Thursday, January 19, 2006

The attack on Crete proceeds

Aside from a psychological effect, the paratroopers mostly were ineffective, except where they dropped into an area where they were unopposed. The glider-borne troops were decimated. The two points where they posed a real threat were the Assault Regiment landing in the dry river bed of the Tavronitis and where the 7th Air Division had dropped in the southwest of Canea, in the Prison Valley. The New Zealand Division took the main assault. From 6am on 20 May, the attacks proceeded. Many of the paratroopers dropped into a bad situation and were immediately pinned down, reminiscent of Normandie, three years later. This is based on the account in Vol.II of the Official History.

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