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Crete 1941 - Germany's Lightning Airborne Assault

By: Osprey

Type: Hardcover

Product Line: Battles of World War II

Last Stocked on 9/14/2021

Product Info

Title
Crete 1941 - Germany's Lightning Airborne Assault
Publisher
Category
Publish Year
2009
Pages
96
Dimensions
7.75x10x.5"
NKG Part #
2147869059
MFG. Part #
OSPCAM147
Type
Hardcover
Series
CAM147

Description

Operation Mercury, the German airborne assault on the island of Crete in May 1941, was the first strategic use of airborne forces in history. The assault began on May 20 with landings near the island’s key airports and the arrival of reinforcements the next day allowed the German forces to capture one end of the runway at Maleme. By May 24 the Germans were being reinforced by air on a huge scale and on June 1 Crete surrendered. This book describes how close the battle had been, and explains how German losses so shocked Hitler that he never again authorized a major airborne operation.