Military Model Scene

Title: Crete The Battle for Heraklion 1941
Author: Yannis Prekatsounakis
Publisher: Helion & Company
ISBN: 978-1-91336-01-1

It is 80 years since the German airborne assault on Crete, an invasion that had a significant influence on the conduct of military airborne operations. A 294-page soft-cover book which focuses on the events around Heraklion, the town and adjacent airfield. The author is a Greek Naval officer who was born in Heraklion and who has a strong personal interest in the military history of his home town.
The book tells the story in a simple chronological sequence across 8 chapters. The chapters deal with Destination Crete; The Invasion Begins'; The Drops on Gournes & and the Battle at Kopas Hill; The Battle at the Airfield & Blucher; The Attack on the Town; The Battle Continues; The Final Attack & the Evacuation; and finally, After the Battle. It is all highly illustrated, with maps to illustrate specific actions and 400 photos which include plenty of portraits of individual involved in the story, along with archive shots of the fighting and plenty of modern day 'then & now' comparisons. The individual stories include German, British and Greek participants who recall the events. There are even more personal stories such as the 3 brothers from the Graf von Blucher family, all of whom were killed in the landings. The stories of the Ju 52 transports being hit and crashing in flames, along with the troops they carried, some of whom got out of the aircraft but with parachutes on fire they fell to their deaths. It proved to be a tough fight for all those involved, but the eventual result was a German victory, though at a significant cost. When the battle was over, the casualties had to be dealt with, wounded were recovered and treated, while the dead were buried, and as far as possible, identified.
This is a fascinating account of just one part of the German airborne assault on Crete in 1941. It is very detailed, highly illustrated and very personal both for the author and those whose individual stories are described. The level of casualties caused the Luftwaffe not to try such another major airborne assault, whereas the British & American armies both chose to form their own airborne units, which went on to carry out their own major operations. Fascinating reading I thought.
Thanks to Helion & Co and their distributor, Casemate UK for our review copy.

Robin