Battle of Crete 1941 - World War II DOCUMENTARY 

See, we can finish series! Stop your libelslanderdefamation :-) Now, 15 more :-) Yes, the next Winter War video is in the works!

As a youngster backpacking my way around Europe in the early 1980s I went to Crete. Sitting on a wall in Heraklion I noticed an old woman dressed all in black looking hard at me for ages. She disappeared. Shortly thereafter she returned with a chap who turned out to be her son and he spoke English. He asked where i was from and I pointed at the flag on my backpack and said NZ. His mother was delighted, she told me (via her son) she hadn't forgotten how we had fought the Germans and insisted I go back with them to their house for dinner. It was an amazing privilege, and I remember it well even to this day. Cretans and Kiwis, we are tight!!!!

The Australians/New Zealand's soldiers defended our island like it was their own, HUGE RESPECT 🇦🇺🇳🇿♥️🇬🇷

I live in Australia and have Cretan background. My Grandmother’s side hid an Australian from the Germans and my Grandfathers side hid a New Zealander from the Germans.

I remember going to Crete a few years back, and going into the interior villages. Still remember seeing a house that had flower pots made of old airplane bomb casings from a Stuka bomber.

The famous German writer Erhart Kästner acknowledged the following: “In 1952 I visited Athens for the first time after the war. In the German Embassy, when they heard that I intended to go to Crete, they suggested to me that I pretend to be a Swiss, because it had only been a short time since the German Occupation and the wounds were still unhealed. But I knew the Cretans. From the very first moment I said I was a German and not only did I have a good time, but wherever I went, I experienced the legendary Cretan hospitality. An afternoon, at sunset, I visited the German Cemetery in Maleme. It seemed like it was empty; only the last sun rays fell on it. But I was wrong. There was a living creature there. It was a Cretan woman dressed in black. To my greatest surprise I saw her lighting candles to the graves of the German soldiers, who died during the battle of Crete, and she was going methodically from the one grave to the other. I approached her... and I asked her: - “Do you come from here?” - “'Yes...” she replied. - “And why are you doing this? Those men killed so many Cretans during the war...!” The woman replied: - “Son, your accent proves you to be a foreigner, therefore you probably do not know what happened here from 1941 to 1944. My husband was killed in the battle of Crete and I was left alone with my only son. Germans took him as a hostage in 1943 and he died in a concentration camp (KZ) in Sachsenhauzen. I do not know where my son has been buried. But I know that each of these men was son of a mother like me. And I light candles to their memory, because their mothers cannot come down here. I am sure that another mother lights the candle in memory of my son.” And the German finished surprised: “Only in Greece such an answer could have been given!”

Can't believe you didn't include Admiral Cunningham's famous quote (dismissing concerns the Royal Navy's losses were too great in the evacuation, speaking to the prestige and valour of the Royal Navy under fire): "It takes the Navy three years to build a ship. It will take three hundred years to build a new tradition. The evacuation will continue."

Everyone ho has fought alongside us has earned our eternal friendship and gratitude. Long live Greece, Australia and New Zealand.

As Winston also said, “Hence, we will not say that the Greeks fight like heroes , but that heroes fight like Greeks .” Adolf Hitler said: “The Greek soldier, above all, fought with the most courage.”

Following the fall of Greece and Crete, the British decided to send in agents to aid and co-ordinate local resistance groups. These men included the writer Patrick Leigh Fermor, and had some notable successes, including the kidnap of the German commandant of Crete, described in Leigh Fermor's book Ill-met by Moonlight. The British agents got off to a bad start, however. Special Operations Executive needed men who spoke Greek, so recruited a number of Classical scholars. These men did indeed speak Greek - but the Greek of Homer and Thucydides. The locals found them incomprehensible...

Been to Australia back in 2018. I visited some memorials in Sydney and Perth and showed the Anzac Troops the respect they earned throughout their history. I‘m a German myself but i mourn every loss of life. These fine men, which gave their lifes to protect other, will never be forgotten. May all of you live long, healthfull and happy lifes. Cheers 😊✌🏻

I have a cousin named Crete, Maori went home and named their children after battle's, Alamein is another popular name after the battle of El Alamein. Ake Ake Kia Kaha E!

