Table of Contents

THE FALL OF GREECE: Military Missions; Diplomatic Missions; Secret Missions; The Double Invasion; Across the Aegean. THE BATTLE OF CRETE: "A Second Scapa"; "The Spear-point of the German Lance"; "Most Secret Sources"; "A Fine Opportunity for Killing"; Maleme and Prison Valley; Close Quarters at Rethymno and Heraklion; First Night and Second Day; "The Seaborn Invasion"; Disaster by Land and Sea; Stalemate at Rethymno and Heraklion; The Battle of Galatas; Laycock's Commandos and Force Reserve; South from Suda Bay; Surrender; Cairo and London. THE RESISTANCE: Reprisal, Evasion and Resistance; Into the Field; The Peak of German Power; The Year of Change; The Italian Armistice; The Abduction of General Kreipe; The German Withdrawal; The Last Days of the Occupation.

Reviews

Few battles in World War II can surpass Crete for high drama, both on land and sea. Beevor, formerly of the 11th Hussars, writes about that battle with a soldier's eye and a historian's insight. Crete was a campaign unique in many respects, not the least of which was its ferocity. Beevor has a flair for re-creating the historical moment, and during sections of the text even the most detached reader will pause to catch a breath. He dissects the leadership of some of the war's most intriguing personalities, both Allied and German, illuminating their achievements and follies. His book is enriched with wonderful anecdotal material, some of which will both amuse and puzzle his American counterparts, whose military traditions are often so dissimilar. Recommended for both professional and general readership.-Robert A. Cole, ``New England Journal of History''