On the morning of May 20, 1941, German paratroopers cascaded onto the island of Crete in the first major airborne assault of World War II. The British, New Zealand, Australian, and Greek defenders knew the Germans were coming and inflicted heavy casualties on the first day, ensuring that Hitler would never again order a major airborne operation. Despite this initial success, however, the Allied defense on land, sea, and air was plagued by miscommunication and indecision and collapsed within ten days, forcing the Allies to evacuate the island and make for Egypt.

Originally published: Barnsley, South Yorkshire : Pen & Sword Military, 2007.

A parallel war -- A new Thermopylae -- Operation Mercury -- Fallen flower petals: Maleme, Chania and Rethymnon 20 May -- Stones and sheath knives: The crisis, 20/21 May -- The ‘AA Waltz’: battle at sea -- Bombed from the earth: the turning point 22/23 May: Galatos, 24/26 May -- One large stench: the fall of Rethymnon and the evacuation at Heraklion, 28/30 May -- The Navy must carry on: evacuation, 28 May/1 June -- Glad to have seen the day: occupation and liberation, 1941-1944 -- Remembrance -- Appendices. Orders of battle -- Ten commandments of the parachutist -- The intelligence war -- The king of the Hellenes.