BATTL

E OF

CRETE

BY: A

USTIN L

. AND

LEVI

B.

WHERE:The Battle took place in Crete, Greece. Crete is the largest Greek island with the largest white mountain MT. Ida. WHEN:The Battle of Crete was fought from May 20 to June 1, 1941.

WHO:

British forces allied with Greece, Australia, And New Zealand. Defending against the Nazi forces.

Nazi soldiers in battle

CAUSE

Hitler was paranoid and attacked in Crete, Greece because Britain had a military base setup on the island.

Germans started the battle with air invasion bombing the island. And dropping para troopers

OUTCOME

The Germans had suffered very heavy casualties

miscommunication and the failure of Allied commanders to grip the situation.

Maleme airfield in western Crete fell to the Germans .

Crete was overwhelmed with paratroopers and fell to the Germans.

EXTRA INFO

JULY 1941, two months after the fall of Crete, General Kurt Student, the German Airborne leader and awarded the knights cross.

The island of Crete is home to the tallest mountains in Greece, and is said to be the birthplace of Zeus.

SOURCES

http://hellenicleaders.com/blog/iconic-images-of-the-battle-of-crete/#.VWdXQmOZjTo

http://www.historynet.com/battle-of-crete-it-began-with-germanys-airborne-invasion-operation-mercury.htm

http://www.explorecrete.com/preveli/battle-of-crete.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Crete

http://www.hotel-mike.com/en/about-crete/battle-of-crete.aspx

http://www.army.gov.au/Our-history/History-in-Focus/Australian-Armour-in-the-Middle-East