[clarification needed] In 1943, Allied forces stationed in the Middle East commission a team of commandos led by Nikitas (Nikos Dadinopoulos) to destroy the largest German military airport in occupied Crete.
The film was shot and released during the Greek military junta of 1967–74 and as such was subject to the strict censorship common at the time.
Filming took place in and around Rethymno, in September and October 1970, including in the archeological site of the Fortezza castle, in the old city and the walls of its prefectural building.
The film is mainly remembered in Greece for a single line by Dimos Starenios' character, while he is urging the gathered villagers to cooperate with the surrounding German troops, asking for information about the resistance.
Whoever knows, talk.After none of the villagers say anything and the priest steps forward and gives a rousing patriotic speech, the German troops fire on the crowd, massacring the gathered Cretans.