Kreta Campaign and Occupation

[tomfeise]

I am looking for German and Italian unit numbers and designations for the Island of Crete, if possible with locations as far as available.
I am living in Crete, and have a vivid interest in the wartime history here; there are lots of old bunkers (some even recently restored) and other wartime buildings around, but Greek sources fail to reveal any further details apart from "German".
Any help, info etc would be appreciated.

htpp://www.in-crete.net

[Alex Coles]

Plessen/Braun/Koch Gleiter detachments landed west of Maleme Airfield.
I think the 5th/6th Gebirgs-Jäger divisions landed at Maleme (When captured)
7th Fallschirmjäger (Flieger) Division all over Crete landings. The Sturm Regiment, all over Crete ; And that's allI have while I think the some of the XII Armee would of landed if the "Löhr" Plan was accepted.

[Nibelung]

Hello,

perhaps you would be interested in this: http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/b ... _260_4.htm

best regards,
Nibelung

[Ritter]

The 22.Infanterie Division was also stationed at Crete, maybe following links can help:

http://www.balsi.de/Weltkrieg/Einheiten ... /22-ID.htm

http://members.aon.at/dbundsch/id22.htm

Regards,

Ritter

[Alex Coles]

The 22.Infanterie Division[quote][/quote]

Really? I thought it was a paradrop invasion. Correct me if i'm wrong, but was 22.ID on there when it was already occupied?

[Lupo Solitario]

distinguish:

the only italian force partecipating to Crete invasion was a little battlegroup coming from Rhodes of a more or less regimental size. It landed in eastern side of Crete and saw few combat

the occupation garrison was assembled around the Infantry Division "Siena" reinforced in 1942-43 by Infantry Brigade "Lecce" (as a total 4 infantry and 1 field artillery regiments, I believe few or none support units, italian troops were under the german command of the island)

[Shadow]

Greetings Troops -

I have "Ten Days to Destiny, The Battle for Crete, 1941" by G.C. Kiriakopoulos (Avon Books printing June, 1986).

It has some interesting information in regards to the Orders of Battle etc. for both German and Allied sides.

If anyone is interested I can dig out as much information as I can for the OOB's as the battle progressed.

Best regards -

[asiaticus]

A while ago I cobbled together notes on the various units garrisoning Crete:

The Italians had:
6/41 - 9/43 11th Army (Supreme Command Greece)
6/41 - 9/43 51st Siena Division (Crete)
6/41 - 9/43 LI Infantry Brigade (Crete)
8/43 - 9/43 L Coastal Brigade (Crete)

For the Germans after Operation MERKUR, XI Air Corps of 12th Army was releived by:

6/41 - 12/41 XVIII Mountain Corps (12th Army)*
6/41 - 10/41 5th Mountain Division
6/41 - 8/41 6th Mountain Division
6/41 - 12/41 125th Infantry Regiment (Separate)
6/41 - 12/41 164th Infantry Division
9/41 - 12/41 1st Battalion/202nd Panzer Regiment (100th Tank Brigade)
* These listed units or parts of them were on Crete at one time or another.

This was followed by:
1/42 - 8/43 Military Commander Southern Greece
1/42 - 7/42 164th Infantry Division
1/42 - 7/42 125th Infantry Regiment (Separate)
1/42 - 12/42 Fortress Region Crete
7/42 - 12/42 22nd Airlanding Division

Then:
1/43- 9/44 Military Commander Crete
1/43 - 2/43 11th Air Force Field Division
1/43 - 9/44 22nd Infantry Division
1/43 - 2/44 Fortress Region Crete
2/44 - 9/44 133. Fortress Division
2/43 - 9/44 Army Coast Artillery Regiment "Kreta"
2/43 - 9/44 520 Marine Artillery Abteilung

Finally after the Germans evacuated Greece:
9/44 - 5/45 05 Military Commander East Aegaeis
9/44 - 5/45 133. Fortress Division (Crete)

[BergführerKiser]

You can take a look at my website "Die Gebirgstruppen" for information about the mountain troop actions on Crete.

http://www.gebirgsjaeger.4mg.com

Hurra die Gams!