The first large scale airborne operation in history, as thousands of German paratroopers descended on British and Greek defenders. The attack was successful, but German casualties were so heavy that Hitler forbade any further use of airborne troops in their intended role. Apart from a few small commando operations, they would henceforth only be used as standard infantry. LINK

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Posted by FightinTigersDammit

Louisiana North

Member since Mar 2006

34699 posts

Posted on 5/20/19 at 11:35 am to Jim Rockford

German airborne troops were shot to hell even before they landed.

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Posted by terd ferguson

Darren Wilson Fan Club President

Member since Aug 2007

108753 posts

Posted on 5/20/19 at 11:48 am to Jim Rockford

We used to pull into Crete during deployments. The rec building on base had a few large photos on the walls showing the invasion. I remember one photo being completely filled with German paratroopers falling from the sky. You could also see craters on the sides of mountains from the bombing.

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Posted by Walking the Earth

Member since Feb 2013

17260 posts

Posted on 5/20/19 at 11:55 am to Jim Rockford

quote:
German casualties were so heavy that Hitler forbade any further use of airborne troops in their intended role.

Screw with the minotaur, you get the horns.

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Posted by MrLSU

Yellowstone, Val d'isere

Member since Jan 2004

25994 posts

Posted on 5/20/19 at 11:57 am to Walking the Earth

Concrete results!

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Posted by Darth_Vader

A galaxy far, far away

Member since Dec 2011

64611 posts

Posted on 5/20/19 at 11:59 am to Jim Rockford

quote:
The first large scale airborne operation in history

Unless you count the invasion of Holland one year earlier.

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Posted by Shepherd88

Member since Dec 2013

4590 posts

Posted on 5/20/19 at 12:12 pm to Jim Rockford

I highly recommend the book “Natural Born Heroes” if you want to read an in depth synapses of how the Cretan warriors were able to defend against the nazi’s so well. It goes into their diet and lifestyle. The story is mostly about the capture of a German general and hiking him across the mountains. Just finished reading it.

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