I am planning to go to the western part of Crete this summer and must admit I know very little of what happened there in WW2 (even though when younger I did watch "Who pays the ferrymen"...). Any tips on some good reading to do in preparation? Or on museums to visit while there? Would be nice to find a book not only describing what happened but also where it happened, in order to go and visit some places of historic interest (with regard to WW2 I mean). Looking forward to your replies! Ronald.
There is a book in the Battleground series that may be useful. Crete: The Airborne Invasion 1941 (Battleground Mediterranean): Amazon.co.uk: Major Tim Saunders: 9781844155576: Books
Crete by Anthony Beevor is a decent read. You might like to visit the Museum in (Xania) Chania. One floor is dedicated to the battle for Crete 1941.
If you were going through central Crete I would totally recommend visiting Knossos and Phaistos, but I guess you may not be going that far east. (Because even if they aren't related to WW2, they are amazing!) P.S. would like to know if Alan Clark's book The Fall of Crete is worth reading, or better thrown away.
I have been a couple of times there and you can easly do the highlights: Maleme cemetry, Souda bay cemetry, Travonitis bridge., Askyfou War Museum, Platanis, don't forget Kondomari. If you google these subjects you get plenty information. but if you going with family than you have to do the beach also Eric
There are some excellent online resources. Google is your friend. The NZ and Australian histories are good. There are also some papers on the American CARL archive.
After some preparatory reading in "Operation Mercury: The Battle for Crete, 1941" by John Sadler (nice book), we did indeed go on holiday to Crete this summer. Absolutely loved the island and its people! While over there in a bookshop I found another great read: "The Cretan runner" by George Psychoundakis (foreword by Patrick Leigh Fermor). George was a Cretan shepherd who served as a runner for Leigh Fermor and others during the whole of the occupation of Crete. His story gives a great insight into the though and exciting life he and others led. I also found the War Museum at Askyfou very intresting. If interested take a look at some of the photos attached, including some taken at Kandanos. If you ever think of going there, don't think any further but do it!
Going back again this year. Loved the island and its people! Any new or additional tips on what to read or where to go when going to Crete?
Not WW2-related. I enjoyed the strangeness of Spinalonga. For an intro see: The Story of Spinalonga, the Island of the Lepers in Crete - Greeking.me (the first hit on searching). I enjoyed walking round the walls of Chania, and Heraklion was even better: Heraklion walls, the Byzantine, Arabian and Venetian walls of Heraklion The eastern headland of Souda Bay has the remains of a WW2 German battery, accessible via some unlit tunnels and gives a different view of the bay itself. The CWGC Souda bay Cemetery is spectacular. Plus the German Cemetery on the hill overlooking Maleme airfield: GRE. Maleme German Military Cemetery
As ever, I lean towards the (auto)biographies. I don't recall how much weight was given to what, but this was enjoyable. The author was Chief of Intelligence for Freyberg (and later went onto big things in journalism, such as founding the News at Ten). A Tale of Two Battles: Personal Memoir of Crete and the Western Desert, 1941 Geoffrey Cox (journalist) - Wikipedia
Back in Crete! What a place! Did a five hour hike today, from the south coast, going up the mountains and back again through Aradena Canyon and along a coast path, in well over 30 Celsius. I feel it must have given me at least some idea of the terrain crossed by the likes of George Psychoundakis (see post #7). Wouldn't like to do the same in winter though, and I was quite happy of course not having to worry about any armed Germans. Will add some photos when back home.