Greece and Crete

In March 1941 New Zealand defended Greece as part of the 'N' force. In hindsight it was a hopeless military task, one which the New Zealanders and Australians had been reluctant to undertake. New Zealand was forced to withdraw and evacuate forces with heavy casualties. Of the 16,720 New Zealanders who served in Greece, 291 were killed, 599 wounded and 1614 taken prisoner.

A photograph belonging to Desmond Hawkins of a grass hut is on display in the Auckland War Memorial Museum exhibition 'Greece and Crete' of ' Scars on the Heart'.



The Battle for Crete

The New Zealand Division landed on Crete with what they stood up in. New Zealand was 7700 of the 35,000 strong British, Australian and Greece force commanded by Major-General Freyberg. New Zealand had the task of defending Maleme airfield at all costs-although they failed. Despite defeating every German attack, a New Zealand battalion commander lost his nerve and abandoned the airfield, allowing German gliders to land. The battle for Crete was lost. Crete cost a total of 3818 New Zealand casualties, including 671 dead.



After Crete was captured by the Germans, the Cretan people showed great courage, risking their lives to feed and shelter our men and to help them escape. Nearly 300 New Zealand stragglers made it to Egypt. A strong bond still exists today AWMM