The German invasion of Crete (codenamed “Operation Mercury”) in May 1941, stands as a landmark in the history of airborne warfare.The Battle was unique for the use of the greatest number of German Paratroopers in the whole of World War Two.Crete had great strategic importance in the Mediterranean for both the Germans and the allied troops. After about 10 days of battles the island fell to the Germans. The casualty figures for the Germans were high.After the Operation Mercury, Hitler ordered that all future attacks involving the paratroopers of Germany should be part of an infantry attack.
The Battle of Crete