Military History talk – Battle of Crete

Following the occupation of Greece by the Germans in April 1941, 26,000 weary Allied soldiers, including large numbers of ANZAC troops, were evacuated to Crete.

In May Nazi Germany began an airborne invasion of the island, killing 1,750 allied troops, wounding 1,730 and 12,250 allied troops were marched into captivity for the rest of the war. It was the first time the Nazis used paratroopers en masse, the first time the Brits made extensive use of intelligence from Enigma coding machines and the first time German troops encountered mass resistance from civilians.

Lieutenant Colonel Rod Cooke (Retd) will discuss the Battle of Crete and the implications it would have for World War Two.

Free History Talk. Bookings essential

Photograph caption – Photograph caption: German paratroopers dropping into the village of Suda, Crete, 20 May 1941. (Courtesy Australian War Memorial 134876.