Just done a second re-watch as I found this an excellent presentation as I find the Crete campaign fascinating. Many years ago, I met two ex-POWs who of the 2/7th Battalion AIF. I asked them if they knew my grandmother's cousin who was killed, so I believed at 42nd Street - Cpl Stephen Warner. They replied that, he was their section commander and interestingly, that that his official date of death was incorrect, and he was killed the day before from a direct hit from a Stuka bomb. With nothing left of him, there was nothing to bury. They remembered my grandmother who they met before embarkation, and she was thrilled to hear this.
Hi buddy, thank you very much to both of you. It was a really interesting video about the battle on crete. I've just ordered the book . thank you for sharing. cheers, Gary ex Coldstream guards 🇬🇧
I pre-ordered the book and read the week of its release. Well written with a flowing narrative. A few minor errors but a great chapter on Corinth and his assessment of Lt.Col Andrew, his state of mind, the challenges he faced and the decision he had to make was excellent. So much more eloquent than the flippant Holland and Murray comments when they discussed Hill 107.
Really enjoyed Robert Kershaw’s presentation, a great a accomplished author and presenter. This is a subject I knew very little about. Many thanks Robert and Woody
Interesting story and excellent presentation. This hits a bit home for me in that my maternal grandparents emigrated to the US from Chania Crete prior to WW2, leaving behind many relatives who took part in the resistance and a home on the sea subsequently occupied by the German soldiers until the end of the war.
The most telling reply Mr Kershaw gave was "as a commander you have to make a decision. To do nothing is a failure to lead." THIS is why this battle for this key high ground decided the Fate of the Operation Merkuer--without Maleme AF, Student might've had to use his pistol on himself. Initiative, and decisiveness were the heroes of this battle. Lack of comms was the villain. Superb show, Woody! Kudos for Mr. Kershaw's dead-level retelling & walking the walk. :)
Great to see a non-Kiwi highlight the command and comms issues. Ironic that there was time to reference them because the action being discussed was rather focused, so not pressed to cover a lot of moving parts.
Crete is the clue that leads us to the larger conclusion, which is that world war two is quite a bit more determined by small unit action than all of us are comfortable with.
So much more detailed than Beevor’s book. Great that he puts it into the context of the retreat from Greece. If only the Greek fascist government hadn’t disarmed Crete and removed the Cretan regiments from the island. Even if the NZ troops etc were defeated they would have fought to the last man, woman and child. It would have ended up being an even bigger bloodbath for Germany. I also have more sympathy now for the NZ commanders but they didn’t prepare well. Sad.
I loved this presentation and as a kiwi hung on every word. I wasn’t aware that the key NZ brigade commanders still had shell schock from WW1. I do know that the NZ Army had deemed Hargest as unfit for overseas service, but he was a member of Parliament and got the prime Minister to overrule the army decision. This political interference would have contributed to the loss. (And Hargest put Freybergs command in Jeopardy by blaming the loss entirely on Freyberg).
Some good research but quite a few errors; There were no AA guns on 107, there being 40mm Bofers round the sides of the airfield. There is no mention that most of the german officers did not even reach Crete as their gliders tow wire was cut by a returning German aircraft with the vital glider crashing well short of Crete with no survivors, the most senior German officer on the airfield was fatally shot when he stood up to wave at some of his troops at the foot of 107.The tank counterattack is not correctly shown as one went right to the north end of the airstrip and ground to a halt on the riverbed under the river bridge.The airfield was not mined as the RAF forbad the army damage it, in fact they left most of their RAF service staff in a camp at the north end of the airfield presumably planning to re use the airfield when the German attack failed. The Germans did suffer greatly from lack of water especially in the river bed in the Prision area. Weston was the British commander who provided little co operation with Freyberg as despite there being a shortage of weapons ,especially to re arm the 19,000 Greek troops, crates of rifles were discovered by the Germans after the battle stored in a schoolhouse. After Andrews abandoned hill 107 about mid night ,a Maori patrol from the 28th Battalion ,led by a sergent Royal, wandered up to the summit, found no one there, and not having any orders, wandered off again. If a number of Maori soldiers, from the 28th,which was miles away, had stayed the whole result may have been different.
Shell Shock 20+ years later for the Common Wealth commanders....not so much for the Germans on their second or third Combat Jump in WW2 for their WW1 Veterans. Please.
Just done a second re-watch as I found this an excellent presentation as I find the Crete campaign fascinating. Many years ago, I met two ex-POWs who of the 2/7th Battalion AIF. I asked them if they knew my grandmother's cousin who was killed, so I believed at 42nd Street - Cpl Stephen Warner. They replied that, he was their section commander and interestingly, that that his official date of death was incorrect, and he was killed the day before from a direct hit from a Stuka bomb. With nothing left of him, there was nothing to bury. They remembered my grandmother who they met before embarkation, and she was thrilled to hear this.
