western KRETA - Short report from June 2004

[jani_tiainen]

Hi,

I had possibility to cover some areas of Western Crete in this summer. Here is short report of what I saw. I stationed in Hanya area, but as the Island is not that big you have chance go almost anywhere in one day.

Note! that in many publications there are different names used for Cretean cities; Like Hanya = Chanya and Heraklion = Iraklion etc...

First I visited famous Maleme Airport and hill 107, which is now German war cemetary.

Jani

[jani_tiainen]

The cemetary is build on hill 107, which overlooks over the Maleme airport and was place for hardest battles in Creta. Basically many of these FJ's may have died on the same spot they have been buried.

Cemetary consist of two parts; first has all the graves for fallen soldiers KIA and buried during WW2. Another part of cemetary is for soldiers whose body has been recovered later from Cretean mountains.

Athmospshere and grave stones, which are now seen are only around 20 years old, when cemetary was renewed.

[jani_tiainen]

Another view

...

[jani_tiainen]

and one more

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[jani_tiainen]

This one has been taken few hundred meters west from Maleme Airport. First FJ's jumped on the left side of this river and tried push towards airport on right.

There is no water on the river when I was in Crete early June - it propably looked around the same when Germans attacked in late May.

The riverbank was place for first hard fighting.

[jani_tiainen]

The only practical way of moving yourself around Crete.

[jani_tiainen]

Museums were dissappointing.

I never found the military Museum of Hanya ... but visited one small in Iraklion.
There was supply canister, which FJ's used in invasion with parachute still with it.... But believe or not, I did not see single para helmet

Naval Museum of Hanya was nice small museum, but all Orders and medals (10-20 pieces) were low quality fakes, and most of them had nothing to do with battle of the Crete...like west wall medals and NSDAP long service medals...

[jani_tiainen]

Of course when you go to Crete, do not forget to go to Knossos - the Legendary place of Minotaurus.

People are finding pottery from antique all the time from Crete when they start building houses or new roads...

[jani_tiainen]

Unfortunately they are not allowed sell these on eBay.. so everything goes to museums

Jani

[junior]

Very nice report! Did you visited any fleamarkets? Did they sell German stuff in Crete, etc.
Cheers,
Junior.

[Giel VW]

My father has just taken off to Crete, just an hour ago !

[Si1964]

Jani,

A nice report, did you venture into the mountains at all?

Any more pics?

Thanks

[Simon O.]

Nice, i was there 10 years ago. I understand that the FJ memorial at Chania is now gone but i see you were at the river bed near Maleme, is the bridge (Tavronitis or something similar i think it's called) still there? it was quite close to the modern road and full of bullet holes. What of the airfield? when i was there it was a military airfield and you couldn't take photos too close. Also, did you go to Suda bay? the Commonwealth war cemetery is also well worth a visit.


Simon

[Chet Sowersby]

Jani,
Thanks for taking us along on your trip!

Chet