Germans: Operation Mercury was such a disaster! Americans and Brits: Hold my Market Garden.

I watch your videos frequently, I can not express the chills and the blood turning ice cold moment that I experienced while watching this particular one... My Uncle, my Grandmothers Brother, was killed while serving aboard the HMS Valiant during this operation. He was one of the British sailors killed by the Luftwaffe bombing of the Valiant, the family was notified weeks later but not given much information beyond it occurring in the Mediterranean during a battle... chills... The loss of her brother devastated my grandmother, it was a wound she carried for the rest of her life. She met my Grandfather years later when she was serving in British Army, he in the US Army Air Corp, while preparing for the Normandy Invasion in England.

Man Crete is very popular. Between Kings and Generals, Armchair Historian and WW2 week by week, it’ll have a hard time choosing a date.

You really can see what high standard the Wehrmacht held back then, when they considered 23k enemy casualties and an accomplished objective a failure, because of 6k casualties on their side.

The Australians and Kiwi's went above and beyond the call of duty

Cretan Greeks: Hippity, hoppity... *G E T O U T O F M Y P R O P E R T Y*

Salute to those brave Australians and New Zealanders who gave their lives resisting in a foreign country against that horrible tyranny I have no word for them expect “RESPECT” ✊

Australians and New Zealanders absolutely love Greece and her people! So many great Greek community’s in Australia who love and respect where they live. But also where they are from! ♥️

As a Cretan I thank you Kings and Generals for this video. I would like to give an idea since I haven't seen foreign youtube channels cover the Cretan war of 1648-1669 between Venetians, who occupied Crete since 1211 but generally had the support of the people in comparison to the alternative, and the Ottomans, with the besieged city of Chandakas ( Χάνδακας ) falling to the Ottomans in 1669 ( there's an Ephialtes moment in the story as well! )

Imagine being a German Paratrooper slowly falling with your parashoot only to see under your feet 5 middle-aged muscular men with great mustaches waiting you to fall with their rakes and rolling pins.🙏🏼

Thank you for this. Very emotional. This isn't taught nearly enough in school in Australia.

Lost 3 cousins in the Battle of Crete. My grandfather and a Great Uncle also fought there though the later was captured

This episode taught us the importance of air superiority. Without the overwhelming superiority of the Luftwaffe, and the capture of Malemi Airport which ensured ceaseless flow of German supplies and manpower into Crete, the German army might not be able to seize the island, and very likely turned out to be "another Operation Market Garden".

As a local and historian, I found 1-2 minor mistakes. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders landed at Tymbaki and then proceeded to Heraklio, not Chania. Also the 42nd street extended from the road between Souda and Chania to Tsikalaria, not the full length to Chania. Very hard to condence the battle in such a short video, but its actually a good one.

A warrior N.Z. soldier called Charles Upham was awarded the V.C. for his actions for the battle of Crete. He was one of many that fought bravely with their Cretan brothers & sisters against the enemy. They shall be remembered!

Crete is the USA of Greece, even though owning guns is not allowed, a lot of Cretans have Berettas in their cars remembering those old days

I remember writing my end of year history assignment on how drastically different the outcome of the battle could have been, if Andrew had not withdrawn from hill 107. Kia kaha, still Proud to Call him a kiwi.

*But why did we never upgrade our wallets?* Because the new ones are smaller and cannot hold anywhere near the same amount of stuff as the old ones. Old people have things in their wallets. Substantial amount of bills, coins, cards, memory notes, coupons, family pictures and more. This is why the old style is so popular, because the new style does not offer such things. The new ones can hold few cards, very small amount of bills and maybe a memory card or two if you stretch it.

My great grandfather died defending Crete. RIP Private Neindorf Also there were many Australians defending Malame airfield with the New Zealand forces.

