World War II Battle of Crete

The Battle of Crete was fought from May 20 to June 1, 1941, during World War II (1939 to 1945).  It saw the Germans make large-scale use of paratroopers during the invasion.  Though a victory, the Battle of Crete saw these forces sustain such high losses that they were not used again by the Germans. Fast Facts: Battle of Crete Dates: May 20 to June 1, 1941, during World War II (1939-1945).  Ã‚  Allies Army and CommandersMajor General Bernard FreybergAdmiral Sir Andrew CunninghamApprox. 40,000 menAxis Army and CommandersMajor General Kurt StudentApprox. 31,700 men Background Having swept through Greece in April 1940, German forces began preparing for the invasion of Crete. This operation was championed by the Luftwaffe as the Wehrmacht sought to avoid further engagements prior to commencing the invasion of the Soviet Union (Operation Barbarossa) in June. Pushing forward a plan calling for the mass use of airborne forces, the Luftwaffe gained support from a wary Adolf Hitler. Planning for the invasion was permitted to move forward with the restrictions that it does not interfere with Barbarossa and that it utilizes forces already in the region. Planning Operation Mercury Dubbed Operation Mercury, the invasion plan called for Major General Kurt Students XI Fliegerkorps to land paratroopers and glider troops at key points along Cretes northern shore, to be followed by the 5th Mountain Division which would be airlifted into captured airfields. Students attack force planned to land the bulk of its men near Maleme in the west, with smaller formations dropping near Rethymnon and Heraklion to the east. The focus on Maleme was the result of its large airfield and that the attack force could be covered by Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters flying from the mainland. Defending Crete As the Germans moved forward with invasion preparations, Major General Bernard Freyberg, VC worked to improve Cretes defenses. A New Zealander, Freyberg possessed a force consisting of around 40,000 British Commonwealth and Greek soldiers. Though a large force, approximately 10,000 lacked weapons, and heavy equipment were scarce. In May, Freyberg was informed via Ultra radio intercepts that the Germans were planning an airborne invasion. Though he shifted many of his troops to guard the northern airfields, intelligence also suggested that there would be a seaborne element. As a result, Freyberg was forced to deploy troops along the coast that could have been used elsewhere. In preparation for the invasion, the Luftwaffe began a concerted campaign to drive the Royal Air Force from Crete and establish air superiority over the battlefield. These efforts proved successful as British aircraft were withdrawn to Egypt. Though German intelligence wrongly estimated the islands defenders to only number around 5,000, the theater commander Colonel General Alexander Là ¶hr elected to retain the 6th Mountain Division at Athens as a reserve force. Opening Attacks On the morning of May 20, 1941, Students aircraft began arriving over their drop zones. Departing their aircraft, the German paratroopers met fierce resistance upon landing. Their situation was worsened by German airborne doctrine, which called for their personal weapons to be dropped in a separate container. Armed with only pistols and knives, many German paratroopers were cut down as they moved to recover their rifles. Beginning around 8:00 AM, New Zealand forces defending Maleme airfield inflicted staggering losses on the Germans. Those Germans arriving by glider fared little better as they immediately came under attack as they left their aircraft. While attacks against Maleme airfield were repulsed, the Germans succeeded in forming defensive positions to the west and east towards Chania. As the day progressed, German forces landed near Rethymnon and Heraklion. As in the west, losses during the opening engagements were high. Rallying, German forces near Heraklion managed to penetrate the city but were driven back by Greek troops. Near Maleme, German troops gathered and began attacks against Hill 107, which dominated the airfield. An Error at Maleme Though the New Zealanders were able to hold the hill through the day, an error led to their being withdrawn during the night. As a result, the Germans occupied the hill and swiftly gained control of the airfield. This permitted the arrival of elements of the 5th Mountain Division though Allied forces heavily shelled the airfield, causing significant losses in aircraft and men. As fighting continued ashore on May 21, the Royal Navy successfully dispersed a reinforcement convoy that night. Quickly understanding the full importance of Maleme, Freyberg ordered attacks against Hill 107 that night. A Long Retreat These were unable to dislodge the Germans and the Allies fell back. With the situation desperate, King George II of Greece was moved across the island and evacuated to Egypt. On the waves, Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham worked tirelessly to prevent enemy reinforcements from arriving by sea, though he took increasingly heavy losses from German aircraft. Despite these efforts, the Germans steadily moved men to the island through the air. As a result, Freybergs forces began a slow fighting retreat towards the southern coast of Crete. Though aided by the arrival of a commando force under Colonel Robert Laycock, the Allies were unable to turn the tide of the battle. Recognizing the battle as lost, the leadership in London instructed Freyberg to evacuate the island on May 27. Ordering troops towards the southern ports, he directed other units to hold open key roads south and prevent the Germans from interfering. In one notable stand, the 8th Greek Regiment held back the Germans at Alikianos for a week, allowing Allied forces to move to the port of Sphakia. The 28th (Maori) Battalion also performed heroically in covering the withdraw. Determined that the Royal Navy would rescue the men on Crete, Cunningham pushed forward despite concerns that he might sustain heavy losses. In response to this criticism, he famously responded, It takes three years to build a ship, it takes three centuries to build a tradition. During the course of the evacuation, around 16,000 men were rescued from Crete, with the bulk embarking at Sphakia. Under increasing pressure, the 5,000 men protecting the port were forced to surrender on June 1. Of those left behind, many took to the hills to fight as guerillas. Aftermath In the fighting for Crete, the Allies suffered around 4,000 killed, 1,900 wounded, and 17,000 captured. The campaign also cost the Royal Navy 9 ships sunk and 18 damaged. German losses totaled 4,041 dead/missing, 2,640 wounded, 17 captured, and 370 aircraft destroyed. Stunned by the high losses sustained by Students troops, Hitler resolved never to conduct a major airborne operation again. Conversely, many Allied leaders were impressed by the airbornes performance and moved to create similar formations within their own armies. In studying the German experience in Crete, American airborne planners, such as Colonel James Gavin,  recognized the need for troops to jump with their own heavy weapons. This doctrinal change ultimately aided American airborne units once they reached Europe.

