I didn't realise the The Crete campaign was so big or critical to the war effort. Here's a brief description of the  battle for Crete.

On 28th October 1940 Italy invaded Greece. Though the Italians were initially repulsed, the German intervention forced the Greek army and the Commonwealth expeditionary force to be evacuated by the Royal Navy to Crete.

Cretes excellent harbours were a potentially important base of operations for the Royal Navy, from which it could threaten German and Italian shipping in the Med. 

By early 1941 there were 32,000 Commonwealth troops on the island.

The Royal Navy continued to dominate the Mediterranean, preventing a seabourne invasion of Crete.

However on 20th May 1941the Germans launched an airbourne attack against the British, Australian, New Zealand and Greek troops that were defending the island.

The Germans main objective was to capture the three airfields so they could safely bring in more men and supplies. After many days of fighting the Commonwealth troops forced to retreat to the south of the island. 

During the nights of 28-31 May, the Royal Navy managed to evacuate 18,000 troops.

The cost was high, 12,000 troops were taken prIsoner, one aircraft carrier, two battleships, six cruisers and seven destroyers were badly damaged and another three cruisers and six destroyers were sunk with a loss of some 2000 men. The RAF lost 47 aircraft in the battle. 

By June 1941 Crete was under German Occupation.

Of the 22,000 Germans that landed it is estimated that they suffered 6500 casualties of which 4000 were killed or missing.

1945 saw the return of the Commonwealth force, the Germans were overthrown and the island was back in Greek hands.

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