84th Commemoration – Battle of Crete

Today, Saturday May 24th, at the Melbourne Shrine of Remembrance, several organisations, government bodies and distinguished members of the Australian and Greek communities took part in the Wreath lay ceremony at 11.30am.

As the sun placed its bright rays across the flags, as the sky shone the blue horizon, as the beautiful Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne stood proud in the beautiful Botanic Gardens, we remembered our heroes.

We remembered those ANZAC soldiers from Australia, New Zealand and Greece who fought the German Nazi army during WWII. Those Australians and New Zealanders who left their home country to fight for what they believed in, freedom and justice. In particular, we would like to pay attention to those who never came back and in total for the ally contingent there were more than 15 thousand, Australians, New Zelanders, Greeks and British, as well as the untrained and ill equipped Cretan civilians. Today we remembered them all.

Mr Iakovos Garivaldis, Vice-President of Thessaloniki Association took part in the laying of the wreaths on behalf of members and the executive. We are proud of these people who did not hesitate to risk their lives for what we are today.

Also, school children from Oakleigh and Alphington Grammar schools, were present with Greek and Australian flags, distributing wreaths to VIPs and learning life lessons about the fact that freedom and justice are not a given.

Immediately followed by wreath laying at another special ceremony at the Hellenic Memorial, close to the Shrine and in the same gardens.

A BRIEF HISTORY of the Battle of Crete

The Battle of Crete, fought from May 20 to June 1, 1941, stands as a pivotal moment in World War II, marked by both strategic significance and extraordinary acts of heroism.  

Significance:

• First Major Airborne Invasion: It was the first time in military history that an entire invasion was attempted primarily by airborne troops (German Fallschirmjäger). While ultimately successful for the Germans, the staggering casualties they sustained (dubbed “the graveyard of the Fallschirmjäger” by their own commander, Kurt Student) led Hitler to abandon large-scale airborne operations for the rest of the war. This had long-term strategic implications, potentially saving countless Allied lives in future campaigns.  
• Delay to Barbarossa: The fierce and prolonged resistance on Crete, though a German victory, imposed a critical delay on Operation Barbarossa, the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union. This precious time allowed the Soviets to better prepare and, crucially, meant the German invasion began later in the year, pushing them into the brutal Russian winter for which they were unprepared. Many historians argue this delay was a contributing factor to Germany’s eventual defeat on the Eastern Front.
• Allied Intelligence and Resistance: The battle was one of the first times the Allies made significant use of intelligence from decrypted Enigma messages. It also showcased the fierce and spontaneous resistance of the local Cretan population, including women and children, who fought alongside Allied troops with improvised weapons, marking the first time the Germans faced such widespread civilian opposition. This civilian resistance would continue throughout the occupation, tying down significant German forces.  

Heroism:

• Diverse Allied Defenders: The defense of Crete was a testament to courage from a diverse force of British, Australian, New Zealand, and Greek troops, many of whom were exhausted and poorly equipped after the recent Greek mainland campaign. Despite being outgunned and lacking air superiority, they fought with incredible ferocity.  
• Cretan Civilian Resistance: The spontaneous and fierce involvement of Cretan civilians, armed with whatever they could find – from old rifles to farm tools – was unprecedented and truly heroic. Their willingness to confront the highly trained German paratroopers demonstrated immense bravery and a deep-seated commitment to their homeland.  
• Evacuation Under Fire: The Royal Navy’s perilous evacuation of thousands of Allied soldiers from the island’s southern coast, under relentless Luftwaffe attack, was another display of extraordinary courage and sacrifice, suffering significant losses but saving many lives.  
• Enduring Spirit: Despite the eventual German conquest, the spirit of resistance forged on Crete inspired future Allied airborne operations and left an indelible mark on the island, with many Allied soldiers who evaded capture being sheltered and aided by the courageous Cretan people at great personal risk.  

The Battle of Crete, though a tactical German victory, represented a profound moral defeat for the Axis and a testament to the indomitable human spirit in the face of overwhelming odds