My granddad was one of Laycock's British commandos who covered the retreat off the island. He, like 3/4 of his unit, was left behind and captured by the Germans. Great to see the battle I've heard so much about being brought to life this way - brilliant video.

I went to Crete as a kid and I had heard of the battle. I remember looking at the hilly, unvegetated, open terrain with gorgeous sea and landscape, and thinking how bloody the battle must of been. To think of the soldiers assaulting those open hills with bayonets and grenades under fire from machine guns, aircraft, and artillery. It must have been a terrible and awesome sight.

Germans : Taking heavy casualties in the operation to take Crete Italians : Just walking around until the worst end and they reach ierapetra

Respect Greece for brave defense from Turkey.

I’m a Greek American. My family came here after ww2. I am 27. Me and my sons will always stand in defense of Australia, New Zealand, and Britain for their aid in this war. Idc if it was strategic for the war itself, it means a lot that all the kiwis and Australians and British lost their lives defending the ancestral homeland of the Greek peoples

Ah, JU52. I remember having seen one fly around where I grew up way after WW2. The 3 engine and striped(?) metal hull are quite unique and noticeable. 10:15 When fighting against Paradrops, no tank is outdated or to weak. Paratroopers always travel light.

"If I had to take hell, I would use the Australians to take it and New Zealanders to hold it" - Erwin Rommel

Greetings from Crete , very good job !

That feeling when you are a paratrooper and your equipment lands in enemy machine guns lines of fire

The channels editing and overall production quality is just top notch, keep up the good work!!

Germany in 1940- 1941: Hitler flips a coin with both same sides: Its heads. Invade another country

Kings and Generals puting other youtube content creators to shame.

Love the ending background music.. it's enthralling..intense

My Grandfather arrived with the second wave (Gebirgsjäger) and was wounded by a british granade. He later volunteer out of the Lazarett to join the Wehrmacht Heeresgruppe Mitte for the attack on Moscow cause he wanted to be 'part of the Endsieg Parade'. He was later wounded again (lost his right thump) in the so called Winterbattle of 41/42 and made home to Austria with the Eisernes Kreuz first class. Never talked much about Russia but he had good memories about Kreta

Kings and Generals, another amazing video! I absolutely love all your content and the level of detail you add to your videos really helps to put you guys miles ahead of the competition! Keep up the amazing work!

My Papou’s brothers and sister were killed in this war. And he had to bury them in his backyard when he was about 3 or 4. One of his brothers was only 2 years old.

It seems to me that, given the fact that the Greeks had lead the most successful land defense in Europe against the Axis, maybe they should have been given a role in commanding the defense of Crete. These British Generals don't seem to be doing too well.

make a video for the Greek resistance 1941-1945

German losses 6k Allies loss 23k Remember, they are invading by the skyes! Public Opinion: "Major german defeat" Me: okay...

Love and respect Greece from Bangladesh

Godspeed to the men who perished in the battle. 🇩🇪 🇬🇧 🇦🇺 🇳🇿 🇬🇷 🇮🇹

I am a simple Guy: I see a Kings and Generals video, i click in the Like and watch immediately. Simple! Haha

My respect for the Wariors from the Southern Pacific, who voluntarily fight for the freedom of their neighbors in other parts of the world, even now. This is what is called participating to be "light of the world"

This channel deserves tens of millions of subscribers, the video quality is over the roof!

The Matilda Mk.II was in no way, shape, or form obsolescent at this point in the war.

Greetings from Crete !!! you are one of the best YouToube channel ever !!! you are welcome in Crete !!!

"We Australians are impossible to kill!" -Fredrick Bishop

Could you please do more videos covering more great battles of WW2? You all do a wonderful job of bringing them to life, it really helps us to visualize them more, so thank you!!!

Long live British, New Zeeland and Australian heroes! Such good people.

I would’ve used my Cretan archer special unit and kicked them out!

I really like the map art style, looks like from HOI4

🇦🇺 🇳🇿 actually defended 🇬🇷 like their own something that is very admirable and as always 🇬🇧 only thinking about how to escape

"The anzac troops stayed for a rearguard defence" Every single time lmao.

