Operation Mercury, the German airborne assault on the island of Crete in May 1941, 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 Fuhrer that he never again authorised a major airborne operation.
- ISBN10 6611952381
- ISBN13 9786611952389
- Publish Date 25 February 2005
- Publish Status Active
- Out of Print 28 June 2011
- Publish Country US
- Imprint Osprey Publishing (UK)
- Format eBook
- Language English