Germany's Worst Airborne Disaster: The Battle of Crete | Animated History

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Sources:
Antill, Peter. Crete 1941: Germany’s lightning airborne assault. New York: Osprey Publishing, 2012.
Kavanaugh, Stephen. Hitler's Malta Option: A Comparison Of The Invasion Of Crete (Operation Merkur) And The Proposed Invasion Of Malta (Operation Hercules). Nimble Books, 2014.
Long, Gavin. Greece, Crete and Syria. Australian War Memorial, 1953.
MacDonald, C. A. The Lost Battle: Crete 1941. Papermac, 1995.
Shores, Christopher, and Brian Cull. Air War for Yugoslavia Greece and Crete 1940-41. Grub Street Publishing, 2008.
"The Battle for Crete." New Zealand History. Accessed July 7, 2020. nzhistory.govt.nz/war/the-bat....
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The Great War by Jon Bjork
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[@TheArmchairHistorian]

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[@theredgoof1939]

Epic.

[@bom3757]

@@theredgoof1939 Epic

[@unitedkingdomball6292]

Can you do a naval battle next?

[@merpatigrafikahp4916]

Yay notif squad here

[@theredgoof1939]

Bom Very Epic indeed.

[@gen_henry9836]

Everybody gangsta until the Greek civilians pull out flintlock muskets

[@themajor2190]

Untill they pull out a 2 meter long spear

[@shepherdlavellen3301]

just imagine being one of the best from the army only to be stabbed while hanging on a tree

[@sovietspy_9127]

Lol

[@jackbartholomaus6510]

LOL😂🤣 Did anyone notice that poor German Paratrooper who's parachute got caught by a Spitfire, all while crying out the Wilhelm scream?

[@30cal23]

that would suck imagine you are one of the most elite and highly trained units in the Luftwaffe and you get shanked by a kid with a pointy stick

[@HistoryHustle]

I'm gonna be honest here: another cinematic masterpiece. I'm amazed by how much further the quality of this content has been going up. Cheers!

[@TheArmchairHistorian]

You're very kind man - always leaving nice comments.

[@merpatigrafikahp4916]

It's you right here!?!? I am a sub

[@michaelfatball2003]

:)

[@ritaDas-xl4kz]

True

[@OliverIsanzi]

And another video in 21:9 frame ratio, IIRC.

[@za.monolit]

imagine training for months as an elite german paratrooper just to get stuck on a tree and stabbed by an angry cretan farmer with a pitchfork

[@roadmaster96.]

pitch fork .. really even then Crete was the Texas of Greece

[@dhrvb]

Same you can ask yourselves by operation Market Garden but there it ended in a defeat for the allies.

[@fliegendeluftwaffeli835]

"Years of Academy training wasted!"

[@schmeatgaming853]

@@roadmaster96. imagine if he got killed by a wrench *MANIACAL TEXAN MAINTENANCE MAN LAUGHTER*

[@nowar458]

Yes!

[@kyriazaiasgr4939]

Even today the Cretans kill themselves for half a square meter of land. Imagine them seeing that some random dudes landed at their property.

[@KreissonGR]

I'm from Crete and is so true!

[@Max77Prime]

Nice go fight turks

[@pop-n-rock]

lol you are right we are territorial creatures:)

[@ImZyker]

lmao accurate af

[@babisyou]

or a woman for dumping them...

[@sussywussyimposter6991]

My great grandfather fought at Crete. He served for the New Zealand army. He has told me that he remembered, while happy that they had the tactical advantage over the Germans, he felt really bad for the defense less paratrooping Germans that his battalions were just mowing down. He also told me that the Greeks were very brave people for helping them defend the against the Germans with minimal supply. He was eventually evacuated to Egypt when the island fell. I remember him telling me “Though the soldiers were fighting for awful people and a despicable cause, they are still just men, normal men, that all had a long life ahead of them, cut short by this pointless war”

[@Krusesensei]

Salute to these soldiers and resistance fighters. But... to fight as a unmarked civilian in a war is against the Hague Conventions.

[@sussywussyimposter6991]

Robert Kruse sorry the Greeks didn’t directly aid in attacking the Germans. What I meant is that the brave people of Crete supplier the allied resistance with things like rations and supplies

[@manatarms7652]

Did he fight in operation Crusader

[@sussywussyimposter6991]

Man At Arms He did. He fought fiercely in the 2nd New Zealand Expiditionary Force

[@sussywussyimposter6991]

Frank Sisson honestly I don’t know.

[@BringBacktheGreeks]

When I was visiting Greece, a college mate showed me his "family trophies" two Mauser rifles, one MP40 (very well maintained I must say), knives with the swastika, nazi helmets, and other personal military items, then took me to the basement of his family's farmhouse. in a old closet, there were a pitchfork and and an ax with dark stains on them, I was told it was nazi blood, from those paratroopers killed as they landed, and by wish of the grandfather nobody was to clean them or use them , unless the turks come. i still remember the chill down my spine !

[@jrickducking6685]

Brake glass In case of turks

[@BringBacktheGreeks]

@@jrickducking6685 hahaha, that's a good one. As far as I saw and told, most family houses in Crete have their own modern gun collection. I got the impression that in Crete and the area around Sparta, are the equivalent of Texas as far as gun ownership and military feelings go.

[@thanasismantzaris5221]

@@hackilic8306 who violates your borders?

[@BringBacktheGreeks]

@@hackilic8306 i think you should read some Real news, and not only the Erdogan Daily Propaganda.

[@BringBacktheGreeks]

@@hackilic8306 international Relations students can write much better english than you Haci. I am not going to discuss the Obvious with a Troll. People outside turkey can check the news and see for themselves what a dictator Erdogan is, that sells pipes dreams to his islamist followers about resurrection of ottoman empire , while he is enriching his family and picking fight with all his neighbors.

[@Defectordrunkzone]

A couple of years ago two families from New Zealand went to greece for summer holidays. After they ate at a local small restaurant in Crete they asked to pay the check. Well the owner made them exactly 19,41€ discount and all the drinks were for free to honor New Zealands soldiers that fought alongside with the Greeks.

[@billysgeo]

Awesome

[@Ecclesiastes11718]

The very fact that the Greeks survived from the Persians,the Romans,the Ottomans,the Germans and still exist as a nation while fighting like their ancestors and preserving (to whatever extent possible) their Hellenic culture is a miracle all by itself.

[@Someone-hd4yj]

The Persians didn't occupy greece only some cities in Asia minor

[@Lianatube8877]

As a priest said here in Greece "greece isn't a single country greece has a miracle given by God "

[@anonanon7932]

Greeks didnt actually had to survive Romans, they became the eastern Romans and inherit eastern Rome xD

[@cojanemanuel8319]

@@Someone-hd4yj The Persians conquered Athens at some time in History.

[@Hade-Phobia]

@@Someone-hd4yj The Persians didn't occupy Greece because they got beaten badly, thankfully, in 2 decisive battles taking place in Greece (Salamis and Plataea after the Spartans managed to stop them in the middle of Greece, Thermopylae). Otherwise, we would now did not exist anymore. Persians would have exterminate us all and everything Greek, as they vouched. Later, when Alexander attacked back, he basically did it to secure Greece. Persians would have tried again. They should be thankful we were civilized and didn't try to exterminate them all. He even adopted Persian customs which made his entire Greek army, mad, but the point stands. Lucky he had Aristotle as a teacher. That made him educated and smart. He wasn't only military genius.

[@robot-he6nq]

I don’t know who the animator/artist is or if he’s new, but that person is doing a great job.

[@forgetful9845]

Upvoted

[@disparatebroom7705]

Patrick Kelly It’s a redditor thing I think

[@user-ro1cc8tz6d]

8:50 although germans didn't stopped para trooping after they captured the airbase?