In Sfakia there is a memorial placed by the New Zealand Army after WW2 to the local men and boys who were executed (no...murdered) by the Germans for assisting New Zealand and British troops to escape. I first saw it as a young backpacker in 1976 after I slept in the old ruins nearby and again in 2019 with my son and stepson when we took a rental car from Chania. I wanted them to see it too and they were as saddened and moved by it as I was. It remains well tended by Sfakians.

One small mistake (evacuation of hill 107) can change the entire tide of war.

The crazy part is knowing there is still many more stories to be told, and will fascinate us for many more generations. Blessings to all of my Orthodox Brothers and Sisters!

Why didn't you mention that Freyberg ignored the intelligence that the main attack would come from the air and concentrated defense on the coast for a major naval invasion that never came loosing Malame airfield and the whole island in the process despite having tanks cannons and twice as many men

My historical doppelganger was from the battle of Crete, Maria Georgalakis!

The effectiveness of aircraft was very high in this battle because the Brits lacked carriers and the sea- and ground-based armament of that era was a joke in comparison to today's anti-aircraft missiles... It is crazy to see how weak ships were against air attacks.

My Grandfather travelled from NZ to serve on a Destroyer protecting Crete. I would've liked to hear his stories. Lest we forget.

aghast by loss of 6000 men, sends army into USSR to lose three million.

respect Greeks and British forces from Turkey

I enjoy your videos, just a correction to the flags, our flag (NZ) has 4 red stars, which differentiates us to our ANZAC brothers the Aussies. My Uncle served in the 28th Maori Battalion. I grew up in a greek neighbourhood in Wellington with many descendants from Crete, the bonds between our countries will always be strong.

As a German it´s always confusing watching :D one part of me is cheering for the Germans, but one part cheers for the right cause of the allies. By the way, my grand-grandfather fought at Crete as a paratrooper, but was wounded almost immediately by partisans and thankfully the war was over for him.

Another german invasion, another mass civilian massacre, they were like a medieval horde. Kudos K & G for knowing and including this, shows respect for those dead in Crete.

The island which you label "Kasos" at 8:27 is actually Karpathos.

It's unbelievable... how 40,000 allied troops... formed by so BRAVE MEN (NewZealanders... Australians... MAORI!...Greek veterans from Greek-Italian War)... "managed" to loose this battle, when they made so HUGE CASUALTIES to Nazi's "Fallsirmjagger" forces!!! After so many years of study, we understand that it was HUGE BRITISH HIGH COMMAND mistakes that lead this defeat. First, Chorchill took away ALL the (few, 2-3 squadrons) RAF fighters back to Egypt and left the entire island without a single plane to defend!!!... Second, although the many troops, they had lack of HEAVY ARSENAL (big guns, anti-aircraft units, tanks, etc)... Third, HORRIBLE preperations (from British HQ side), TERRIBLE communications, etc. ...From the moment the first "Fallsirmjagger" step on the door and fell off the plain, the allied troops had ANOTHER ALLY to fight aside them; the CRETAN CIVILIANS!!!... Cretans, where (and are) born to fight since their childwood!!! They can't remain calm and just "sitting and watching"... So, the very first moment the Germans started falling on the Cretan ground, the Cretans (men, WOMEN, even children - young teens!) start fighting the Germans with everything they could use (agriculture tools, knives, clubs, old shotguns, pistols, etc)... And it was quite succesful, because the STUPIDITY of the Germans' High Command, sending their paratroopers doing the battle jump WITHOUT WEAPONS (the Germans' weapons were in metallic cans, also falling with parachutes with the men). So, for FEW SECONDS when the Germans hitting the ground, they were UNARMED!!! And (many) times, these weapons cans were landing NEARBY CRETANS - so the Cretans were opening the metallic boxes and armed themselves with the German weapons!!! That's why, the German Paratroopers had SOOOOOO MANY (thousands!) of casualties during the first couple days of the battle. The Germans' objectives where to take the major AIRFIELDS in the island, so they would land more troop-carrying planes with extra ammo, weapons, more fresh troops, etc. The No#1 TOTAL MAJOR task, was to take control of the "MALEME" airfield. That... was a tiny stripe of asphalt, nearby a coastline, with a (medium hight) hill nearby. On that hill, was a NewZealand's battalion defending the airfield. The NewZilanders fought like BEASTS, like DEMONS and the Germans suffered so many casualties (for a couple days)... BUT, there was a (huge) problem. After the ENDLESS "Stuka" bombing, the communication lines were cutten. So, the British commander had NO IDEA what's going on (to the several places, where the fight was on). Especially for that hill nearby "Maleme" Airfield, had TOTALLY NO IDEA what was going on. So... he took a MAJOR FAILURE decision and ordered the NewZealand battalion to FLEE, to FULL BACK and regroup!!! For 3-4 hours... the entire hill (AND the airfield) had NO garrison! The NewZealanders had left... but also the Germans suffering so many casualties they were waiting... for THEIR LAST STAND, they thought "this is it, we'll be dead soon"!!!!! And by accident... a small group of German soldiers (night patrol) UNDERSTOOD that the hill and airfield are TOTALLY EMPTY and unguarded... so the Germans moved forward and took the airfield... reported it by radio to their HQ... and then, the German planes started landing on the airfield and bringing fresh troops and heavy weapons... ...and THAT'S HOW the battle lost!!!