Literary Analysis Our Town By Thornton Wilder - 1274 Words

Our Town: Literary Analysis Essay Storytelling is a tradition that has been part of the human race for millennia. Throughout the years, humans have told the next generation stories about what their predecessors had done before them, whether it be big events like international wars, or little events like one’s family history. The act of retelling history is often categorized as something done in order for those in the younger generations to learn from their ancestors’ mistakes. However, the author of the play Our Town, Thornton Wilder, challenges this notion. Wilder’s play is a flashback to the small town of Grover’s Corners in 1901. It tells the story of the residents in Grover’s Corners, an average small town, and narrates†¦show more content†¦This is significant, because it is in this part that Wilder begins to first retell history. The fact that Wilder chooses the history of the average suburban town of Grover’s Corners to retell is also important, because it shows Wilder deemed the history of the people in a typical town like Grover’s Corners worthy of retelling, even though nothing that usually is described as eventful happens there. In Act II, titled â€Å"Love and Marriage,† the characters Emily Gibbs and George Webb are getting married. Before the wedding, the Stage Manager pauses the play to flashback to where it all began, by saying, â€Å"I have to interrupt again here. You see, we want to know how all this began†¦ Im awfully interested in how big things like that begin (Wilder 62). In this part of the play, Wilder shows how it is important to look to the past to fully appreciate the present, and uses the Stage Manager as a vehicle for his opinion. The wedding scene would have meant less if the reader did not know that George did not go to college in order to stay with Emily, proving that context from the past makes the present experience richer than without. Furthermore, Act II is where the Stage Manager explains that the people of the Grover’s Corners of 1938 were making a time capsule, one of the physical examples of retelling history. The Stage Manager says, â€Å"Im going to have a copy of this play put in theShow MoreRelatedAn Analysis of Our Town3631 Words   |  15 Pagescount An analysis of the representation of the daily life in Our Town * Table of Contents 1 Introduction 3 2 Biographical Background 4 3 Our Town 5 3.1 General 5 3.2 Theme 5 3.3 Publication 5 4 Analysis 6 4.1 Act 1 6 4.2 Act 2 7 4.3 Act 3 8 5 Conclusion 10 6 Bibliography 12 6.1 Primary Literature 12 6.2 Secondary Literature 12 6.3 Webliography 12 Introduction Needless to say, Our Town is one of the most popular plays by Thornton Wilder andRead MoreHow Dialogue And The Stage Affects An Audience s Perception1269 Words   |  6 Pagescome to have a greater appreciation of the form, having now experienced the process myself. Plays often have multiple subplots and sub-themes that can be difficult for an undiscerning eye to pick out, but I feel that I have honed my dramaturgical analysis. I really enjoyed this semester, and I have definitely improved as a playwright. I broadened my abilities as both a reader and a writer. My dialogue has developed further, becoming more varied and rich. I have also learned how to harness my creativityRead MoreAnalysis: Dogville30953 Words   |  124 Pageslà ¦ser rapporten. Abstract In this report an analysis of the film Dogville, 2003, directed by Lars von Trier, is carried out. At its premiere and in the debate, the film instigated, it was characterised as anti-American, moral, religious and so on. The starting point, from which the project has been produced, is the thesis that Dogville is a film that has a very complex form, which makes it hard to attribute certain attitudes to it. In the analysis, this thesis is investigated, and in the discussion