[@deejim4767]

@Patrick Kelly lol down voted

[@deejim4767]

@@forgetful9845 lol, upvoted

[@davidperrier6149]

They have aircraft, machine guns and are over running the allies. Greeks: Go to the museum and find me a weapon.

[@Irene-iu9sj]

Go to the basements and bring all the wapons you can find,plus axes ,pitchfork, shovel,pickes, whatever.

[@captain_mike6787]

No no go and get me the shovel i will show them who is the boss

[@nicostheocharous1990]

My grandpa has hydrogen bomb in the basement.

[@seventoejoe3307]

@@nicostheocharous1990 Your grandpa is now on the FBI watch list

[@nicostheocharous1990]

@@seventoejoe3307 My grandpa says: tell them to choose side. Greece or Turkey? And tell them to choose wisely 😈

[@makrides22]

We Greeks will fir ever be grateful to the New Zealanders ,Australians and Brittish soldiers for defending Crete. Thank you

[@divedeep04]

A journalist was interviewing a old man telling the story how he got blind by defending Heraklion by the germans...journalist asked him if he got some kind of pension reward for this... he answered -no I didn't ask for any....journalist asked why ... he answered -are you crazy? I am going to ask money for defending my country ???

[@fimmt684]

“You choose the wrong farm fool” -A greek civilian, 1941

[@originalcriminalgangster7350]

Underrated

[@giovannicervantes2053]

OHOH YOU THOUGHT YOU WOULD SEE THE BATTLEFIELD HUH NOPE PITCHFORK

[@aidangardner6538]

"Ay ay ay it's me, the aryan übermench calm down-" fucking dies

[@alanmaclaren4366]

Picked*

[@wolfmuller6737]

Overrated! They only muderet unarmed and also woundet soldiers. At the time the FJ landet, they had no rifles etc. for defending. The greeks made hunt of singel soldiers, woundet and murdert them. Thats it. @@originalcriminalgangster7350

[@joseantonioamayaalvarado6744]

Respect for the Greeks, they defeated the Italians and even when they were facing the German war machine they fought till the end

[@c-moon4320]

Thanks 🇬🇷🇬🇷🇬🇷

[@vladmamula4532]

They are a perfect example of great people led by horrible politicians.

[@natebacon6497]

They have Spartan blood

[@michael_v6050]

Just like finish

[@thanospappos1078]

@@Armadauzbekistan you haven't won our navy once. One ship managed to liberate most of the Aegean islands.

[@noelletham7275]

The Greeks really said “not in my house” ☝️

[@cmdrgarbage1895]

And Germans replied with "observe"

[@peanutrecord6989]

I firmly believe this is why Greece still stands , because no matter who invades their land civilian and soldier alike will stand tall and proud to protect their homeland , I know it's been said a million times but Greece has my respect

[@musiccreationstv2732]

We own this land for 3000 years we aint giving it to anyone😂

[@sethgaston8347]

I mean historically there’s more instances of that being false than true, but in WW2 that was very true

[@sethgaston8347]

@@musiccreationstv2732 3000 yrs tf are you talking about everyone from the Macedonians to the Romans to the Ottomans ran through Greece like she was a thot in a high school locker room 🤣

[@firesideshats]

Well to be honest they don't stand economically 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@sakispdsw]

​@@sethgaston8347Bro Macedonians back then are not the same people that leave in North Macedonia. Back then the kingdom of Macedons were Greek. The part of land where they lived is still part of Greece today. North Macedonia today gets its name because during the Roman empire the Macedonia area expanded, so more tribes begun to live in so called Macedonia with zero connection to the Greek Kingdom of Macedon. Also although the Romans conquered Greece yes , after the cut of Rome to Western and Eastern Roman empire and the move of the capital from Rome to Constantinople (now Instabul) , essentially Greeks controlled the Eastern part. Im sorry but your comment was very offensive to Greek history, imagine if i said stull about slavery and the history of your people.

[@matthewlee8667]

“Get off my lawn!” - the last thing some poor paratrooper heard

[@sabribeser2268]

Turkos:GET OUT GREECE Greeks:GET OUT GERMANY history repeats itself

[@irakleuserakleus544]

i cried hahahahhaah

[@AFGuidesHD]

Germans: Relying on paratroopers for strategic objectives isn't a good idea Allies: Hold my beer

[@nickvandoros9488]

It was, hold my OUZO

[@alex_zetsu]

Actually, relying on paratroopers isn't a good idea. You've probably heard of the D-day landings, but the post mortem analysis the allies had suggested that there was almost no material effect these had on the Germans as these paratroopers _also_ failed to take their objectives before regular infantry caught up to them. The top command realized this after the fact, but didn't make a big fuss out of it. The famous 101st? Well, for most of its engagements members of it did little more than get stuck behind enemy lines and the Americans would waste manpower on full frontal assaults to extricate the pockets since the trapped soldiers meant they couldn't attack on their own timetables. That division did have many successes... when it was used as a regular infantry division!

[@drunkgrizzlybear9431]

Cough cough “market garden” cough cough

[@alex_zetsu]

@@drunkgrizzlybear9431 In some sense the paratroopers in Market Garden actually accomplished more (which was little before getting trapped, but actually managed to inflict a few more casualties than the vaulted 101st did at Normandy if you count what they accomplished before the regular infantry met with the pockets). It's just that the Normandy landing the rest of the attacking force didn't suck. Market Garden as a whole wasn't exactly the best planned idea.

[@JozMkII]

Alex Zetsu Still, the chaos and confusion created by the paratroopers nipping all over the Germans’ heals behind their own lines caused a lot of their own troops to have greater hesitancy to move into defensive positions against the invaders. Had the paratroopers not been used, the local German forces would have been able to concentrate all of their forces on the beaches, thus costing us more time and casualties before successfully overrunning the coastal defenses. Omaha may well have been a disaster.

[@matthiasfuchs6150]

One of my great Grandfathers was POW in Russia and one on Crete, the one in Russia had to eat raw Rats in order to survive, the one on Crete however got fat from all the delicious food the Greeks fed him, on one of his Birthdays our Family even gifted him a trip to revisit his "prison Guards" Greeks man, steadfast at Battle, respectful to the enemy

[@somedudefromapharmacy]

treating your prisoners as equal to your own residents even though they were sent to kill you, is truly a great thing to witness and proof that all soldiers are still human behind their uniforms.

[@michaelsundarev5818]

To understand russian view on treating enemy, that came with a sword to your land, you should read "War and peace" by Leo Tolstoy. "Noble" and friendly attitude towards enemy soldiers is regarded by author as a hypocrisy and bravado. So rats for a dinner were well deserved.

[@matthiasfuchs6150]

@@michaelsundarev5818 oh, so the way nazis treated russian POW was also well deserved then? Or the treatment of pur good old „enemys“ the jews? No my friend, it was not well deserved Our ancestors did mistakes by not understanding the „Enemy“ where humans as well, defending their homes and families

[@dimitrisvasileiou7020]

@@matthiasfuchs6150 greetings from sparta Mattias

[@user-xe3ng6sj9o]

Well USSR's behaviour is understandable considering that nazis destroyed a ton of villages, killed innocent civilians and performed other tyrannical acts towards them.

[@safeman1231]

My father fought with the Australian army in Greece and Crete. He had huge respect for the Greek and Cretian people also the Kiwis and to some extent the German soldiers. He died at age 91hating Winston Churchill who he considered had a penchant for sacrificing Commonwealth Roopa in futile actions.

[@safeman1231]

Should be troops

[@costantinemf4207]

Crete is like the texas of Greece Everyone has a gun in Crete lol

[@mithridates8890]

Too bad Metaxas confiscated their guns. Taking a Cretan's gun is like taking a piece of his/her soul.

