OPERATION MERCURY - UNTERNEHMEN MERKUR
Operation Mercury was the German codename for the invasion of Crete. It was the first time that a mainly airborne invasion had taken place and it was the first major use of paratroopers in battle.
The casualties to the German airborne forces were so great that it took many years for the army to recover from the losses and Adolf Hitler forbade the use of airborne invasions for the rest of the war. The Allies, on the other hand, were impressed by the speed and aggressiveness of the paratroopers and actively engaged in a Parachute Regiment recruitment drive.
The casualties to the German airborne forces were so great that it took many years for the army to recover from the losses and Adolf Hitler forbade the use of airborne invasions for the rest of the war. The Allies, on the other hand, were impressed by the speed and aggressiveness of the paratroopers and actively engaged in a Parachute Regiment recruitment drive.
Maleme 1941
After the Stukas, their bombs, their bullets
After the air rent with singing, killing iron
Silence, terrifying silence.
Air raid clear, Air raid clear, the cry
Men emerge from slit trenches
Shaken, dusted with red earth
Roll call is taken, not all reply
Three more are lost in the raid.
Brews are started, dark tea, strong and sweet
Metal mugs shared between friends
A moment's respite from the horror.
Droning, heavy engines are heard
As one they all look to the source.
Aircraft incoming, hundreds it seems
Flying straight and true and slow
Mesmerised they watch, slow to react
A sergeant shouts out instructions
Men scurry and hurry to positions
All watch the skies, waiting for death to arrive.
Closer now, the aircraft take shape
Transporters, gliders in tow.
Cables released, the gliders dip forward
Silently hurtling to their prey
Blossoms of white and black fill the sky
As the transports disgorge their deadly cargo.
Instincts kick in and weapons are aimed
At aircraft and targets descending
Under canopies men die but not all succumb
They land, regroup and push on.
Confusion of battle, the noise, fear and death
Communication no longer in use
Isolated pockets of death move stealthily
Both forces are wary to move.
Men die by bullets, by blade and by hand
And lay still upon the dark red earth of Maleme.
After the Stukas, their bombs, their bullets
After the air rent with singing, killing iron
Silence, terrifying silence.
Air raid clear, Air raid clear, the cry
Men emerge from slit trenches
Shaken, dusted with red earth
Roll call is taken, not all reply
Three more are lost in the raid.
Brews are started, dark tea, strong and sweet
Metal mugs shared between friends
A moment's respite from the horror.
Droning, heavy engines are heard
As one they all look to the source.
Aircraft incoming, hundreds it seems
Flying straight and true and slow
Mesmerised they watch, slow to react
A sergeant shouts out instructions
Men scurry and hurry to positions
All watch the skies, waiting for death to arrive.
Closer now, the aircraft take shape
Transporters, gliders in tow.
Cables released, the gliders dip forward
Silently hurtling to their prey
Blossoms of white and black fill the sky
As the transports disgorge their deadly cargo.
Instincts kick in and weapons are aimed
At aircraft and targets descending
Under canopies men die but not all succumb
They land, regroup and push on.
Confusion of battle, the noise, fear and death
Communication no longer in use
Isolated pockets of death move stealthily
Both forces are wary to move.
Men die by bullets, by blade and by hand
And lay still upon the dark red earth of Maleme.
Copyright Ian Yates 2013
TIMETABLE OF EVENTS
20 May 1941
At around 08:00 German Junkers JU-52 aircraft started appearing over Maleme and Chania disgorging their paratroops. This first wave of attacks was wiped out almost completely by the Allied forces defending the area. The 21st, 22nd and 23rd Maori battalions were well placed to defend the airfield of Maleme. The 1st Assault Regiment of German paratroops lost 116 men killed out of the 125 men in the regiment in those first few moments. Out of the 600 men dropped by parachute in the first wave, less than 200 remained alive.
