Cypriot ID at the border checkpoint to cross into occupied northern Cyprus, she felt an ache.

‘You never get over it’: A childhood shattered by the Turkish invasion of Cyprus

On a warm July morning in 1974, 10-year-old Anastasia Di Loreto (née Karatzia) was jolted awake by the sound of bombs falling on Kyrenia.

Cyprus: The paradox of tolerance and impunity for Turkey

The lack of a unified, systematic and practical strategy on the part of Greece has led the Cyprus crisis into national disarray.

Lost homes and lingering hope: Greek-Cypriots reflect on Turkish invasion and its aftermath

From hidden stories to haunting memories, two Greek-Cypriot men share what it means to carry the burden of Cyprus’ past.

You May Also Like

Greeks named finalists in 2023 Australian Museum Eureka Prizes

At least two Australians of Greek heritage are among this years 55 finalists in the 2023 Australian Museum Eureka Prizes.

Dance teachers from Crete to tour Oceania region

The Cretan Federation of Australia & New Zealand has announced the national tour of two experienced and respected dance teachers from Crete.

Fears sparked over aged care residents ‘giving up’ from COVID-19 isolation

Fears have been sparked by nurses who claim that aged care residents are on the verge of giving up due to COVID-19 isolation procedures.