Lost Battle: Crete 1941 [Hardcover]

Macdonald (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 29, 1993

The invasion of Crete in 1941 should have been a textbook battle, a swift and decisive blitzkrieg, based on tactical surprise. In fact it was based on a series of misjudgements which were to result in large and bloody losses and Crete becoming the graveyard of the German parachute troops. In this account, Callum MacDonald shows how the interception of German plans by British intelligence allowed them to create a carefully prepared trap for the German parachute troops, and also how the German victory proved a hollow one, as their forces suffered greater losses in the battle for Crete than in the entire Balkan campaign. MacDonald has made use of material previously kept secret, to create a narrative of one of the vital battles of World War II.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The battle for the Mediterranean island of Crete (May 20-June 1, 1941) was unique in three respects: it was the first airborne invasion in history; it was the first time the Allies took major operational advantage after breaking the German "Enigma" code; and it was the first time that invading German troops encountered mass resistance from a civilian population. MacDonald describes how General Kurt Student developed Germany's airborne doctrine during the '30s, tested it in 1940 against the Belgian fortress of Eban-Emael, then led his paratroops into Crete. The Allied defenders (Britain, Australia, New Zealand) put up a good fight but were eventually forced to withdraw to a tiny beachhead from which most of the survivors were evacuated by sea. MacDonald ( Korea: The War Before Vietnam ) staunchly defends British commander Bernard Freyberg, whom he believes performed as ably as any general could under "impossible" circumstances. Ironically, the breaking of Enigma's secret severely restricted Freyberg's tactical options lest the enemy discover that the Allies were "reading his mail." Packed with ripsnorting action, MacDonald's battle narrative is a major account of a minor but interesting WW II campaign. Photos.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

The battle of Crete is significant for a number of reasons. British code-breakers, for example, had intimate knowledge of their enemy's operational plans. The impending German assault, history's first great combat airborne drop, resulted in large-scale civilian resistance and appalling casualties. MacDonald employs a variety of sources, some previously classified, to provide a fine exposition of the battle's strategic links to the Balkans and North African campaigns and to the upcoming invasion of the USSR. Neither British nor German leadership shines in this book, and the author shows that there was a great deal of thinking at cross-purposes before the Germans achieved their pyrrhic victory. MacDonald, a lecturer in England, has written several books that focus on military conflict in our century; his latest will appeal to both scholars and a wider readership.
- Robert A. Cole, " The New England Journal of History "
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 350 pages
• Publisher: Free Press; First Edition edition (November 29, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0029196256
• ISBN-13: 978-0029196250
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.3 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,712,219 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Coverage of the Med and the costly invasion of Crete, January 13, 2010

By 

Dave Schranck "Dave" (Anaheim Ca) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

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This review is from: Lost Battle (Paperback)

I usually try to read two or more books on the same campaign. You always learn something new and you have a better opportunity to judge the authors' efforts. I recently read Antony Beevor's "Crete" which is comparable to his other books in quality. Beevor's analysis of Freyberg, Hargest and Puttick was of a critical nature so a second opinion was desired.
In "The Lost Battle", another full length book on Crete, the author implies in his introduction that Freyberg was a victim of circumstance. Some examples would be his recent reinstatement to command and being in theater for a short time, lacked air and armor support and a poor communication network on the island. But he also didn't work well with Wilson and had poor control and communications with his subordinates. With poor control of his forces, deployment and reaction of his forces were inadequate. During the battle, the author does admit that Freyberg did lose periodic control of his forces and that he lost focus on the importance of keeping the airfields. This is more in line with Beevor's appraisal. There is much said about the accuracy and potential of the Ultra messages but which weren't fully taken advantage of by General Freyberg.

Both authors have a long, deliberate introduction; Beevor spends a part of it covering the battle and evacuation of Greece while MacDonald spends even more time describing the importance of the Med, Egypt and Middle East to the British Empire. He spends a lot of time describing the early months of the war in Africa against the Italians and how Wavell had to fight Churchill as much as the enemy over the disposition of Allied troops and the defense of Crete and Greece with Wavell's meager force. This portion along with coverage of Student and his paratroopers and Freyberg's profile is so long that it outweighs the actual battle.
Another main point in the introductions that the authors disagree is the primary reasons why Hitler attacked Greece and Crete. Mr MacDonald believes the primary reason was to intimidate Churchill into signing a peace treaty. Mr Beevor believes Hitler wanted to stablize his southern flank before starting Operation Barbarossa. Both reasons are valid but I would agree with Mr Beevor. Hitler couldn't begin a major invasion with the Balkans in turmoil or undefended.
The coverage of the eleven day battle was good, giving special attention to the key drop zones and landing sites and engagements for the first few days when the outcome was still unsettled. Platanias, Rethymnon, Heraklion, Maleme, Prison Valley, Canea and Suda are the key areas covered. The sea disaster of the 22nd is also covered well.

As the end of May draws near and the retreat and evacuation of the forces is nearing completion, the coverage recedes a little. The book ends with the evacuation of the British and NZ troops back to Egypt and elsewhere; there is no coverage of the post evacuation resistance on the island or the German refortification of the island or the kidnapping of General Kreipe. Despite not covering the resistance period, Mr MacDonald's coverage of the battle was good. If that's your main concern then his book should satisfy.
There are only a few photos and only one map. For the author to put so much effort into his narrative and to include only one poorly populated map is a real quandary and a disappointment.
The book has an impressive Notes and Bibliography sections and closes with an Index.

Both stories are very good but there are enough differences between the two that unless you get both, you should decide what has more appeal. Beevor includes the resistance period to the end of the war, a summary of the Greek defeat and evacuation and seven decent maps to distinguish his book. Most of common aspects of the books are about equally covered. Mr MacDonald more fully describes the environment and importance of the Med, North Africa and Middle East to the British and the influence that Crete will have if controlled by the Germans.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great Book with One Unforgivable Flaw, May 27, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Lost Battle: Crete 1941 (Hardcover)

This is an exciting account of a truly incredible battle. Yet for some inexplicable reason, the author condemns the reader to a losing fight to understand the action on the ground with one totally inadequate, puny little map. I can't believe it!