Battle of Crete

battle_name=Battle of Crete

Outcome

Allied commanders were worried about the Germans using Crete as a "springboard" to further operations in the area, possibly a seaborne invasion of Egypt in support of the German/Italian forces operating from Libya. However, these fears were soon put to rest when Operation Barbarossa opened, and it was clear the German operation was defensive in nature.

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Losses among the German paratroops meant that the fallschirmjäger were never again used as airborne troops, which eliminated this weapon from use in Russia. Given the poor communications and airbase defences in Russia at the time, this can be considered a very serious setback, as it is likely paratrooper operations would have been highly effective.

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Ironically, the use of paratroopers in force impressed the Allies. The true high German casualty rate was hidden from Allied planners, who scrambled to create their own large airborne divisions after this battle.

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A vigorous resistance campaign was instituted almost immediately after the fall of the island and remained active until 1945. This campaign necessitated a garrison of some 50,000 personnel at its peak — troops who could have been used to great effect in other theatres.

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