World War II Books

Beevor, Antony: Crete - The Battle and the Resistance:  

The best all-round perspective of the events up to, including and after the ten days in May 1941. Well written and very informative, the book is based upon interviews wit h those who took part and historical records. This is THE must-read book on Crete's enormous part in WWII events.

'Perilous Commitments: Britain's Involvement in Greece and Crete, 1940-1941'. Hardback £25.00 A superb new book, tracing the British connection during the early part of WWII in Greece and Crete. The first part shows the efforts made to keep Greece 'on-side' in 1940-1941; the second part follows the Cretan campaign. This is and extremely intelligently written book drawing from contemporary sources and subsequent books on this amazing series of events. Why, for instance, did the facist nation that was Greece, join the allies, rather than the Axis nations in 1940? What possessed Mussolini to invade Greece in the late Autumn of 1940, with the weather worsening and his ill-equipped troops sent back in the direction from whence they came in a very short period of time. If you have read Beevor's equally masterful 'Crete, the battle and resistance' and wish to learn more about that battle and the events leading up to it, this is the book for you. Absolutely excellent. Stelios Jackson.

Alan Clark: The Fall of Crete A view of the battle for Crete leading up to the evacuation of the Allied troops, written by the somewhat peculiar character that was the former Conservative MP and rampant diarist.

W. Stanley Moss Ill Met by Moonlight

Boys' Own" stuff with the true story of the kidnapping of the German leader of operations on Crete, General Kreipe, from his unrightful place at the Villa Ariadne to E gypt. Ignores the repercussions that were meted out on Cretan villagers but leaves you with the sort of warm feeling you get when you've just stuck one over on your mortal enemy. Hoorah! This is a splendid new edition too! Also published by Efstathiades in Greece, but DO NOT BUY THAT VERSION!

Psychoundakis, George - The Cretan Runner Introduced by Patrick Leigh Fermor, this is a magnificent book detailing the heroic deeds of the author and his part in the resistance. The 'runner' of the title refers to the elite band of men who knew the Cretan landscape well enough to escape detection by the Germans as they carried messages, smuggled arms and led Allied soldiers through land heavily populated with German soldiers.  (Beware of cheap and nasty Efstathiades editions of this book if buying it in Crete; Psychoundakis refused to sign that puplisher's copies!)

Forty, George Battle for Crete. An attractive large hardback detailing the major events and players of the battle of Crete, 1941. A 10 page chapter entitled "fighting on illustrates the resistance that continued after Crete had fallen. A very nice book though rather pricey.

C. Hadjipateras and M. Fafalios (eds) Crete 1941- Eyewitnessed A fascinating history of events as viewed by those involved at the time - Allied and German- through letters, newspaper articles and personal accounts, superbly compile d by the editors

G.C. Kiriakopoulos Ten Days to Destiny- The Battle for Crete 1941 Paperback. A very readable history of the battle for Crete. As Hitler himself pointed out, France fell in less time than Crete and the latter's resistance was far more effective.

MacDonald, Callum The Lost Battle- Crete 1941A very detailed study on the battle of Crete up to the point of evaction. Some black and white plates in the middle help to illustrate the book written by an eminent historian.

Jean-Yves Nasse Fallschirmjager in Crete- German Parachutists in Crete, 20 May 1941-June 1941 Well, ultimately they lost, but here is the photographic evidence of "Operation Mercury", mostly taken by Nazis of Nazis, as the battle and subsequent invasion of Crete, in May 1941, unwound. 160 pages of photos, with accompanying text. Makes for interesting viewing and reading, given the benefit of hindsight; which of these ordinary-looking chaps was capable of the atrocities that followed on Crete? Translated from German. Large hardback (4to)

Thomas, David A. - Crete 1941 - The Battle at Sea The Cretan battle from the perspective of the British Mediterranean fleet starts with the evacuation of Greece in March 1941 and takes us through the battle to the ultimate evacuation of Crete on the 1st of June 1941, detailing some of the heavy bombing raids that the Navy had to endure.  Rather nasty Efstathiades version.

Murray Elliott - Vasili: The Lion of Crete Vasili, was the name the Cretans gave to the New Zealander Dudley Churchill Perkins who was captured by the Germans, escaped then wandered around Crete, evading capture for a year before escaping to Egypt on a submarine - this is the story of his immense bravery