The German invasion of Crete, officialy named "Operation Merkur", is perhaps one of the most famous campaigns of WWII, as it was the first time in history where the initial stage of an invasion was complelty carried out by paratroopers.
On the morning of May 20th, 1941, thousands of German paratroopers were dropped over the island, which was defended by, in total, 42,500 Greek, British, Australian and New Zealand troops.
The Germans did manage to land succesfully and capture the island within 14 days, but they also suffered heavy losses, with around 3,700 German soldiers dead and 270 Ju-52 transport planes lost.
Especially the losses in paratroopers were high, and the bulk of the fighting after the inital drop was carried out by Mountain Infantry of the 5th Mountain Infantry Division brought to the island; some Italian troops were also landed.
The British also suffered heavy losses, with over 10,000 British soldiers becoming POWs, and several British warships being sunk, including three cruisers and six destroyers.
This film, called "Side by Side" is a propaganda film created by the Wehrmachts Military Medical Academy, focusing on the work of medics during the battle.
It includes footage of medics rendering first aid, operating dressing stations, flying out wounded soldiers back to the Greek mainland and footage from field hospitals in Athens, treating wounded from the fighting.
On the morning of May 20th, 1941, thousands of German paratroopers were dropped over the island, which was defended by, in total, 42,500 Greek, British, Australian and New Zealand troops.
The Germans did manage to land succesfully and capture the island within 14 days, but they also suffered heavy losses, with around 3,700 German soldiers dead and 270 Ju-52 transport planes lost.
Especially the losses in paratroopers were high, and the bulk of the fighting after the inital drop was carried out by Mountain Infantry of the 5th Mountain Infantry Division brought to the island; some Italian troops were also landed.
The British also suffered heavy losses, with over 10,000 British soldiers becoming POWs, and several British warships being sunk, including three cruisers and six destroyers.
This film, called "Side by Side" is a propaganda film created by the Wehrmachts Military Medical Academy, focusing on the work of medics during the battle.
It includes footage of medics rendering first aid, operating dressing stations, flying out wounded soldiers back to the Greek mainland and footage from field hospitals in Athens, treating wounded from the fighting.
https://archive.org/details/side-by-side_202510
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQwhkxfP1bM
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