Fallschirmjäger turn a captured Bofors 40mm gun against its former users on Crete in May 1941

The Battle of Crete, codenamed “Unternehmen Merkur“ or Operatrion Mercury by the invading forces, was a major Axis airborne and amphibious operation during World War II to capture the island of Crete. It began on the morning of May 20th 1941 with multiple German airborne landings, while Greek and other Allied forces along with Cretan civilians defended the island. After only one day of fighting, the Germans had suffered heavy casualties and the Allied troops were confident that they would defeat the invasion. The next day, through communication failures, Allied tactical hesitation, and German offensive operations, Maleme Airfield in western Crete fell, enabling the Germans to land reinforcements and overwhelm the defensive positions on the north of the island. Allied forces withdrew to the south coast. More than half were evacuated by the British Royal Navy and the remainder surrendered or joined the Cretan resistance. The defense of Crete evolved into a costly naval engagement for the Britis