Operation Merkur: Battle of Crete Tour

[unglesbeemj]

Battle of Crete Tour Photos

Photo 1: Ju 87 Stuka propellor shot down by Allied troops during their retreat through the Impros Gorge, prize exhibit at the war museum in Askifou, Sfakia.

Photo 2: Western slope of the Impros Gorge seen from the new highway (in 1941 a dirt track), Allied troops had to make their way on foot down the 5-mile long Gorge, upon arrival in Hora Sfakion many would not be evacuated and be forced to make the 50-mile return march back over the mountains.

[unglesbeemj]

Battle of Crete Tour Photos

Photo 1: Switchbacks on the dramatic highway between Askifou and Hora Sfakion.

Photo 2: Monument in Hora Sfakion marking a reprisal site for Cretan civilians executed by Germans for assisting the Allies during the evacuation, skulls and bones of victims are displayed behind glass in the monument base.

[unglesbeemj]

Battle of Crete Tour Photos

Photo 1: Church courtyard in the village of Kalikratis, site of German reprisal executions of civilians.

Photo 2: Monument in the village of Gerakari marking the German reprisals carried out on August 22, 1944 in response to the abduction of the island's garrison commander, Gen. Kreipe, Mt. Psiloritis can be seen in the background.

[unglesbeemj]

Battle of Crete Photos

That's the last of the photos!

Mike

[Alex K]

Impressive, thanks for sharing!
Regards, Alex

[J7W22007]

Fantastic！

Great photos with descriptions.

Thank you for posting!

Bet regards,
Taka

[robs]

Mike did you do your own tour or was it organised through a group? I'll get to Crete one day.

[unglesbeemj]

I did the trip on my own, but I did have some assistance in planning my day trips from a local guide who is familiar with the sites and routes. I picked up a local map of the island and rented a car, but some of the sites and museums are not easy to find, you can easily get lost on the small winding roads in the mountains, and sites are not well marked.

On the other hand, the Cretans are very friendly and helpful, many times when I got turned around someone was always willing to stop and point me in the right direction! I tried to provide as much information, e.g. names of villages and museums, in my posts to make it easier to find these places.

The island is well worth a visit, April/May and Set/Oct being the best times of year for exploration. Feel free to pm me whenever you get closer to a trip, happy to assist in any way that I can with directions or scans of my notes and map.

Regards,
Mike

[DougB]

Superb pics and digital tour Mike!

[Willi Z.]

Superb thread Mike! Your photos and comments are noteworthy.

I visited Kreta twice. In 1989 and again in 2001the for the 60th. It looks like all the displays have improved dramatically. I too went to that private museum in Askifou, and also hiked the British retreat route along the Impros Gorge. I am not familiar with "Cafe 107", is that new?

[unglesbeemj]

Thanks Willi.

Not sure if the Hill 107 Cafe is a new addition, its located off to the side of the parking lot/entrance to the German Military Cemetery. I do recall seeing a sign for "Hill 107 Cafe" on the winding road up to the Cemetery from the main highway, I thought it was a coffee shop and had no idea it had a serious exhibit.

There is a large aircraft wing frame and a Bofors gun carriage sitting out front. I don't think its really a museum, more like a coffee shop with a very nice, well designed exhibit on the Battle of Crete. I was told that the photo exhibit in the Cafe used to be the exhibit at the Cemetery entrance.

When I got there the Cafe was closed for renovations, like so many other places on the island, in anticipation of the upcoming tourist season. The owner was in the back digging up the courtyard, it took 3 attempts to convince him to let me go inside and take some photos, but the perseverance paid off!

Everything was laying around on the floor in disarray, and he was in a hurry to resume his work, but allowed me to look around while he took a smoke break and made some calls. He told me the 2 weapons canisters were found on a farm being used as flower pots!

If you recall, the weapons canister at the museum in Askifou is in much better condition, much darkened with age, but had the number "3" stenciled on the exterior and some other code, it even has one of the original wooden dividers for the rifles. I do have a photo of that one, but its underexposed and grainy, since I was not allowed to use a flash. But that Stuka propellor was really something.

Regards,
Mike

[Willi Z.]

Hi Mike,

Now I know where it is. I still suspect they have made some great improvment in the last 12 years! When I was there for the 60th there was a large crowd heading up the road and into the cemetary, so I must have just walked past it. There were about 300 FJ veterans in attendance so it was quite the event!

Here is a website I found on the place

http://junkers52maleme.com/?p=93

[unglesbeemj]

Museum Links and YouTube Video

Willi,

Great link to the Cafe 107 exhibit, wish I had seen that before I made the trip! Also, here is a link to the war museum in Askifou:

http://www.warmuseumaskifou.com/E_index.html

Also, anyone interested in the documentary "Europe's Secrete Armies: The Mountain Men of Crete" can find it here on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrpfPj1-SPI

Regards,
Mike

[Jonathan M]

Superb photos.
Thanks for sharing
Jonathan

[kiwitedferny]

Great timing! I'm off to Crete via Gallipoli and Monte Cassino in 3 weeks. This info will be very helpful.
Cheers!