The Battle of Retimo

Facing the German Paratroops

The Retimo airfield, viewed from Campbell’s HQ on Hill D.

After the evacuation of Greece, New Zealand, British and Australian troops prepared to defend the airfields of Crete. The Australians concentrated on the central area of the island, with the 2/1st and 2/11th Battalions responsible for the defence of the airfield at Retimo. When German paratroopers began to fall from the sky on the 20th May 1941, it signaled the beginning of several days of hard, bitter fighting as the Allied forces attempted to deprive Germany of yet another conquest.

Follow this link to view to the History Guild page on the battle and to view relevant maps and photos.
https://historyguild.org/



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Three unidentified diggers having a break before the invasion commenced.

One of the tanks which was supposed to be supporting the 2/11th attack at Perivolia, disabled in a ditch.

The Church of St George at Perivolia