A Unique Sort of Battle New Zealanders Remember Crete By Megan Hutching. SCARCE.

A Unique Sort of Battle New Zealanders Remember Crete By Megan Hutching. SCARCE.

Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers Limited, Auckland, 2001.

Softback in very good condition with no inscriptions, minor shelf/edge wear, minor fading to spine.

Of all the Second World War battles in which New Zealand troops fought, the Battle of Crete was perhaps the most dramatic. For 12 days in May 1941, a mixed force of New Zealand, British, Australian and American soldiers sought to prevent the island falling to the invading Germans. The defenders were hopelessly outnumbered and had little in the way of arms or munitions Still, they dug in and battled on gamely. Finally, the authorities realised that the island was going to fall, and they ordered the evacuation of thousands of soldiers. Not all could be taken off, and some 2100 New Zealanders remained on Crete, many of whom were taken prisoner of war. This is a collection of oral histories of 15 New Zealanders who were on Crete (including one woman). They each tell of their own experiences of the battle for Crete;the majority were soldiers, but one was a nurse, one a medical assistant, one a sailor on the evacuation ships. Prefaced with an introduction that explains the events that occurred before, during and after the battle for Crete. 254 pages with photos.