[@steliostade9128]

@@mithridates8890 he didn't take them he asked them to donate them to the Greek army for the Greek resistance against italians

[@lefterismagkoutas4430]

I’m Cretan and can confirm lol

[@MonasteryOfSilence]

As a greek i think Texas is way more hardcore because of the gun laws compared to greek gun laws but the comment is still very accurate.

[@costantinemf4207]

@@likemyice3710 thx

[@andrewflare1361]

As a Greek huge respect to the Kiwis for defending our homeland as one . Your fallen shall never be forgotten

[@thomaswoschke1553]

I was in Crete... They are not forgotten... No one forgets what happens on Crete... So when you go there come in peace and enjoy the friendship, but if you come with bad thoughts in mind you get a unmarked grave.

[@chucknormalaid]

What was the kiwis

[@andrewflare1361]

@@chucknormalaid Kiwis is a euphemism for New Zealanders, i forgot to mention our Aussie friends as well, who have played a critical role in these events.

[@andrewflare1361]

@@thomaswoschke1553 Hi Thomas ! I am a Maniot from southern Peloponese but indeed that is the stance we have. Come in good will and we shall welcome you as more than family. Mi

[@chucknormalaid]

@@andrewflare1361 ok thanks

[@dimisbam7725]

I'm Australian but my ancestry is Greek and I can't feel but proud when I read or watch stories as these 🇬🇷🇦🇺❤

[@roadmaster96.]

Aye mate greetings

[@Craq_]

But that’s not even the Aussie flag

[@harryblaney8571]

@@Craq_ Yes. It is.

[@Craq_]

@@harryblaney8571 he edited it

[@darht_tateryt2594]

Same here I’m Australian and I give Greece a huge respect they never give up

[@angryfoxzd5233]

Dropping in with only a knife and pistol and you gotta find the better weapons scattered across the map...... It's historically accurate battle royal mode!

[@edwardalegado5636]

Lmao

[@mrdmasiv2452]

Pubg:battle of crete

[@chino60124]

Ah

[@pancakes2098]

More like Its Cod Vanguard Warzone Lol

[@uncharted7againblackking256]

@@pancakes2098 yep lol

[@architech02]

Crete: Exists Germany: Hippity hoppity oh scheiße theyre shooting me!!!

[@DiracComb.7585]

As you do

[@erichschneider4759]

@Mohammad Samadpouriejavid Are you dumb

[@user-nv2kh9qn2b]

@@erichschneider4759 he's jealous of the bravery that Cretans and Greeks in general showed during WW2, while his country hide behind the shadows and remained neutral, because they were afraid of another defeat...

[@CrazyNikel]

@@user-nv2kh9qn2b 🙌🙏

[@pidrk]

@@CrazyNikel please stop using cringy emojis

[@psathas87]

My grandfather helped English soldiers to escape from nazi using his boat (he was a fisher man living in a south village of Crete called Rodakino, near hora sfakion). The english government after the war, recognized his efforts and awarded him. During nazi occupation he was also carrying/transferring war equipment hidden in baskets with wheat, loaded on donkeys, to help allies. Once, his load was checked from nazis, but they did not manage to found anything even though he had pistols hidden at the bottom of a basket. He lived 1914 - 2010.

[@dhaz4455]

The Greeks always showing that they are a brave people, respect from Colombia

[@facepalmjesus1608]

Greeks: 2500 years war experience

[@houseplant1016]

From which most being conquered by the Macedonians or Romans or Persians

[@users10116]

@@houseplant1016 all of these were influenced by greek cultures PS : Maceedonians is greek and a was a greek empires

[@houseplant1016]

@@users10116 Greek was influenced by Egyptian,the Persians and Greeks h*ted eachother too much +Persian is older.

[@RoyalPhoenix595]

@@houseplant1016 btw Macedonians were greeks

[@houseplant1016]

@@RoyalPhoenix595 They were seen as something seperate,they conquered much of Greece and today they are a seperate country.They have similarities.

[@arthurcolina-greninger5017]

>trains for months to become a paratrooper >lands on island >gets shot by old guy with musket >dies

[@haleloop963cortex4]

Feels bad

[@johnt6179]

Gets beaten to death by a rock*

[@trauko1388]

Propaganda can be so hilarious at times... XD

[@simonaspalovis1204]

You could say that's just the likely fate of any paratrooper - training so hard to be the best, then dying from circumstances that are out of your control (like plane being shot down, or being shot down while parachuting with no way of defending yourself).

[@dhaz4455]

Also aplies to Normandia

[@vx686]

Well i am Turkish but still massive respect for the Greek brothers🇬🇷🌟🇹🇷

[@nikosr265]

Respect? Erdogan and Turkey want nothing less than the genocide of all Greeks, and the destruction of Greece.

[@vx686]

@@nikosr265 I never said i support Erdogan and i never will,

[@duolingoaccount1606]

@@nikosr265 άσε τον ο Ερντογάν είναι σαν τον Τραμπ στην Τουρκία, δεν τον συμπαθούν όλοι

[@DMp-xp6mj]

Thank you. Love from Greece 🇬🇷❤🇹🇷

[@vasileiosomegas5414]

Respect from Greece, Turkish people have our support in theese difficult times. We also had a dictaroship and we can understand what you're going through.

[@DiabolicDistortion]

My Grandma's brother was a german paratrooper who landed in Krete. He said, they all dropped their handgrenades as fast as possible in air because everybody was so afraid of getting hit by a rifle into the grenade and thereby exploding. He also said, of his platoon did only 13 people reach the ground alive. Miss his stories

[@Pan472]

I personally had a teacher whose mother, at the beginning of the invasion of Crete, axed a German soldier immediately after he made landfall. He told us his mother would never forget that she removed the life out of young boy, who was sent to fight in favour of a madman.

[@williamcalley5593]

@Soldat Kaiyodo imagine you were just a teenage boy in 1939 germany,and you were chosen to go to the army.it would be terrible to be with millions of psychos .and you wouldnt have a CHOICE.

[@williamcalley5593]

War is were the young and stupid are tricked by the old and bittest into killing each other-Niko bellic

[@ebowden1168]

They’re shouldn’t have been young boys dropping into Crete. Germany still had a sufficient manpower pool in 40-41, and fallschirmjagers were on the older side because they had to do airborne training

[@unclelarry8842]

@@williamcalley5593 Nah, drafting wasn't introduced then, Nazi Germany still had high manpower. But I do agree on you saying the german army was bad

[@LtActionCam]

Hell yeah man

[@menelpro]

My father's village is two kilometers from the Maleme airfield, my father has donated the skeleton of a German plane to the chania war museum. If you ever visit Crete, pay a visit at the German cemetery, it lies at the hill 107 were the battle of Crete was won for the Germans. Also visit the Allied cemetery at Souda bay and search for the grave of Pendlebury.

[@nomad8166]

Saving this, now I know what to do in Crete if I ever visit!

[@user-nv2kh9qn2b]

@Hans Gunsche he's jealous of the bravery that Cretans and Greeks in general showed during WW2, while his country hide behind the shadows and remained neutral, because they were afraid of another defeat...

[@thetproject2266]

@Hans Gunsche hahaha η καλύτερη απάντηση εβερ

[@giannispsillias7964]

@@nomad8166 sounds good and all...but will probably be too busy swimming and stuffing your face full o ντακο( dako)( great dish ask for if you ever visit )

[@jason3163]

@Mohammad Samadpouriejavid φωτομπομπινγκ

[@perseusofmacedon6918]

I am from Crete and proud of this. All my great grandfather's fought

[@elwin38]

Had the opportunity to go to Chania(Xavia)Crete(Kriti) in May, 2006 while i was in the US Navy Reserve. I enjoyed and loved it. Drank quite a bit of Ouzo and Rakhi.😁👍🏾

[@giwrgoshmm9430]

u should have tried the pot my friend, but rakhi is legit too lol

[@cheesetruck4738]

"I'm telling you this is going to work, they're just farmers they'll *never* expect it" "so you have chosen *death* "

[@woggy8105]

Cheese Truck justice or death and Crete always prefers to fight for Crete

[@selfdo]

As was attributed to Lord Cornwallis in "The Patriot"..."They're FARMERS...with PITCHFORKS!"

