The Fall of Crete (Cassell Military Paperbacks)

The author narrates and analyses the situation leading up to the invasion, the fighting itself, the decisions (in indecision) by the senior New Zealand commanders which led to the Allied withdrawal and the withdrawal itself. Other than an epilogue of stories of individuals, he ends his narrative there. The style is similar to Barbarossa (another of Clark's books) with a concentration on operational and command aspects rather than the emphasis on individual experiences and anecdotes favoured by several more modern popular historians. He seems particularly good on naval aspects.

He concentrates on the British and ANZAC experience with relatively little attention given to the Greeks and Germans. His limited analysis of the disastrous Allied decisions around Maleme was unsatisfying but Alan Clark is at a disadvantage here relative to more modern historians because at the time of writing (1962) important primary sources were unavailable.

In several places he makes some fairly silly claims about the national characteristics of the protagonists involved which he doesn't bother to substantiate. I found his criticism of the German capability of fighting in small groups before being able to form an organised front particularly unfair, especially considering the heavy casualties experienced by the German invaders who were after all able to eventually prevail.

A major failing is that there are only two large scale maps, one of the Eastern Mediterranean, one a single page map of the island. This makes following some of the fighting difficult since the text references many places too small to appear on this map; I found myself continually referring to Antony Beevor's book just to understand Clark's.

Another surprising omission is the lack of any appendices; an order of battle and an estimation of losses would be useful contributions to better understanding.

If you only ever read one book on the battle for Crete, I'd recommend Crete - The Battle and the Resistance by Antony Beevor ahead of Alan Clark's book. Both spend a similar length on the fighting itself but Beevor makes use of sources unavailable to Clark, provides good dispositional maps, is easier to follow and discusses in detail the resistance and life on Crete under occupation.

An excellent read (4/5 people found this helpful)

Describing the operation to take the island from the ANZAC garrison and the recently evacuated forces from the Greek debacle. Although it is generally well known that it was ‘a close-run thing’, it wasn’t until I read this book that I became aware just how close the Commonwealth forces came to pushing the Fallschirmjager off the island. But in a few days of bitter fighting the paratroopers had captured the island from a numerically superior but ill-prepared and disorganised enemy.

Excellent (5/6 people found this helpful)

Excellent book from an excellent author. Minus point: almost comlete lack of maps.

A first class account of the battle for crete. (7/9 people found this helpful)

I enjoy reading books which cover the factural accounts of World War II. I could not put this book down, it is a first class account of the battle of Crete and illustrates the behind the scenes battle of red tape and communications. A must for the military reader..Well done the New Zealanders! Wills - Northern Ireland ..

What can I say, one of my favourites. (17/17 people found this helpful)

I first read this book in 1993 while on holiday in Crete, the perfect book to read seeing I was also an avid reader of military history (later to study it). I have since read it again, although not recently, but the book still stands out in my mind. Alan clark is a good historian but he is an even better writer. His style is well suited to epic and tragic events: he writes with so much feeling but also with a common sense wisdom that makes his writing appeal to non-academics. But there is plenty of scholarly research and detail for it to be read by his fellow historians and those students in between.

The book is more than just a narrative, it contains some succint analysis than rings true. His accounts of inept and confusing Allied leadership on the island is heartbreaking especially when reading of the efforts the British Commonwealth soldiers were mounting to deal with the German airborne invaders, already de-moralised from the Greek evacuation. Even more unsettling is the fact that they nearly, so closely succeeded. Of course the book also looks at the German plans and tactics within the narrative, and the subsequent hard fighting on landing. This is done in a typically Clark anecdotal fashion with detailed accounts of the bloody skirmishes. Also included is much detailed information on strengths and dispositions that never bogs you down, upsetting the flow.
If you liked Barbarossa alot and Clark's style of writing appeals, then The Fall of Crete is a recommended read, especially if one's after something a little less demanding but still requiring thought.

The Fall of Crete (Cassell Military Paperbacks)

Alan Clark

Reader Reviews:

Superseded by later work but good analysis of the battle itself (0/0 people found this helpful)

An excellent read (4/5 people found this helpful)

Excellent (5/6 people found this helpful)

A first class account of the battle for crete. (7/9 people found this helpful)

What can I say, one of my favourites. (17/17 people found this helpful)

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