History 23/03/20 Operation mercury as killed with a major assault Hitler
In the modern world offensive after an artillery barrage, as a rule, carried out by emissions from aircraft airborne airborne troops. The first such operation “mercury” the Germans had during world war II, dropping in 1941, during the capture of the island of Crete. But what should have been a triumph, suddenly turned into tragedy.
to Capture Crete
in the Spring of 1941, when the attack on the Soviet Union was still a few months in the Hitler increasingly began to talk about the need to help the Union of Italy’s actions in Africa and Southern Europe. In the end, the Germans decided to conduct a military operation in Africa. But shortly after it started I realized that to fight on another continent is not easy. It was not so much resistance from the troops of the Wehrmacht African States and anti-British, but in the absence of a reliable rear. Constant shortages of fuel, ammunition and provisions was felt each and every day. German caravans to Africa, drowned in the English ships. The main base of the Navy of great Britain in the Mediterranean was the island of Crete. Take it it was necessary in that whatever was. To solve this problem, the Fuhrer has offered to arrange a no sea, and air assault to capture the island. Hitler was skeptical about this offer but after much persuasion, all agreed.
the Doomed troopers
it was Assumed that Crete will be thrown living force 7th parachute division. With the Germans it was not the first such operation. Informed forces that 7th division captured objects in Norway, Holland and Belgium. But, so a large-scale release assault the Germans have not yet carried out. On the heads of the defenders of Crete, the lightning was supposed to strike some 10,000 paratroopers. Additionally, with the expected sea landing, sostojashieabout 7 000 people. The Germans were not even enough planes for such a large-scale operation. Troops had to be brought to the island three times. Defended the island of Crete, according to German intelligence, only 5 000 British. According to preliminary calculations, they could not hold out and one hour. So thought the Germans. In reality the island was a garrison of 40 000 well trained soldiers and officers. This fact has dramatically changed the balance of power in the case of air-sea attack on the island. Moreover, British intelligence learned of plans of operation “mercury” for a few days in advance and have time to prepare thoroughly. Landing turned into a real massacre. The planes hit the AA guns of the island and paratroopers mowed down with machine guns. Besides paratroopers, in fact, was unarmed. Each of them had a knife and a gun. Rifles and machine guns they were supposed to get already on the ground from reset simultaneously with the landing of the crates of weapons. To do this they, of course, could not. Of 10,000 paratroopers to the ground alive got only 6 000. But they were waited by a sad fate. British troops surrounded them and pressed to the rocks to dump in the sea.
Deadly attack
However, the Germans did not accept defeat. To the island to help the standing dead remains of Marines were thrown to the Rangers and Marines. Junkers with the Rangers brazenly sat right on English airfield. They were shot. The aircraft was on fire, but the bullets pop out of the Rangers and instantly engage in. At the cost of enormous losses, the Germans, literally miraculously captured the airfield. Began transfer of reinforcements from the continent. Despite the numerical superiority, the British forced to retreat, and after a day to be evacuated from the island. The operation was completed as planned the victory of the fascists. But the price paid for it was too high. Of the 22 000 people stormed Crete killed 6,500 people. To the side of the island for the day flew 500 German aircraft, including knocked down or burned to the ground 270. Hitler was furious, but do nothing.
Russian Seven
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