Editing Battle of Crete (section)

===20 May===
====Maleme–Chania sector====
{{Main|Battle of Maleme}}
[[File:German prisoners under British guard.jpg|thumb|Captured German paratroopers under British guard]]
At 08:00 on 20 May 1941, German paratroopers, jumping out of dozens of [[Junkers Ju 52]] aircraft, landed near Maleme Airfield and the town of [[Chania]]. The [[21st Battalion (New Zealand)|21st]], [[22nd Battalion (New Zealand)|22nd]] and [[23rd Battalion (New Zealand)|23rd New Zealand battalions]] held Maleme Airfield and the vicinity. The Germans suffered many casualties in the first hours of the invasion: a company of III Battalion, 1st Assault Regiment lost 112 killed out of 126 men, and 400 of 600 men in III Battalion were killed on the first day.<ref name="Keegan 2011 135">{{harvnb|Keegan|2011|p= 135}}</ref> Most of the parachutists were engaged by New Zealanders defending the airfield and by Greek forces near Chania. Many gliders following the paratroops were hit by [[Mortar (weapon)|mortar]] fire seconds after landing, and the New Zealand and Greek defenders almost annihilated the glider troops who landed safely.<ref name="Keegan 2011 135"/>

Some paratroopers and gliders missed their objectives near both airfields and set up defensive positions to the west of Maleme Airfield and in "Prison Valley" near Chania. Both forces were contained and failed to take the airfields, but the defenders had to deploy to face them.<ref>{{harvnb|Keegan|2011|pp= 135–138}}</ref> Towards the evening of 20 May, the Germans slowly pushed the New Zealanders back from Hill 107, which overlooked the airfield. Greek police and cadets took part, with the 1st Greek Regiment (Provisional) combining with armed civilians to rout a detachment of German paratroopers dropped at [[Kissamos|Kastelli]]. The 8th Greek Regiment and elements of the Cretan forces severely hampered movement by the 95th Reconnaissance Battalion on [[Kolimbari]] and [[Paleochora]], where Allied reinforcements from North Africa could be landed.

====Rethymno–Heraklion sector====
{{Main|Battle of Rethymno|Battle of Heraklion}}
[[File:Paratroopers Crete '41.JPG|thumb|More German paratroops landing on Crete from [[Junkers Ju 52]] transports, 20 May 1941.]]
A second wave of German transports supported by Luftwaffe and [[Regia Aeronautica]] attack aircraft, arrived in the afternoon, dropping more paratroopers and gliders containing assault troops.<ref>Germany and the Second World War, Volume 3, Militärgeschichtliches Forschungsamt, p. 546, Oxford University Press, 1995</ref> One group attacked at Rethymno at 16:15 and another attacked at Heraklion at 17:30, where the defenders were waiting for them and inflicted many casualties.

The Rethymno–Heraklion sector was defended by the British 14th Brigade, as well as the [[2/4th Australian Infantry Battalion]] and the Greek 3rd, 7th and "Garrison" (ex-5th Crete Division) battalions. The Greeks lacked equipment and supplies, particularly the Garrison Battalion. The Germans pierced the defensive cordon around Heraklion on the first day, seizing the Greek barracks on the west edge of the town and capturing the docks; the Greeks counter-attacked and recaptured both points. The Germans dropped leaflets threatening dire consequences if the Allies did not surrender immediately. The next day, Heraklion was heavily bombed and the depleted Greek units were relieved and assumed a defensive position on the road to [[Knossos]].{{Citation needed|date=February 2007}}<!--I think I once read that the British &/or New Zealanders were involved in defending & retaking the port; this needs to be checked-->

[[File:Port view of a damaged German Junkers Ju52 troop transport aircraft Heraklion, Crete 1941 3785471.jpg|right|thumb|Junkers Ju 52 transport aircraft downed by anti-aircraft fire near Heraklion.]]
As night fell, none of the German objectives had been secured. Of 493 German transport aircraft used during the airdrop, seven were lost to anti-aircraft fire. The bold plan to attack in four places to maximise surprise, rather than concentrating on one, seemed to have failed, although the reasons were unknown to the Germans at the time.

Among the paratroopers who landed on the first day was former world heavyweight champion [[boxing|boxer]] [[Max Schmeling]], who held the rank of ''[[Gefreiter]]'' at the time. Schmeling survived the battle and the war.