Fortress Crete

The garrison's strength rose and fell considerably, depending on the progress of the North African and Russian campaigns, and the perceived threat for invasion.

After the general retreat from Greece in October 1944, the Germans, along with some Italian battalions, remained in Crete and in the Dodecanese islands.

They were cut off, possessed no air power or naval forces, with only some small patrol vessels and landing barges to maintain the links among the islands.

The eastern part of Crete was evacuated during the winter by the Axis forces and was then taken by a very weak mixed Anglo-Greek garrison.

British SOE officer Dennis Ciclitira arranged for Generalmajor Hans-Georg Benthack to formally surrender all German forces on the island to Major-General Colin Callander.