Maleme 20 May
21 - 25th May
Stuka Ju87
Tom Atherton
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| I am currently making
extensive changes and additions to the pages covering the battle itself,
this is causing me to also rearrange and add to the number of associated
pages. Hopefully previous visitors still be able to find their way
round. |
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| The whole force on Crete was commanded by General
Freyberg VC who had also been evacuated from the action in Greece and
was Churchill's choice for the job, he saw him as a 'soldiers
General'. The area around Canea and Maleme was held by the New Zealand Division
with 4 Brigade (Brigadier Inglis) as Force Reserve and 5 Brigade
(Brigadier Hargest) covering the area from Ay Marina to Maleme
airfield. Behind 5 Brigade was 10 Brigade (Colonel Kippenberger)
holding a line running south from Kolimvithra on the coast through Galatas
and Aghya to Alikianou. [These place names will often have different
spellings on different maps of Crete.] The tasks assigned to 5
Brigade were laid out in their Operation Order Number 4; |
| a) 5 Inf. Bde. will maintain a defensive line running east and west from
PLATANIAS to TAVRONITIS RIVER, with special regard to the defence of
MALEME aerodrome. |
| b) In the event of the enemy making an airborne or seaborne attack on
any part of the area, to counter attack and destroy him immediately. |
| c) The whole essence of the bde's work is a spirited defence. |
| The four battalions of the brigade were assigned their areas and roles; |
| 28 (Maori) Battalion to remain around Platanias and prevent the enemy
advancing towards Canea. |
| 23 Battalion on the coast to the east of Maleme airfield to hold its
position and be in a position to counter attack towards the coast or
Maleme if required, see map below. |
| 21 Battalion, a little south of 23 Battalion, was to be ready to defend
against a possible enemy attack from west of the Tavronitis and also to
replace 23 Battalion if they had to make a counter attack, and be ready to
deliver a second counter attack if needed. |
| 22 Battalion covered Maleme, their primary task was the 'static defence'
of the airfield. "It was therefore to cover the airfield and
approaches with fire, withholding mortar fire until landing had actually
taken place. If a major landing were made, support and reserve
companies were to be used for immediate counter attack. The enemy
expelled, the battalion would resume its positions." [Davin] |
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20th May
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The attack on Maleme airfield was assigned to Group West under the command of
General Eugen Meindle and started early in the morning with fighters and bombers of
Richtofen's VIII Fliegerkorps hitting the airfield in two waves. Their attacks were
concentrated on the exposed Bofors anti-aircraft guns, troops on the ground, and
especially on Hill 107. This hill, overlooking the airfield (and now the location
for the German war cemetery), was an important focus for the German
airborne troops, many of whom would die there. At around 08:15 the airborne assault
began, the first troops on the ground were the elite 1st Battalion of the Assault
Regiment, who arrived by towed glider.
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| The battle for Maleme and the area up to
Canea continues on additional pages. |
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The map to the left shows Maleme from above,
you can see the two runways, one North/South, the other East/West.
All the bottom right hand side of the photo, blow the airfield is
Hill 107. The river Tavronitis can be see on the very left hand side
of the photo. |
| Photo from Karlheinz Schlaweck |
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This map (from www.nzhistory.net.nz) shows the area
from Maleme to Canea. There is still a rusting old bridge over the Tavronitis alongside the
current road bridge. I assume this is the remains of the 1941
bridge. The German war cemetery is on the top of Hill 107. The coast
road through Pirgos goes to Hania. The original road is still there,
lined with Hotels, but the main road is now a new dual carriageway set a
little further inland.
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The positions of 21, 22
& 23 Battalions on the 20 May, showing the positions of their
companies as well. |
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