[@evanmoore3114]

I mean, it did work. I don't know how, but it did.

[@joeysimek7707]

@@evanmoore3114 How did work if Crete was conquered.

[@evanmoore3114]

@@joeysimek7707 If you look at his comment, he was saying it from the perspective of the Germans. Therefore, my comment was accurate. It did work for the Germans.

[@gibraltersteamboatco888]

"Greeks don't fight like heroes, heroes fight like Greeks." -Winston Churchill

[@gibraltersteamboatco888]

@dianna k Adolf Hitler said: “The Greek soldier, above all, fought with the most courage.”

[@georgekoul]

@dianna k it was Churchill. Funny that you are pretty sure 😂

[@Manuel-qu3tc]

Too bad there's no evidence he actually said that :/

[@flameohotman324]

That's just greek propaganda to feed on the greek's nationalism. Open a book

[@youraveragenanamistan]

@@flameohotman324 girl what 😐 next thing we know is you're gonna say mfs were paid by the Greeks to say good things about them 😭😭 please log out and go get some air

[@CoopaTheGreat]

Someone: *Wants to attack the Greek* Greek: Yeah I’m not so sure on that one chief.

[@stevekostakis2983]

As a son of a Cretan Father....I was told about the exploits and bravery of my Grandfather and other relatives during this invasion. It makes me a proud son to know that my blood originates from these brave people. Further, as an Australian....the proud tradition of the ANZACS and their sacrifice is nothing short of HEROIC.

[@3un0i5]

I'm honestly so glad that they are paying attention to modern Greek history I've gotten tired of seeing only ancient greek history getting attention

[@makeandeatgummyleeches5975]

Eunoia dianthus you have said it best.

[@mayageorge1847]

I am researching so much of it now. Lots out there, just not a lot in English. Although more needs to be told. The Greeks paid a heavy price and wanted to move on but the long term effects certainly resonate until.today.

[@Aethelhald]

To be fair, it's only small parts of ancient Greek history that ever gets attention. Thermopylae and the war between Athens and Sparta. That's pretty much all they ever focus on. All the rest of ancient Greek history gets ignored too.

[@srfrg9707]

Damian Cunliffe So true. Byzantine period? - Starts middle-ages with the construction of Constantinople. - Great schism. - Ends middle-ages with the fall of Constantinople.

[@Aethelhald]

@@srfrg9707 Even if you take away the Byzantine period, there's still a huge amount of awesome ancient history from Greece that gets ignored. Even the tiny ancient Greek city states like Rhodes have such rich, exciting history that nobody ever hears about.

[@beatthegreat7020]

They didn't even lose a division? Hearts of Iron me is impressed.

[@abidahmed2922]

ikr

[@aegeanharrier6648]

Even tho its the basic unit in the game,a division is actually a big unit.Its hard to destroy an entire division.

[@beatthegreat7020]

@@aegeanharrier6648, I know. I like a lot of what You gives us, but it's so lacking in other areas.

[@EthanDyTioco]

General Lee, I have no divi- oh wait they're still here

[@Mankorra_Gomorrah]

I love HoI but damn does it treat divisions like orks. In real life having an entire division get destroyed was a devastating blow all but the largest militaries. Yet in the game Germany has 5 divisions get encircled and destroyed and the only inconvenience is having to replace them.

[@dorianphilotheates3769]

We invented the “Pyrrhic victory” - the Greeks: we put the “Hell” in Hellas.

[@andrewmichaels5725]

As a Cretan huge respect to the Aussies and Kiwis. They fought decisively to defend my homeland and the future of Europe, far away from your continent. Your ancestors' sacrifices can never be forgotten and there will always be a special place for you here.

[@roboblazer4297]

thank you friend and I thank your people too for fighting with us Together for Victory.

[@florians9949]

Germans: * arrives in crete* The locals: were going to show those guys why the Italians got their asses collectivly quicked.

[@kirstimoffatt6396]

*Flintlock weapons from the 1700s intensifies*

[@Cyricist001]

A well supplied and entrenched enemy lost to parachuted infantry without artillery support...let that sink in.

[@user-io4du4rb9c]

@@Cyricist001 they were barely supplied and that is stated in the episode

[@carlomarini4255]

Ma stai zitto ignorante!

[@florians9949]

Cyricist001 they were running out if supply and badly out numbered.

[@samcro9177]

I'm from Crete and when i was a boy i used to hear war stories from my grandfather and other old men who fought in battle of Crete and generally in ww2. I have only respect for those men! They faced the Nazi's airbornes with their own hands and courage!

[@Battelfield2video]

My grandfather was in the belgium resistence, he joined when he was only 15, I hear also a lot of stories cause he fought them for 5 years till the war ended. But one thing that stands out is how high he talks about the Cretans how they fought. He said Churcill was right with his statment about the greeks but the Cretans are something of the next level. My grandmother also says that. She "only" fought after the liberation of Belgium, she was with the AA. Trying to shot down V1 and V2s. They both are glade that I go often to Crete. They said I can learn a lot from those people.

[@evangetz]

Can you share some of the stories? Sounds amazing

[@samcro9177]

@@evangetz my grandfather was once walked twenty chilometres to take some documents from one Cretan spy who lived among the Nazis..these documents were about exploding Nazi fight airplanes and boats with supplies in heraclion, Crete..after he took the papers, one nazi guard saw him, shot him high in the back..he managed to escape the nazi guards, brought the documents back to those who were in charge, and the Nazi planes and boats destroyed a few days later..all because my grandfather walked back twenty chilometres with a bullet in his back..he died when i was 9...may he rest in peace ❤️

[@stevekostakis2983]

@@samcro9177 - My deepest sincerest RESPECT to your Grandfather and family.

[@samcro9177]

@@stevekostakis2983 thanks!!

[@hobela8515]

POV: You searched for this, after listening to VDV song (updated)

[@simonwyzik8661]

No air support?

[@Xrsts_]

I am Greek and I fully appreciate the fact that people from different countries came and risked their life to defend our country. Thank you

[@nickg2064]

This is really sad to know....i remember stories from my grandfather he was a 15 yo old boy back then and he killed about 8 germans alone with a knife as soon as they landed.....then he ran to his village to save his mom and sister since my great grandfather ( his dad ) was in resistance force with italians he managed to save them and they survived through this....but he can never forget the slaughter and what he saw that day...

[@eirinilyviaki9656]

I don't know if anyone has mentioned it, but in Maleme there is a war cemetery for the Germans who lost their lives during the battle of Crete. As a Cretan, this place makes me feel proud of my ancestors' legacy. There are stories about old women who had seen their sons, husbands or brothers die, but they still lit the candles for the fallen enemies. I have been there and when I saw the ages of the dead soldiers I almost cried. There are no real winners in a war.

[@billysgeo]

Those are not stories. They still light candles and perform eulogies there. Those soldiers where and average age of 19-20 yo back then. The Nazi high officers and the SS members are another matter altogether... you won't see marked graves for them in Crete ;-)

[@leoisabell9797]

To Crete i came, seeking fortune, but they’re shooting me down, till I’m dead...

[@ohnibboi3102]

The Allies all have it so easy. The Greeks are all coming for my head...

[@leoisabell9797]

Oh niBBoi the herman paratroopers have no guns, but think what a cache there could be If we could create, a nice safe space, that landed planes on the island of Crete...

[@dantecaputo2629]

Leo is a bell I am the man who dodges the shells, that fall onto me from on the hill. They speed down, and I hide in the ground, and we hear the sound of more men killed.