Interview Between Simon Bolivar and Jose de Sam Martin free essay sample

(Interview between Simon Bolivar, Jose de San Martin and journalist, , date unknown) Question to Simon Bolivar: Sir, can you tell me a little bit about yourself? Response: I was born in Venezuela to great wealth in 1783. I married early in life but my wife passed away after a short time and I had many many lovers. I have often been called competitive, arrogant, and hyperactive. I am a Creole. Same question to Jose De San Martin Response: I was born in Argentina in 1778 to a very modest family. I am a simple modest man and had one wife whom I loved dearly but did take one lover towards the end of my last campaign. Question to Bolivar: Once you were victorious in your wars, what did you hope to gain besides the independence of the people? Response: I very much wanted to be the governor or ruler of that country but unfortunately, there were many wars to be fought and I had to be continually on the move. We will write a custom essay sample on Interview Between Simon Bolivar and Jose de Sam Martin or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Same question to San Martin: Response: I wanted nothing. I was offered honors, awards including rank, positions, land and money but I wanted nothing except for the independence of the people. Question to Bolivar: It is my understanding that you met with San Martin to discuss the future of Latin America.Where did this meeting take place and did you feel you were more competent than San Martin to lead any forces and did you like the man? Response: Yes to the forces and no to liking the man. We met in Guayaquil, Ecuador on July 26, 1822 Same question to San Martin: Response: I had no agenda at the meeting other than to discuss South America and no, I was not looking forward to meeting Bolivar as I had many negative feelings towards him. We wanted different things so I turned my troops over to him. Question to San Martin: It is my understanding you left this meeting quickly and disappointed. What transpired?Response: I resigned my posts after the meeting and returned to Peru. I believed that these countries were not ready for democracy but rather for the time being, a constitutional monarchy would work better. Bolivar and I disagree on many facets of this conversation. Same question to Bolivar: I took charge of St. Martin’s troops and firmly believed that a democracy was the way to go. Question to Bolivar: What countries are you given credit for liberating? Response: Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia. Same question to San Martin: Response: Argentina, Chili and jointly with Bolivar, Peru End of interview~ (Facts surrounding death of Simon Bolivar and Jose De San Martin) Simon Bolivar finally resigned his presidency on April 27, 1830, intending to leave the country for exile Europe, possibly in France but he died before setting sail. On December 17, 1830, at the age of forty-seven, Bolivar died after a painful battle with tuberculosis in the Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrin in Santa Marta Gran Colombia (now Colombia). 12 years later, at the request of President Jose Antonio Paez, his remains were moved to Caracas where a monument was set up for his interment.Jose De San Martin died on 17 August 1850 in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France. In 1880 his remains were taken from Brunoy to Buenos Aires and reinterred in the Buenos Aires Cathedral. The mausoleum also has the remains of Generals Juan Gregorio de las Heras and Tomas Guido. (Journalist’s notes) Simon Bolivar had a military back ground. He had a very strong bias towards independence for Spanish Americans and was in favor of a representative government. With his military skills and his desire for change, he mobilized support for his cause. He won military victories against many entrenched bureaucratic regimes.He had many detractors because of his leadership policies. Notoriety was important to him. Jose De San Martin was also of a military background but of a much more modest means. He also had a strong push towards independence but was in favor of a constitutional monarchy rather than a democratic government for the liberated counties. He was beloved by his people and thought of as a kind generous man. Recognition was unimportant to San Martin. Simon Bolivar, on one hand, tried to unify countries but was ultimately unsuccessful but San Martin was only interested in helping to create republican nations.