Fortress Crete
Encyclopedia
Fortress Crete was the term used during World War II
by the German occupation forces
to refer to the garrison and fortification of the Greek island of Crete
, which they had captured after a fierce battle
at the end of May 1941. The Germans occupied the western three prefectures of the island (the prefectures of Chania
, Heraklion
and Rethymno
) with their headquarters in Chania
, whilst the Italians occupied the easternmost prefecture of Lasithi
until the Italian capitulation in September 1943. The first German garrison unit was the 164th Infantry Division (a.k.a. Fortress Division Crete). In 1942, FDK was split to form the smaller Fortress Brigade Kreta and the 164th Light Afrika Division which was sent to North Africa. The 164th was succeeded in 1943-1944 by the 22nd Infantry Division. In autumn 1944, after the 22nd Division withdrew from Crete, the remaining German units on the island were consolidated under the 133. Fortress Division. The Italian garrison unit was the 51st Infantry Division "Siena"
which surrendered to the Germans after the Italian armistice of 1943.
The garrison's strength rose and fell considerably, depending on the progress of the North African
and Russian
campaigns, and the perceived threat for invasion. Its peak was 75,000 men in 1943 and its nadir 10,000 at its surrender of 12 May 1945.
The list of commanders of the German forces on Crete include Generals Kurt Student
, Alexander Andrae
, Bruno Bräuer
, Friedrich-Wilhelm Müller
, Ernst Klepp and Georg Benthack. Until the Italian armistice of 1943, the Italian occupation forces were commanded by General Angelico Carta
.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
by the German occupation forces
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
to refer to the garrison and fortification of the Greek island of Crete
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
, which they had captured after a fierce battle
Battle of Crete
The Battle of Crete was a battle during World War II on the Greek island of Crete. It began on the morning of 20 May 1941, when Nazi Germany launched an airborne invasion of Crete under the code-name Unternehmen Merkur...
at the end of May 1941. The Germans occupied the western three prefectures of the island (the prefectures of Chania
Chania Prefecture
Chania is one of the four regional units of Crete; it covers the westernmost quarter of the island. Its capital is the city of Chania. Chania borders only one other regional unit: that of Rethymno to the east. The western part of Crete is bounded to the north by the Cretan Sea, and to the west...
, Heraklion
Heraklion Prefecture
Heraklion is one of the four regional units of Crete. The capital is the city of Heraklion.-Geography:The regional unit of Heraklion borders on the regional units of Rethymno to the west and Lasithi to the east. Farmlands are situated in the central and the northern parts, at the coast and in...
and Rethymno
Rethymno Prefecture
Rethymno is one of the four regional units of Crete, Greece. Its capital is the city of Rethymno. Today its main income is tourism. The countryside is also based economically on agriculture and herding.-Administration:...
) with their headquarters in Chania
Chania
Chaniá , , also transliterated Chania, Hania, and Xania, older form Chanea and Venetian Canea, Ottoman Turkish خانيه Hanya) is the second largest city of Crete and the capital of the Chania peripheral unit...
, whilst the Italians occupied the easternmost prefecture of Lasithi
Lasithi
Lasithi is the easternmost regional unit on the island of Crete, to the east of Heraklion. Its capital is Agios Nikolaos, the other major towns being Ierapetra, Sitia and Neapoli. The mountains include the Dikte to the west and the Sitia Mountains to the east...
until the Italian capitulation in September 1943. The first German garrison unit was the 164th Infantry Division (a.k.a. Fortress Division Crete). In 1942, FDK was split to form the smaller Fortress Brigade Kreta and the 164th Light Afrika Division which was sent to North Africa. The 164th was succeeded in 1943-1944 by the 22nd Infantry Division. In autumn 1944, after the 22nd Division withdrew from Crete, the remaining German units on the island were consolidated under the 133. Fortress Division. The Italian garrison unit was the 51st Infantry Division "Siena"
51 Infantry Division Siena
The 51 Infantry Division Siena was a regular Infantry Division of the Italian Army during World War II. The Siena Division was fully mobilized in August 1940, for service in the occupation of Albania in the following September. It took part in the Greco-Italian War as part of the Italian VIII...
which surrendered to the Germans after the Italian armistice of 1943.
The garrison's strength rose and fell considerably, depending on the progress of the North African
North African campaign
During the Second World War, the North African Campaign took place in North Africa from 10 June 1940 to 13 May 1943. It included campaigns fought in the Libyan and Egyptian deserts and in Morocco and Algeria and Tunisia .The campaign was fought between the Allies and Axis powers, many of whom had...
and Russian
Eastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
campaigns, and the perceived threat for invasion. Its peak was 75,000 men in 1943 and its nadir 10,000 at its surrender of 12 May 1945.
The list of commanders of the German forces on Crete include Generals Kurt Student
Kurt Student
Kurt Student was a German Luftwaffe general who fought as a fighter pilot during the First World War and as the commander of German Fallschirmjäger during the Second World War.-Biography:...
, Alexander Andrae
Alexander Andrae
Alexander Andrae , whose first name is often mistakenly given as Waldemar, was a German military officer from Kösling,...
, Bruno Bräuer
Bruno Bräuer
Bruno Bräuer was a German paratrooper from Willmannsdorf, Prussian Silesia. In 1905 he joined the army cadets and started his military career. In World War I he received the Iron Cross first and second class whilst serving in the 7th West Prussian Infantry regiment...
, Friedrich-Wilhelm Müller
Friedrich-Wilhelm Müller
Friedrich-Wilhelm Müller was a General in the German army in World War II. He is notorious for having been the most brutal commander of occupied Crete, where he earned the nickname "The Butcher of Crete." After the war, he was tried by a Greek military court for war crimes, convicted and...
, Ernst Klepp and Georg Benthack. Until the Italian armistice of 1943, the Italian occupation forces were commanded by General Angelico Carta
Angelico Carta
Angelico Carta was an Italian military officer. During theAxis occupation of Crete in World War II,he held the rank of Lieutenant General and served as the commander of infantry division "Siena"....
.