The overall plan was to conquer Crete as part of Operation Merkur, with German Paratroopers landing in three main areas, Heraklion, Maleme and Rethymno.

Due to a mistake, and despite being in a superior position, New Zealand troops abandoned a strategic hill (see below), leaving it to the Germans, and then lost the airfield.

[2] British forces also garrisoned Crete, enabling the Greek Fifth Cretan Division to reinforce the mainland campaign.

[7] In Directive 31 Hitler asserted that "Crete... will be the operational base from which to carry on the air war in the Eastern Mediterranean, in co-ordination with the situation in North Africa.

[9] No Royal Air Force (RAF) units were based permanently at Crete until April 1941, but airfield construction had begun, radar sites built and stores delivered.

[10] On 30 April 1941 Major-General Bernard Freyberg, who had been evacuated from Greece with the 2nd New Zealand Division, was appointed commander-in-chief on Crete.

The static lines, which automatically opened the parachutes as the men jumped from the aircraft, were easily fouled, and so each man wore a coverall over all of their webbing and equipment.

Rifles, automatic weapons, mortars, ammunition, food and water were dropped in separate containers and until and unless the paratroopers reached them they were helpless.

[16] German paratroopers were also required to leap headfirst from their aircraft, and so were trained to land on all fours – rather than the usually recommended feet together, knees-bent posture – which resulted in a high incidence of wrist injuries.

Given the importance of landing close to one of the weapons containers, doctrine required jumps to take place from no higher than 400 feet (120 m) and in winds no stronger than 14 mph (23 km/h).

The transport aircraft had to fly straight, low and slowly, making them an easy target for any ground fire.

[18] The German airborne forces utilised assault gliders, the DFS 230,[19] which could carry a load of 2,800 pounds (1,300 kg) or nine soldiers and their weapons.

[21] The entire assault on Crete was code named "Operation Mercury" (Unternehmen Merkur) and was controlled by the 12th Army commanded by Field Marshal Wilhelm List.

[22] Before the invasion, the Germans conducted a bombing campaign to establish air superiority and forced the RAF to rebase its aircraft in Alexandria.

[23] A few days before the attack, German commanders were informed unequivocally that the total Allied force on Crete was 5,000 men.

[26] The defending New Zealanders started firing at them, and there were heavy losses for the Germans, with many paratroopers killed before they hit the ground.

Cretan civilians started attacking the landing troops with improvised peasant weapons, including shotguns, axes and spades.

[31] However, though the New Zealand units were convinced they were winning, and the Germans thought they were lost, Andrew decided to retreat from Hill 107, and join up his forces with the 21st Battalion.