'Operation Mercury' - The Battle of Crete

With mainland Greece under their occupation, the Germans now plan the airborne invasion of Crete - an easy victory, they estimate. But they haven’t considered the Allies’ secret 'weapon', nor the brave resistance of the Cretans.

In the morning of May 20, 1941, German fighters filled the sky over northern Crete. Survivors describe their dramatic experiences from the first two days of the Battle, while specialists analyze each side’s advantages and mistakes.

While the Battle of Crete is still ongoing and on the pretext of punishing the Cretan irregulars, the Germans bomb non-military targets and execute civilians. In the end, the Allies retreat and Crete falls on June 1, 1941.

The German victory in Crete was followed by a bloodbath - 1,300 Cretans lost their lives only the summer of 1941. During the Occupation, which was the longest in Greece, the destructions, as well as the resistance continued.