Crete 1941

Operation Merkur, the German airborne assault on the island of Crete in May 1941, was the first strategic use of airborne forces in history. The assault began on 20 May, with landings near the island's key airports, and reinforcements the next day allowed the German forces to capture one end of the runway at Maleme. By 24 May, the Germans were being reinforced by air on a huge scale and on 1 June Crete surrendered. This book describes how desperately close the battle had been, and explains how German losses, in men and in airplanes, so shocked the Führer that he never again authorised a major airborne operation. In contrast, the Allies were impressed by the potential of paratroopers and started to form airborne-assault and airfield-defence regiments; It was a fact that the German casualty rate in Crete, was hidden from those Allied planners. Other lessonsin this operation: 1-The RAF learned in the hard way, the importance on protecting their airfields. 2-Here also the Royal Navy, suffered badly the Luftwaffe‘s air supremacy, and lost 4 cruisers and 6 destroyers, in addition to other 10 severely damaged warships. Merkur's operation, for the great variety of forces involved, including an elite force of paratroopers, used for the first time in large numbers, with bold and creative leaders, was unquestionably one of the most amazing battles in its time and in all the history of warfare. Very interesting book.