German paratroops and their equipment descend from transport aircraft, Crete, 20 May 1941

Photograph, World War Two, Balkans (1941-1945), 1941.

Following the occupation of the Greek mainland, the Germans invaded Crete on 20 May 1941 in a massive airborne assault. German paratroops attacked the airfields of Maleme, Rethimnon and Heraklion, but were met by stiff resistance from Allied soldiers and the Cretan population. The numerically superior Germans eventually overwhelmed the defenders and the Allies evacuated the island.

One of 17 German official photographs, showing paratroops training, the occupation of Greece and the invasion of Crete.