Lions led by donkeys. Freiberg's and Andrew's incompetence are as legendary as the paratrooper landings.

Today marks the 80th anniversary since they started the operation . And Cretans started the counterattack . o7 to the fallen . Always at the utmost respect .

Freyburg: I'm about to ruin this whole defence

Yesss more kings and generals WW2!! You sir have made my Sunday, Thank you!!

Can you guys make a video about the siege of Leningrad?

This was such an awesome series. Very well done!

As a Greek I acknowledge Australian and New Zealand troops who fought with great respect to these troops, unlike the British who were GUTLESS!

I am a retired kiwi soldier who's great uncle fought at this battle. SAR MAJ Neilson 2NZEF. KIA Battle of Monte Casino

Sorry one small error: Julius Ringel commanded 5th Mountain Division in Crete, not 8th.

Love this channel. Shows historical content that mainstream history channel's ect refuse to cover.

Please make 🇬🇷Greco-Turkish🇹🇷 War (1919-1922)

28th Infantry Battalion, launches glorious Haka Warcry offensive. Major General Ringels Mountain Division, starts counter yodelling. Yodelling is very effective.

When anybody says that the germans could have never invaded britain in 1940. I often say, they should look to the battle of crete. The fact that lightly armoured and outnumbered german soldiers overran, well dug in and well prepared (with tanks) enemy forces, tells you that if hitler made large use of paratroopers in operation sealion against what was demoralised and ill prepared british forces, they would have defeated the British in 1940.

I would really like seeing more modern battles. Keep up the good work.

Ayyy, now they can pick up some Cretan Archers

This reminded me of my grandfather who fought in the battle of Crete and lost almost all of his hearing from the anti aircraft guns. He returned (God knows how) to his fiancee (my grandmother) in his small village in northern Greece after the battle, to find it occupied by the Bulgarian army. Until he died in his old age, old Pericles (that was his name), a farmer until the end, never spoke about it, only once did he let me know that he knew German (which he learned during the occupation). Here's to him and all those brave soldiers! Great video as always!

My great grandfather fought there and my grandma told me a little bit she said he got captured and the Germans seriously underfed them and while they were marching there were turnips on the side of the roads (I think she said turnips) which was the only thing they could eat and that once he came back the whole family was never allowed turnips.

You must watch the documentary called '' The 11th day'' , it's a perspective from the the Greeks that suffered from this invasion. All tho you have a great video here it seems only taking account from a British point of view.

Greece my friends has the best history in the planet

the quality of both animations and narration is just amazing!

Do you remember a battle of Greece when Great Britan wanted to set monarchy and pushed greece's militia?

Thank you to K&G for making this video. 🇬🇧❤️🇬🇷