The battle for Greece & Crete.pdf - Army Museum of South Australia

Crete was considered to be of strategic importance to the Allies in the Eastern Mediterranean as a basefor as it supported its base at Alexandria.The Battle for Crete was uniqueThe Plan to capture CreteThe plan to capture Crete was the idea of ‘Luftflotte 4,’ under the command of General Alexander Lohr,who had convinced Goring of the plan, but they met opposition from the Armed Forces HighCommand. Eventually Hitler was convinced – and gave the order for “Operation Merkur (Mercury)[The invasion of Crete] under the direction of the Luftwaffe.Firstly; it was the first battle to be won exclusively by air- Paratroopers and heavy bombingSecondly; the Allied Commander had access to German Wireless Communication relating to theattack. The allies were aware of the exact date of the attack and the exact timebombing of the island would commence.Thirdly; no where else in World War 2 did the enemy meet so much civilian resistance.The attack on Crete1 st attack – Morning 20 th MayThe first Gliders landed near Maleme Airfield at 7.15 am eventually succeeding in capturing theairfield.- 15 -