[@danteheffron9320]

Sometimes it seems that to kill troops it’s fine and defense will hold down as they fall Then I see, that the troops breached the lines, and we still need supplies after all

[@Shays_Shellac_Shelf]

My great-grandfather was a sailor on the HMS Kipling at the time of the Evac of Crete. His ship was sunken by the Luftwaffe, but he ended up surviving

[@wankawanka3053]

Imagine being part of one of the most advanced armies ever and dying by a pickaxe or any farm equipment

[@napoleonibonaparte7198]

Greeks when the Fallschirmjagers landed: Hippity, hoppity... *G E T O U T O F M Y P R O P E R T Y*

[@TerrierMartello]

Underrated comment

[@aldousrex605]

Technoblade smp earth bio hippity hoppity get out of my property

[@xrhstospex8106]

Pretty much yeah,they actually kept fighting with shovels and bayonets,without having any ammunition left.When the allied troops left the island,a great number of greeks were dead.But!The nazi germany never again attempted an airborne attack which is good I guess¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@scratchy996]

Fallschirmjagers : joke's on you, zis is our property now !

[@Kurzwife]

@@xrhstospex8106 It wasn't because of fear of the people that he didn't go back it was the fact he no longer considered his plans to be secret and counter attacking paratrooper when you have knowledge of their position is too easy for the defenders to pick off .

[@nickalit4563]

I can’t believe KZbin is demonitizing this historical masterpiece

[@armvex]

Not yet

[@ayron419]

Says the dude with the communist flag as his profile picture

[@dasher787]

b so?

[@SecretTapeworm]

Demonizing or demonitizing? I suppose either one is a despicable act on KZbin's part.

[@lightningonlycommentsonce5824]

@@dasher787 So, its completely hypocritical of him to be against suppression of knowledge and history if he's a communist. Since that's exactly what they do to a extreme.

[@handimanjay6642]

Never underestimate the determination of a people defending their homeland and freedoms.

[@xrhstoslalalala8269]

Never underestimate the determination of a people defending their homeland and freedoms for more than 4000 years

[@vesrchrieben7427]

My great grandfather was a paratrooper in the battle of Crete. As usual in Germany he didn´t talk much about the war and his role in it. So i am glad that i learned something about this part of WW2.

[@montecarlo1651]

I could well understand if he had post traumatic stress.

[@Someone.755]

Of course he didn't tell you anything. Im Cretan. Your grandfather was part of the worst massacre you can imagine. In retaliation your ancestors killed thousands civilians, including women, children & babies. They destroyed whole villages here in Crete. We welcome you as tourists, but we never forget.

[@scarecrow9474]

Your great grandfather is a hero

[@vesrchrieben7427]

@@scarecrow9474 huh i don't really know. The comment by @Fanouris got me really thinking. Mostly because he's right. Like i said i don't know in which events he participated. I think i will do some research and if i find anything interesting im going to leave a comment again.

[@motorrebell]

@@Someone.755 I bet your Ancestor "Alexander the Great" was even far worse ! Loi

[@aboredjojofanyt5387]

German troops: Greeks! lay down your weapons! Greek farmers: *germans! come and get them.*

[@carpetclimber4027]

Like was said in the video, many paratroopers lacked weapons of their own in the landing. If they would've had their weapons, I'm pretty sure the heroic tales of the greek farmers would've sounded differently. German troops: "Surrender or I will shoot with my mp40!" Greek farmers: "Ok."

[@aboredjojofanyt5387]

@@carpetclimber4027 way to ruin a joke

[@carpetclimber4027]

@@georgelambrou504 @ABoredJojoFan YT I'm fun at parties too!

[@botondmatrai1366]

Ah yes, a famous spartan one-liner

[@thiccchungo1041]

Greek farmer: give them nothing, but take from them, everything!

[@romaniacountryball]

Greek peasent:What is that in my backyard a german soldier Honey pls give me the axe and the fork!!!

[@srfrg9707]

It's rather : Honey, pls give me the axe and take the fork!!! I know what I'm talking about. Grand'ma was from Crete.

[@theodoros9428]

The Cretans are not forkive

[@Irene-iu9sj]

@@srfrg9707 Don't think he would use"please, or honey" ,rather ::::Woman !!!!::::give me the axe,grab the pitchfork, here we go. Where s that "kopeli"???==(youngster ),there ,go go go go go!!!!!!!!!

[@havocgr1976]

What Irene said ;p

[@Irene-iu9sj]

@@havocgr1976 are you of kretan origin ?????? Εγώ είμαι.....μάλλον είσαι και συ !!! Χαρώ το !!!!

[@wilkybarkid]

Loved travelling round Crete, visiting the memorials, the museums and the sites of battles. Really recommend the Askifou war museum!

[@WallyBDO]

VDV, in heaven meet the Fallschirmjägers from the battle of Crete

[@thesouthernvikingr5919]

"We shall fight in the fields..." Cretans be like: "That sounds like our cup o' tea!'

[@secfor6491]

Use these in the clone wars

[@digenhsakritas1337]

We drink raki/rakja,not tea

[@roadmaster96.]

@@digenhsakritas1337 raki is for dudes escaping to Egypt

[@reginabillotti]

@@digenhsakritas1337 "our cup of tea" or "my cup of tea" is a typical English expression for someone's preference. Doesn't have to be about a literal cup of tea.

[@digenhsakritas1337]

@@reginabillotti Thanks for the clarification,mate.

[@user-ue6yc9kr8i]

Greeks’ greatest weapon in history ever is the underestimation the opponents show on them. Keep it up guys. Thousands of years of existence and glory and part of that we owe that to you. Thanks ;)

[@spittle8]

You lost though.

[@user-ue6yc9kr8i]

@@spittle8 did we? No nazi flag exists anywhere so..

[@FinnishHammerItOn]

@@user-ue6yc9kr8i you lost several times, Even when you attack Turkey to create a big Greece empire you got mauled by the Turks and defeated drastically.

[@user-ue6yc9kr8i]

@@FinnishHammerItOn yes we made that mistake once. We underestimated them. The mistake that makes any failed attacker. But that is reversed now.

[@chrisichatzimichail9444]

We lost only due to our greed and that was bad but we have won many wars and also ww2 was a collective fight against nazis we got defeated but it gave enough time for the red army to get ready and actually win against hitler.

[@MordredSimp]

80 years later, and no one learned apparently

[@octapusxft]

The Cretans are memed even by the rest of the Greeks about how scary they can be if they are mad at someone as well about how often they possess firearms up there in the villages.

[@alpha-1730]

It’s amazing you can maintain this type of quality while releasing vids this fast, you’re channel has improved so much. Keep it going guys!

[@cryptosporidium1375]

It’s called drugs... This is misinformation NOTICE: The individual on this account that has claimed misinformation has been sacked.

[@TheArmchairHistorian]

Thanks man, we've been trying to release THREE times a month now! It's tough, especially when everyone went on vacation this month!

[@TheArmchairHistorian]

@@cryptosporidium1375 lots of caffeine + nicotine

[@MCL003]

The Armchair Historian sounds like a strategy

[@princeishere1693]

@@TheArmchairHistorian When griffin makes a good joke

[@amariam3872]

My grandpa sometimes talks about this, when he remembers. People hid in mud lakes and farmers attacked everything on sight, with anything they could. Pitchforks, kitchen knives, shovels. It was a bloodbath. Parachuters got caught in trees and where killed immediately by any soldier close. He said that, even if it was war, it was a horrible thing to see, hanging bodies falling to the ground as men who could’ve lived to see their children fell for the ambitions of dictators.

[@PsilocybinCocktail]

I would recommend "The Cretan Runner" as an account by a Cretan of life in the Cretan resistance. I would also recommend "It Is Bliss Here" for an account of a British officer living off the goodwill of the locals after escaping from a PoW camp on Crete. I would, lastly, recommend that people wanting to invade Crete read both. Cretans are a friendly folk, up to a point. After that point - duck.

