Crete 1941: Germany’s lightning airborne assault (Campaign) - Softcover

Antill, Peter

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1841768448 ISBN 13: 9781841768441

Publisher: Osprey Publishing, 2005

Synopsis

Osprey's study of Operation Mercury, the German airborne assault on the island of Crete in May 1941 during World War II (1939-1945), which was the first strategic use of airborne forces in history. The assault began on 20 May, with landings near the island's key airports, and reinforcements the next day allowed the German forces to capture one end of the runway at Maleme. By 24 May, the Germans were being reinforced by air on a huge scale and on 1 June Crete surrendered. This book describes how desperately close the battle had been and explains how German losses so shocked the Führer that he never again authorised a major airborne operation.

About this title

From the Publisher:

Highly visual guides to history's greatest conflicts, detailing the command strategies, tactics, and experiences of the opposing forces throughout each campaign, and concluding with a guide to the battlefields today.

About the Author:

Peter D. Antill has a background in international politics and defence studies, with a BA in International Relations from Staffordshire University and an MSc in Strategic Studies from the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth. Having worked as a Research Assistant in the Department of Defence Management and Security Analysis at Cranfield from 1998 to 2002, Peter is now pursuing a career as a writer.

About this edition

• Publisher: Osprey Publishing
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 1841768448
• ISBN 13: 9781841768441
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 96
• Illustrator: Gerrard Howard