A bayonet charge by Anzac troops briefly halted the German advance during the Battle of Crete, buying time for Allied forces to withdraw.
Key Facts
- Date
- 27 May 1941
- Conflict
- World War II – Battle of Crete
- German invasion began
- 20 May 1941
- Tactic used
- Bayonet charge by Anzac defenders
- Defending forces
- Australian and New Zealand infantry battalions
- Outcome
- German battalion forced to temporarily withdraw
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
On 20 May 1941, Germany launched a combined airborne and amphibious invasion of Crete. After a week of fighting, British and Commonwealth forces were compelled to withdraw toward Chania, exposing their retreating columns to German pursuit and creating an urgent need for a rearguard action.
Several understrength Australian and New Zealand infantry battalions established a defensive line along a road known as 42nd Street, southeast of Chania. On 27 May, as a German battalion advanced along the road, the Anzac defenders launched a bayonet charge that inflicted heavy casualties and forced the Germans to withdraw.
The bayonet charge briefly halted the German advance, allowing Allied forces additional time to retreat. However, the respite was temporary; the Anzac troops subsequently continued their withdrawal toward the southern coast of Crete, where evacuation efforts were underway.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Side B
1 belligerent