[@elgreco8074]

My grandfather fought the Italians in Albania. He was a very hard working and humble man who loved his family more than anything in this world. Understandably, he never spoke of his experience there. All I knew is that the scar on his stomach almost killed him. I remember when dozens of family members came to pay respect during his final days. Whilst on his final resting bed, he said to my eldest brother: "This is the meaning of life" before pointing towards all the family members gathered together. Words cannot describe how grateful I am. I am also forever grateful to all the New Zealanders, Australians and British troops who died thousands of miles away from their families, to protects ours. Thank you 🌹

[@kringe700]

Every German gangsta until the olive trees start speaking Greek.

[@kylestanley7843]

LMAO

[@mg9854]

Vietna...*cough*

[@kostapewdiepie8881]

Good

[@motorrebell]

Every Greek feeling gangsta until Olive trees turn into firewood by Refugees .

[@BHuang92]

Hence, we will not say that Greeks fight like heroes, but that heroes fight like Greeks. -Winston Churchill

[@RampantFury925]

@@likemyice3710 Nobody cares, shut up.

[@nikaros4300]

@Tarmi Rićmi are u Turkish?

[@minotauros13]

@Tarmi Rićmi It is a true quote, and there is even a recording of said quote. However, this is irrelevant since it was Churchill that pretty much instigated and inflicted a bloody civil war on the Greek people...

[@Irene-iu9sj]

@Tarmi Rićmi Open up . You talk nonsense.

[@Irene-iu9sj]

How many remember that any more. .......

[@johnhall1050]

In a lot of the really small Greek islands. The whole population including their prize goats boarded their fishing boats and sailed to Cyprus or Malta. Where they promptly enlisted in the RN, you can still see their photo's displayed in many of the local cafes.

[@mikkel3339]

Ah, i see where the VDV got their inspiration.

[@bigpapa8225]

Ahh you beat me to the joke

[@obabas80]

The Greeks have always won some and lost some, but one thing is certain if you go up against them, they will always put up a ferocious and courageous fight and will certainly make you bleed. Never in history were they cowards or surrendered without a fight.

[@anonymous-qc3sy]

Here is the key factor. They were always severely outnumbered. Like 10 to 1 or worse. Yet they won many of these wars

[@aregmartirosyan2076]

RESPECT THE GREEK OUR BROTHERS IN ARMS FROM ARMENIA 🇦🇲🤝🇬🇷

[@mohammedkalakeenfullfacofk6636]

hate armenia from azerbaijan

[@sahq5996]

@@mohammedkalakeenfullfacofk6636 thought an azeri said something

[@stopmotiontv6646]

@Markus Assaleh lololo mate your country is in ruins

[@stopmotiontv6646]

@Markus Assaleh it's going through a ton of internal trouble, and also lost a significant amount of military equipment since its attempt on invading Azerbaijan

[@stopmotiontv6646]

Armenia and Greece both trash thoe 😆😆

[@Venakis1]

I'm from Crete ( Rethymnon), both my grandfathers missed the battle of Crete because they had been fighting the Italians in the albanian front. Almost all Greek men (except the very young and the elderly) had been recruited or volunteered to go to the front when Italy invaded. That's why when the Germans invaded Crete most of the men were still returning from the italian war. That means the Germans faced such a resistance from mostly women and elderly men.

[@canadaball3973]

Dunkirk. Crete. Both times the British evacuated while their allies fought on and bought them time. Im glad someone finally gives them credit

[@jeffarmstrong1308]

My father was at Rethymno (known then as Retimo) during this action with an Australian artillery unit. As one of the rear guard that held the line for the others, he was captured and forced marched to Maleme. Within days he and three others went under the wire and escaped to the White Mountains of Crete near Kandanos. The others made it off the island and back to Australia but Dad had 'flu and could not go with them. He met up with the partisans and was nursed back to health and then fought with them for about 18 months. He told me that when he heard of the massacre at Kandanos he knew that he had to leave to protect his friends. By then the Nazi hold on Crete was so tight that he was, inevitably, captured again but he was able to resist interrogation by the Gestapo and kept his secrets about the partisans. He was shipped into to the Reich as a POW for the rest of the war. Thus began a friendship with his friends on Crete that lasted the rest of their lives and continues into the following generations. I have visited the places Dad went to and so have my children. We are in touch with his friend's children and my children are in contact with his grandchildren in Greece.

[@jeffarmstrong1308]

@Ιωάννης Βασιλείου As soon as I saw your name I knew you understood.

[@user-qz5xt8oc8f]

That is actually a great story mate. I currently live in Rethymno because I study History here and there is a small square near the city centre. In the centre of the square stands a memorial called Hellenic Australian Memorial and is dedicated to the Aussies that lost their lives protecting Rethymno from the Nazi invaders. I walk by it almost every day but I never had the chance to learn the background of the story of those soldiers. So that story really is something interesting for me. And I would like to thank your Dad for fighting for the freedom of Cretan soil. He is a true hero!

[@jeffarmstrong1308]

@@user-qz5xt8oc8f We visited my father's friends in 2018 at least his grandchildren. Of course I looked in on Rethymno and paid my respects at that memorial before continuing on to stay with them down at Paleochora.

[@user-hf9jx4yq2z]

May God rest his soul. We remember, we respect.

[@hariszark7396]

We thank your dad for his heroic efforts. RIP. 😟

[@___meletis___]

REAL modern STORY: I served my duty at the Paratrooper Squadron in Maleme. At a celebration for the Cretan resistance, Greek paratroopers were dressed like WW2 Germans and jumped to simulate the assault. A sergeant was about to land, he saw an old man running to kill him with a rake. He survived with some serious wounds. I am from Athens... We Greeks are crazy, but Cretans... Man! They are OUT of this world!

[@pazil888]

και να λες " ευτυχώς " , με όσα γίνονται , Μελέτη !

[@pots_83]

Crete is to Greece what Florida is to the US...the craziest motherfuckers of the land!!!

[@drgeorgek]

That’s amazing. Yeah cretans are extremely aggressive and have a gun culture about them to this day

[@jason3163]

Μλκ ναι εχω ριζες απο εκει αλλα τι στον πούτσο

[@jason3163]

@@pots_83 yeah basically

[@happyboi1447]

Imagine being a high trained, well equipped, and determined soldier Then a farmer from an island just stab you with a hayfork

[@fokawaj]

"Dang i got stuck in the tree- Oh theres a farmer coming to save m- OH HELL HE'S COMING TO STAB ME WITH THAT PITCHFORK- HUH? WHAT THE HELL THERES A WOMAN WITH A MUSKET- HELL NAHHHH"

[@LtActionCam]

Those German paratroopers were very good light infantry. I fished reading Anthony Beevor’s book “D-Day.” The German paratroopers would infiltrate allied lines and if they caught allied soldiers sleeping in their fighting holes, they’d slit their throats. Besides the German tanks, the German paratroopers were very feared. They continued to interdict, sow confusion, and slow as long as they could against overwhelming odds of the allied army. There is a lot to learn from their tactics, techniques, and procedures.

[@mannygiapitzakis7778]

Growing up with parents who lived through this invasion and subsequent occupation of Crete, its awefully difficult to imagine the horror that the local civilian population were subjected to. Immediately after the occupation, my mothers parents and one of her older brothers were rounded up and executed just outside of Chania Crete. My father and his friend (age 12 at the time) were locked up for several days in a cell before they were removed and escorted to a field where they were forced to dig their own graves at gun point. Fortunately, a local villager intervened and negotiated their release. Until his dieing day, my father relived this dreadful experience again-and-again in his mind.

