Story: Second World War

Map of Crete

This relief map shows the very mountainous character of Crete. When the Germans launched their paratroop attack on 20 May 1941, New Zealand troops were concentrated on the flatter land in the north-west part of the island. They were close to the coast, between Canea and Maleme airfield, about 12 kilometres further westward. Once Maleme had been lost, the New Zealand forces were forced to retreat. They eventually had to climb over the Levka mountains to Sphakia, where during the nights of 28–31 May many but not all of them were evacuated.

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National Library of New Zealand, Papers Past
Reference: Evening Post, 22 May 1941, p. 9

Permission of the National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Ian McGibbon, 'Second World War - Greece and Crete, 1941', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/zoomify/34562/map-of-crete (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Ian McGibbon, published 20 Jun 2012, updated 1 May 2016