The Cretan Campaign took place a full year after the Fall of France and demonstrated that Britain and her empire partner still lacked the resources to match Axis military power. It was also obvious that they had yet to come to terms with, let alone master, the new style of warfare that the Germans had ushered in over the previous two years. As Churchill said, this learning phase or ‘beginning’ was not to end until El Alamein, almost 18 months later. For the Germans, the campaign was the first and last time that airborne forces were to play more than a subsidiary role in a strategic operation. The rest of the Cretan adventure was so costly that Hitler never authorized another major airborne operation. Nonetheless, general Student’s distinctive elite were to subsequently fight as highly effective infantry in virtually every theater where German troops were deployed. -- From the introduction.

Create and the Mediterranean -- Fallschirmjäger and the invasion plan -- The fly-in -- The Maleme drop -- The Prison Valley drop -- The defense of Rethymno -- The defense of Iraklio -- Reinforcements and counter-attack -- The battle of Galatas -- Souda Bay and 42nd street -- Withdrawal and evacuation -- The abduction of General Kreipe -- The airborne invasion tours -- Victoria Cross citations -- The cemeteries -- Orders of battle.