[@mannygiapitzakis7778]

@wigha 27 Firstly, the massacres that occurred near Chania were immediately after the paratroop invasion as a reprisal......not post the invasion and the establishment of partisan groups. Furthermore, civilian deaths and casualties occurred well before the deployment of paratroops as many of the towns and villages were bombed leading up to the invasion

[@arthurwellsley2715]

My father was in the defence at Chania, and then fought in the rear guard as it retreated across the island. He was one of the five thousand that were captured. When I was young I asked my father if he had killed anyone in the war (childish question). My father looked at me and said the men on a heavy machine gun had been killed and he ran up to it and took over. He said the sky was dark with parachutes and the gun sent a stream of bullets out like a hose. He praised the Creteans for their courage and steadfastness. The only thing that ever irked him was that he wanted the rearguard to be evacuated and he was told to stay so that the navy could take off some Royal Marines.

[@hariszark7396]

Thanks to all the heroes who defended our land.

[@caneanukunuku9158]

@@hariszark7396 the greeks are the heroes... you guys gave the world freedom through democracy... something that will never be taken away from you all in greece... what an awesome country and one day i hope to visit hania. The birth place of my name. From New Zealand.

[@hariszark7396]

@@caneanukunuku9158 Thank you my friend. New Zealand seems like a nice place too. You are welcome to visit Greece and stay as long as you want. I hope our country and people will meet your expectations. Be well !!

[@caneanukunuku9158]

@@hariszark7396 thanks friend. I read alot of books on history through out the world but i always come back to ancient greek and modern greek and all the arts, philosophies, and democracies. We in nz are divided like else where in the world when it comes to democracy and nationalism. but for some reason, the left over powers the right. I love it. For the people. By the people. Be well brother. NZ.

[@hariszark7396]

@@caneanukunuku9158 I'm not going into politics but "left" and "right" are lost their ways and the things are complicated around the world. Bottom line, they all try to get people manipulated and easy to control.....sadly. Here in Greece we have a rotten political system and corrupted politicians that are not deserve to be the rulers of our great historical nation... Anyway. Thank you again. Be well also.

[@kostasl1808]

Greek here. My grandfather lived his childhood and adolescence years (1940-1944) in the island of Crete. Since he was not yet at fighting age, he became part of the resistance. Alongside with other teenagers, among other things, he was sent by the adults leading the resistance (after Crete's occupation in 1941) to the airport of Iraklio in order to monitor how many german airlpains were landing and taking off and then reported back to the liaison. For his contribution to the fight for freedom he was officially recognized as a member of the Greek resistance (the organization of ΕΑΜ-ELAS). These credentials are still in my possession. I also have taped recordings of him narrating the events. My other grandfather, being at the age of 25, when Italy and then Germany waged war against Greece, joined the ranks of the Greek army fighting at the battle of Pindos of the Hellenic-Italian war. After the german occupation and the disassembling of the Greek regular army he joined the resitance (organization of EDES). For his contribution to the fight for freedom he was officially recognized as a member of the Greek resistance apart from being venerated as a war veteran. These credentials are still in my possession. I had the honor to meet both of my grandfathers. They both lived full and long lives passing on peacefully at the ages of 95 (2022) and 92 (2004) respectively and apart from being my beloved grandfathers they are a source of great inspiration for my life, being paradigms of valor, responsibility and unwavering resolve.

[@Your_Greek_Guy]

Athens:*Falls* Germans:Ok they should give up by now Italy:WTF THEY ARE STILL FIGHTING Germany:HOW?! Greece:BOI I AINT GOING DOWN IF I STILL HAVE LAND NOW COME AND TAKE IT Germany:This guy is a menace

[@sergiopiparo4084]

I was told a story from a Cretan man during that time a group of German soldiers were found hung upside down somewhere in the forest with their throats cut

[@Original50]

I think those Germans got it easier than some others... 😯

[@tylororlowski3097]

Properly us kiwis. Fear tactics in war is apart of our culture

[@Georged811]

@@tylororlowski3097 It backfired on us Greeks though. As late as 2014, a German historian blamed these Kiwi tactics on Greeks, and accused Cretans of "war crimes", "atrocities" and things like mutilation, which, according to him, justified mass executions of civilians. This actually got him invited to the German Finance Ministry to do a lecture on modern Greece.

[@Original50]

@Philip Manousakis Because blood-feud and eye-for-an-eye 75 year after a conflict is SO important to the creation and maintenance of a developed and peaceful world...? Witless thinking like that destroyed and has maimed the paradise of Cyprus; where I lived in Ammachostos as a child pre-invasion I'm German now (duel with British), my sons have mixed heritage, my families fought and died in several wars against Germans. How does your medieval logic work for this situation?

[@Original50]

LOL. My mind is much more primitive than that Philip, but it has knowledge that you may only get with maturity. You carry-on and fight your wars on YT, FB and whatever other 'weaponised' talk-tech you are armed with. You will learn and change SO much... ;O)

[@user-xu1xl9gu9y]

My grandmother when the war was on,on our village,wanted to see her father,cuz she was sure something didnt go well,and saw him on one house with many dead villagers,took a bed sheet,and covered him after crying so much time on his dead body,she is 90 years old and remembers it like yesterday

[@thefastestfastalive8315]

Από πού είσαι ρε σύντεκνε;

[@dakiler2028]

Το τι είδαν οι πρόγονοι μας τη δεκαετία του 1940 δεν θα μπορέσει να συγκριθεί ποτέ με ότι περάσαμε σαν λαός μεταγενέστερα. Ούτε κατά 1%. Να σου ζήσει η γιαγιά σου.

[@larzy-kun7918]

Why would the film industry don't think of making a movie such as this? in my opinion making a history movie is a big hit and will educate the viewers and to remind those who fight for their homeland.

[@qcsorter4626]

Because the Germans won!

[@jameswebb3410]

@@qcsorter4626 so?

[@saboteurle7975]

Cause no nudes, sex and drugs can fit in that kind histories.

[@giwrgoshmm9430]

they dont want us educated man dont u understand? we live in a modern divide and conquer world.. with dark figures pull the strings .

[@dnkal2875]

because it hasn't American in the battle

[@Ryselle_Ryssa]

Great video as always 👍 I absolutely love the subtle black humor on some occations (Raki bottle in background of peasent at start, artilleryman loosing his helmet, parachuter in wing of plane screaming "aahhhh") 😄

[@alexiskaraolis1133]

Who would win Schnitzel boys Or Ultra instinct Cretan farmer

[@OAlemaozinho]

guess at the end, somebody got heavily schnitzel'ed

[@mayageorge1847]

Nobody calls them a malaka except their own dad!

[@thetreatment498]

So, this is where the farmer with the shotgun meme came from?

[@thetproject2266]

@B Whit we never forget we will always pay respect to kiwis , but that with the farmer was also true my grand father were in battle of Crete and he saw farmers with his children with knife 🔪 in their hands

[@Cyricist001]

A well supplied and entrenched enemy lost to parachuted infantry without artillery support...let that sink in.

[@baroncaledon5940]

*DEFENDERS OF SPARTA,ATHENS, AND CRETE*

[@neronemagno4140]

@Stavros Stamelos To arms! Facing defeat! There's no surrender, there's no retreat!