Some of the aircraft were towing gliders and as these were released the defenders could not believe the ease with which they could target the slow moving aircraft. Many gliders were destroyed before hitting the ground whilst those that did manage to land were brought under heavy mortar and machine gun fire. Not many glider passengers survived the landings.
At around 08:00 German Junkers JU-52 aircraft started appearing over Maleme and Chania disgorging their paratroops. This first wave of attacks was wiped out almost completely by the Allied forces defending the area. The 21st, 22nd and 23rd Maori battalions were well placed to defend the airfield of Maleme. The 1st Assault Regiment of German paratroops lost 116 men killed out of the 125 men in the regiment in those first few moments. Out of the 600 men dropped by parachute in the first wave, less than 200 remained alive.
Some of the aircraft were towing gliders and as these were released the defenders could not believe the ease with which they could target the slow moving aircraft. Many gliders were destroyed before hitting the ground whilst those that did manage to land were brought under heavy mortar and machine gun fire. Not many glider passengers survived the landings.
21 May 1941
Due to a breakdown in communication the hill overlooking Maleme airfield, designated Hill 107, was abandoned by the Allied forces. The Germans, who had continued landing attempts suddenly found themselves unopposed at the airfield. German troops took Hill 107 and defended the airfield below from repeated counter attacks and allowed more troops of the 5th Mountain Division to land. Maleme became the area where the Germans concentrated their forces and those troops that had landed near Rethymno and Heraklion had to almost fend for themselves.
Long delays to the Allied reinforcements, who had to march about 18 miles, meant an Allied counterattack that was due to take place at night, was in fact ordered during daylight hours. This was beaten back by the German troops on Hill 107 and the ever present Stukas that could pick out targets at will in the daylight hours.
Due to a breakdown in communication the hill overlooking Maleme airfield, designated Hill 107, was abandoned by the Allied forces. The Germans, who had continued landing attempts suddenly found themselves unopposed at the airfield. German troops took Hill 107 and defended the airfield below from repeated counter attacks and allowed more troops of the 5th Mountain Division to land. Maleme became the area where the Germans concentrated their forces and those troops that had landed near Rethymno and Heraklion had to almost fend for themselves.
Long delays to the Allied reinforcements, who had to march about 18 miles, meant an Allied counterattack that was due to take place at night, was in fact ordered during daylight hours. This was beaten back by the German troops on Hill 107 and the ever present Stukas that could pick out targets at will in the daylight hours.
22 May 1941
The failed counter attack continued during the morning of the 22 May and many casualties were inflicted on the Allied forces. Understanding the island was lost, Allied commanders ordered a fighting retreat of their forces to the South coast for extraction to Egypt.
For the next nine days, up until the 31 May, thousands of Allied troops retreated over the mountainous terrain whilst being continuously harassed by Stuka dive bombers and German Mountain Troops.
CASUALTIES
Allied Forces -
3,990 Killed -
2,750 Wounded
German Forces -
4,041 Killed or missing presumed dead -
2,640 Wounded
The failed counter attack continued during the morning of the 22 May and many casualties were inflicted on the Allied forces. Understanding the island was lost, Allied commanders ordered a fighting retreat of their forces to the South coast for extraction to Egypt.
For the next nine days, up until the 31 May, thousands of Allied troops retreated over the mountainous terrain whilst being continuously harassed by Stuka dive bombers and German Mountain Troops.
CASUALTIES
Allied Forces -
3,990 Killed -
2,750 Wounded
German Forces -
4,041 Killed or missing presumed dead -
2,640 Wounded
FOR MORE DETAILED INFORMATION ON THE BATTLE OF CRETE WHY NOT TAKE A LOOK AT THE FOLLOWING WEBSITES
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Crete
http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/fall_of_crete.htm
http://www.28maoribattalion.org.nz/story-of-the-28th/greece-and-crete
http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/fall_of_crete.htm
http://www.28maoribattalion.org.nz/story-of-the-28th/greece-and-crete
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