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Battle of Crete

Axis invasion of Crete during World War IIBelligerentsAllies: United Kingdom GreeceNew ZealandAustraliaAxis: Germany ItalyCommanders and leadersRobert LaycockBernard C. FreybergKurt StudentWalter KochFrancesco MimbelliStrengthUnited Kingdom: 18,047Greece: 10,258 – 11,451New Zealand:7,702Australia:6,540Total: 42,547Germany: 22,000 paratroopers and mountain troops 280 bombers 150 dive bombers 180 fighters 500 transports 80 troop glidersItaly:2,700Casualties and lossesBritish Commonwealth:3,579+ killed and missing1,918 wounded12,254 capturedGreece:544+ killed and missing5,225 capturedMaterial:Royal Navy:12 fleet and 7 auxiliary ships sunk, 22 damagedRoyal Air Force:21 aircraft shot down12 aircraft destroyed on groundTotal:~23,000 total casualties4,000 to 6,000 killed (4,000 ground troops, 2,000 sailors) Luftwaffe:1,032 killed1,632 wounded2,097 missing (including aircrew losses)5th Mountain Division:321 killed488 wounded324 missingMaterial:Luftwaffe:284 aircraft lost, 125 damagedItaly:1 destroyer damaged1 torpedo boat damagedTotal:5,894 casualties Over 500 Greek civilians executed by Axis soldiers.The Battle of Crete (German: Luftlandeschlacht um Kreta, Greek: Μάχη της Κρήτης), codenamed Operation Mercury (German: Unternehmen Merkur), was a major Axisairborne and amphibious operation during World War II to capture the island of Crete.

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