Hi buddy, thank you very much to both of you. It was a really interesting video about the battle on crete. I've just ordered the book . thank you for sharing. cheers, Gary ex Coldstream guards 🇬🇧
I pre-ordered the book and read the week of its release. Well written with a flowing narrative. A few minor errors but a great chapter on Corinth and his assessment of Lt.Col Andrew, his state of mind, the challenges he faced and the decision he had to make was excellent. So much more eloquent than the flippant Holland and Murray comments when they discussed Hill 107.
Cheers Greg
Another great show! Thanks Robert & Paul!
Before the US entered the war. I knew it was something that had happened. More detail than I've ever had. Thank you both.
Really enjoyed Robert Kershaw’s presentation, a great a accomplished author and presenter. This is a subject I knew very little about. Many thanks Robert and Woody
Glad you enjoyed it!
Another enjoyable presentation from Robert and Woody, improving my knowledge each time of events in WWII.
Cracking show again, lovely to see one Para analyse another Para, I think that has a depth that can be unique.
Interesting story and excellent presentation. This hits a bit home for me in that my maternal grandparents emigrated to the US from Chania Crete prior to WW2, leaving behind many relatives who took part in the resistance and a home on the sea subsequently occupied by the German soldiers until the end of the war.
Thank You.
Great show where I learned a great deal, thank you gentlemen.
Sadly, I missed this live. Never mind, I've watched it now.
Woody/Robert. Thank you for a very interesting presentation! I have learnt a lot from it! Bob
More WW2 information new to me, thanks!!!
Came to the show at 71 minuyes, so I am now back. Such an interesting battle, and such different conclusions that were drawn from it.
Got distracted towards the end, so had to re-wind a bit. Hard to figure how a Pyrrhic victory stacks up vs a humiliating defeat
Indeed
Great book Great show.
Sorry I missed this. I'm a moderator on the Yorkshire Cricket CZcams channel and was a bit busy today. Just catching up now.
Thanks for the great Show!
Super! :) Thanks!
I just read this. It’s a very good read. Thanks for the hard work!
One more thing. I got my copy off of Amazon because I put Robert Kershaw on my follow list. It’s a very good way to track your authors.
The most telling reply Mr Kershaw gave was "as a commander you have to make a decision. To do nothing is a failure to lead." THIS is why this battle for this key high ground decided the Fate of the Operation Merkuer--without Maleme AF, Student might've had to use his pistol on himself. Initiative, and decisiveness were the heroes of this battle. Lack of comms was the villain. Superb show, Woody! Kudos for Mr. Kershaw's dead-level retelling & walking the walk. :)
Great to see a non-Kiwi highlight the command and comms issues. Ironic that there was time to reference them because the action being discussed was rather focused, so not pressed to cover a lot of moving parts.
Crete is the clue that leads us to the larger conclusion, which is that world war two is quite a bit more determined by small unit action than all of us are comfortable with.
Another good show. I'll definitely have to look into the battle for Crete beyond this!
Here to fight the algorithm
Thanks very much
So much more detailed than Beevor’s book. Great that he puts it into the context of the retreat from Greece. If only the Greek fascist government hadn’t disarmed Crete and removed the Cretan regiments from the island. Even if the NZ troops etc were defeated they would have fought to the last man, woman and child. It would have ended up being an even bigger bloodbath for Germany. I also have more sympathy now for the NZ commanders but they didn’t prepare well. Sad.
I loved this presentation and as a kiwi hung on every word. I wasn’t aware that the key NZ brigade commanders still had shell schock from WW1. I do know that the NZ Army had deemed Hargest as unfit for overseas service, but he was a member of Parliament and got the prime Minister to overrule the army decision. This political interference would have contributed to the loss. (And Hargest put Freybergs command in Jeopardy by blaming the loss entirely on Freyberg).
Some good research but quite a few errors;
There were no AA guns on 107, there being 40mm Bofers round the sides of the airfield. There is no mention that most of the german officers did not even reach Crete as their gliders tow wire was cut by a returning German aircraft with the vital glider crashing well short of Crete with no survivors, the most senior German officer on the airfield was fatally shot when he stood up to wave at some of his troops at the foot of 107.The tank counterattack is not correctly shown as one went right to the north end of the airstrip and ground to a halt on the riverbed under the river bridge.The airfield was not mined as the RAF forbad the army damage it, in fact they left most of their RAF service staff in a camp at the north end of the airfield presumably planning to re use the airfield when the German attack failed. The Germans did suffer greatly from lack of water especially in the river bed in the Prision area. Weston was the British commander who provided little co operation with Freyberg as despite there being a shortage of weapons ,especially to re arm the 19,000 Greek troops, crates of rifles were discovered by the Germans after the battle stored in a schoolhouse.
After Andrews abandoned hill 107 about mid night ,a Maori patrol from the 28th Battalion ,led by a sergent Royal, wandered up to the summit, found no one there, and not having any orders, wandered off again. If a number of Maori soldiers, from the 28th,which was miles away, had stayed the whole result may have been different.
Hargest with a hard 'g' please [Har-Guest] - the family hails from Wales.
Are you certain about this?
Shell Shock 20+ years later for the Common Wealth commanders....not so much for the Germans on their second or third Combat Jump in WW2 for their WW1 Veterans. Please.