In May 1941, German forces invaded the Greek island of Crete. This is the largest airborne invasion since the beginning of air warfare and airborne assaults. Winston Churchill later said: “To lose Crete because we did not have enough forces would be a crime. " to the Chief of the Imperial General Staff on June 4, 1940. Death and destruction became the norm for Axis power, Allied forces, and even civilians during a ten-day battle following a airborne assault led by the Germans. By winning the battle, the Germans managed to force thousands of people to flee to Egypt by sea. Some say the fall of Crete could have easily been avoided. Although the Germans and Adolf Hitler won the battle, this battle forced them to re-evaluate their own tactics. Although the Germans made mistakes, the Allied forces made larger shortcomings and mistakes that ultimately caused them to lose the battle.History“As an air war base against Britain in the Eastern Mediterranean, we must prepare to occupy the island of Crete. For planning purposes, it will be assumed that the entire Greek mainland, including the Peloponnese, is in the hands of the Axis powers. » This quote is a direct reflection of the growing need and concern for terrain to support future operations in the Mediterranean region, expressed by Adolph Hitler in Directive No. 28. By 1941, it had become clear that the Mediterranean region was becoming an extremely decisive area for both sides to influence the future of World War II. The Germans understood that by taking Crete it would prevent British forces from hindering operations in the Balkans, which would further influence their attack on the Soviet Union planned for the summer of 194......mid paper...... Works CitedAntill, Peter. Crete 1941: lightning airborne assault by Germany. Osprey Publishing, 2005 Buckley, Christopher . Greece and Crete 1941. World War II, 1939-1945; a popular military history. London: HM Stationery Off. Holmes, Richard. The Oxford Companion to Military History Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004Spencer, Randolph and Gilbert, Martin. Winston S. Churchill: The Finest Hour, 1939-1941. Houghton Mifflin, 1983. Schreiber, Gerhard; Bernd Stegemann; Detlef Vogel. "Germany and the Second World War: the Mediterranean, Southeast Europe, and North Africa, 1939-1941, Volume III." Oxford University Press, 1995Führer Directive 28, World War II Database, http://ww2db.com/doc.php?q=326, 2012. “Overview – The Battle of Crete,” URL: http:// www.nzhistory. net.nz/war/the-battle-for-crete/overview, (Department of Culture and Heritage) updated December 20-2012