A German column marches through Greece. The Germans had been obliged to come to the aid of the Italians when Greek and later, British troops, resisted Mussolini’s invasion.
A German Henschel HS 126 reconnaisance plane flies over the Greek capitol, Athens.
German map for Operation MERCURY.
British intercepts of German Enigma Ultra messages decoded at Bletchley Park, Buckinghamshire, which outlined the plan for the airborne invasion of Crete. Forewarned, General Freyberg’s men were able to inflict heavy casualties on Hitler’s parachute troops.
Top right and middle: Italian propaganda poster quoting Mussolini’s boast that he would destroy the Greeks.
Bottom left: sight-seeing after the fall of Crete.
Bottom right: postcard extolling victory over the Allies in Crete by the German mountain troops, who were airlifted in during the battle.
Men of the 2/FJR 3. pose for a photographer after the fighting for Crete was over.
Looking south from Hill 107.
The Iraklion battlefield looking east towards East Ridge (IBW) and Ames Ridge beyond.
The ‘Little Saucer’; one of the few oasis on the road that winds its way up into the arid mountains.
The memorial on the quayside at Hora Safakion.
Inset: Generalmajor Meindl set up his HQ beneath the abutments of this bridge.
The author on Tavronitis bridge.