[@vounisios]

Time after time forced their enemies back to their line

[@csjrogerson2377]

Airborne disaster or pyrrhic victory!!!! As a lad, some 40 yrs ago, my next door neighbour in Dorset, England was Corporal Joe Rolff. An Iron Cross holder, Alpine specialist from Bavaria, parachutist, flamethrower operator, survivor of campaigns in Greece, Crete and Russia. Finally captured whilst defending the Atlantic Wall at Cherbourg. He told me that it wasnt a disaster, just terrible, hand-to-hand fighting and savage bravery on both sides. The Germans were just lucky. He held the Aussies and Kiwis in great regard. RIP Joe Rolff

[@commiesfacethewall5984]

pyrrhic victory for whom? germans had 2000+ casualties the allies had over 20000 casualties

[@tf2redpie]

My two great great uncles fought in the Cretan resistance. god bless them both for there bravery

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

Wow, this is a masterpiece. I'm glad you gave Greece the spotlight. I'd love to see you talk about the Battle of San Lorenzo and the story of Cabral, the soldier who sacrificed his own life to save José de San Martín. Latin American wars of independence are very interesting

[@gomez3357]

I see you everywhere

[@Fiaw1]

He didn't give greece a spotlight as usual. He always pulls a hat trick on every video about the greeks historically. All he focused on was about new zealand. This guy is a historical con artist

[@hbombfreak]

You are the Justin Y. of history videos

[@gareginnzhdehhimself]

The bravery of the Greeks is a sadly undervalued part of the Second World War. Also, guys please buy Armchair History TV to support Griffen because YT demonitized this.

[@user-fl3nb9kq3s]

It is not overlooked everybody talks about it,stop making it seem like noone is noticing. I am glad that this video showed that the 2 sides had problems. And that victory could have gone either way.

[@doigt6590]

I just watched the video like 3 seconds ago and had to go through 3 you ads as well as AH's own add, so don't worry, he's had my full support and his video was not demonetized.

[@dapperfield595]

**sigh** The only videos wherein I hope ads pop up are in history channels. These people are massively underrated and censored even though they're educational.

[@doigt6590]

​@@dapperfield595 Just to be clear, I'm not complaining about the ads. I'm just saying it's not true that this video was demonetized.

[@dapperfield595]

Doigt Well, pretty sure it was

[@coconutshrimp707]

Russian high command took heavy inspiration from the fallschirmjagers' tactics in planning the VDV assaults on hostomel / Kiev

[@chadgaston8615]

Putin probably seriously asked Shoygu: Where is our version of Crete and Dombås?

[@H3rraM4juri]

Well VDV assult was good but they though there wouldn't be though resistance like about 1000 troops but it was 200 vs about 1000 to 3000 troops

[@coconutshrimp707]

@@H3rraM4juri actually in retrospect it went phenomenally. Ukraine's claims of wiping them out turned out kinda unfounded because when RU ground forces showed up the VDV still held the airport

[@H3rraM4juri]

@@coconutshrimp707 source?

[@coconutshrimp707]

@@H3rraM4juri OSINT/Telegram footage and reports on the assault since then and from when they reached the airport. Never was any evidence Ukraine beat back the VDV, only blown up Ukrainian BTR-4s

[@thanasis-_-]

Greece was mostly the underdog that punched above its weight With culture and traditions that have survived over the pass of time

[@leoisabell9797]

Lil Griff: my favourite rapper.

[@thegoldenhelmet1297]

m

[@rgm-96xjesta31]

Fallschirmjager: * *Lands* * Some Greek boi with a rake: *"I'm about to end this man's WHOLE CAREER!"*

[@mikeromney4712]

...and after they found the maimed body of that paratrooper, you can guess what, according to the Hague Relations, happens in the nearby village.....

[@mikeromney4712]

@Kafee Republic As rude as this retribution might have been (and was), you already know that such a retaliation would not come from the sick mind of a psycho, but was general martial law? You know, the Allies invaded Germany (with nearly none resistance from the civilian population)? Were they psychos, when they shot that few non-combatants on the spot?....Dont get me wrong, this is not a comparsion, but maybe you rethink your statement in its generality...;)

[@mikeromney4712]

​ @Kafee Republic No, I said, that burning a village and execute the "appropriate" number of people, was (and even is) a law of war. Every beligrent nation have this right. Germany even did not signed the Hague Relation, but acted strictly according to the rules, except in Russia (Stalin also had not signed that Regulations). No doubt, that this is a crime against humanity (like war initself). I know, you did not explicit claimed, only Germany did this "lawful crimes", but when you read some comments here, I am going sick of this onesided view. There is allways that qlique, wich divides the people, do not let them live in peace....we need true reconciliation....and some comments do not help....Please excuse, when I was a little bit....rude..:)

[@mikeromney4712]

@Kafee Republic I agree 100%.....:)

[@mikeromney4712]

@Kafee Republic You too....:)

[@henningchristoph1300]

Wow, I did not know all of this. My great grandfather was parashooter on Crete. He was from Hamburg and in civil life he was a captain, conducting boats in the port of Hamburg. He was conducting so called "Schuten", which were smaller boats making the transport between the bigger ships and the storage buildings. But in the 30ies he was unemployed, Germany was in depression. So he joined the uprising "labourer party" NSDAP, as they gave the people new hope. He, among other young, unemployed men, was convinced quickly and he joined the voluntary forces to fight in the Spanish civil war (1938 I guess...). So he was with the Nazis from the beginning and due to his experience he could join the elite force of the parashooters. A lot wanted to join, not everybody could. He survived the battle of crete, but he came into a British camp for war prisoners after the allied took over again. He and his remaining comrades were kept in England. Even though the British were the most nice allies (in my opinion) the treatment was hard. He said when they were marching to their camp civilians were throwing rocks at them. One woman wanted to throw one in his face, but he took his head down and it hit the guy behind him. Broken nose and a lot of blood, but no medical treatment for Nazis. They gave them few food and few water. In the morning he and his comrades were licking the wet grass to recive the morning dew. My great grandfather was always good in organising, so somehow he talked a little with an English guard if they could have some potatoes, onions and oil to make "Bratkartoffeln", a typical German dish. The guards seemed nice and allowed them to cook and eat this food. What they didn't tell them was, that they gave them machine oil instead of oil for food. The German war prisoners became sick, got diarrhea and some died. BUT, still I have to say the British were much nicer then the Russians for example and shortly after the war in 1946 my great grandfather came back to Hamburg, back home to his wife and his two kids. My grandma still remembers that day. Their house was destroyed by the bombs, so they lived in a "Nissenhütte", which was just a shelter made out of metal sheets without isolation. My grandma (his daughter), was just 7 years old and she asked her mother, "when will this foreign man leave our house again, he eats all our food and we already don't have enough?". Basically my great grandfather came back as a broken man, he was not so talkative anymore, he was violent with his children and he drank and smoke a lot. He continued working in the port as a captain and he was always good in organising stuff. I know all of this, because he became very old and talked a lot with my mother, his granddaughter. He always asked her, if murder can ever be forgiven. I just could not stop writing, but maybe somebody is interested in this story.

[@insanetrickster]

Thank you for sharing.

[@dimitrislm5935]

I dont like what i am about to reply... But to be honest you cant describe what Russians and Brits done to your ancestor and say they were harsh etc.. Its kinda ironic.. Nazi have done far worst, to Jew's, Greek, French and whomever the conquered and resist... jews they gassed them, Greeks they mass murdered them, and let them starve to death(cause we didnt had anything else to offer), and so on... So throwing a rock is nothing in comparison... I am sorry again, for the comment but no sympathy for ex Nazi fighter.. In Greece our economy was worst than the Germans... We didnt try to conquer the world and do all the rest..

[@henningchristoph1300]

@@dimitrislm5935 A lot of people in this world think like you. That's why it was so important to me to sometimes write a part of my family story so maybe someone else will read it. My great grandfather was by the way very lucky because he survived.

[@dimitrislm5935]

@@henningchristoph1300 yes my friend... I understand your sympathy for your grandfather and the rest of your countrymen, but i personally cant... I dont say that Soviets didn't do what you said, or even worst, or dispute your words.. but i cant sympathise for them... They actually wanted to believe the were the superior race and wipe out the rest of us.... And i speak from my lates grandfathers experience who fought in Greek Albanian borders..about what Nazis did... The things he saw.... He was lucky to survive... italians was conquers too... They secretly helped greek populations in many villages... Nazis stole, tortured, killed, raped...

[@henningchristoph1300]

@@dimitrislm5935 Why don't you tell your story in more detail?