See, we can finish series! Stop your libelslanderdefamation :-) Now, 15 more :-) Yes, the next Winter War video is in the works!

As a youngster backpacking my way around Europe in the early 1980s I went to Crete. Sitting on a wall in Heraklion I noticed an old woman dressed all in black looking hard at me for ages. She disappeared. Shortly thereafter she returned with a chap who turned out to be her son and he spoke English. He asked where i was from and I pointed at the flag on my backpack and said NZ. His mother was delighted, she told me (via her son) she hadn't forgotten how we had fought the Germans and insisted I go back with them to their house for dinner. It was an amazing privilege, and I remember it well even to this day. Cretans and Kiwis, we are tight!!!!

The Australians/New Zealand's soldiers defended our island like it was their own, HUGE RESPECT 🇦🇺🇳🇿♥️🇬🇷

I live in Australia and have Cretan background. My Grandmother’s side hid an Australian from the Germans and my Grandfathers side hid a New Zealander from the Germans.

I remember going to Crete a few years back, and going into the interior villages. Still remember seeing a house that had flower pots made of old airplane bomb casings from a Stuka bomber.

Can't believe you didn't include Admiral Cunningham's famous quote (dismissing concerns the Royal Navy's losses were too great in the evacuation, speaking to the prestige and valour of the Royal Navy under fire): "It takes the Navy three years to build a ship. It will take three hundred years to build a new tradition. The evacuation will continue."

Everyone ho has fought alongside us has earned our eternal friendship and gratitude. Long live Greece, Australia and New Zealand.

The famous German writer Erhart Kästner acknowledged the following: “In 1952 I visited Athens for the first time after the war. In the German Embassy, when they heard that I intended to go to Crete, they suggested to me that I pretend to be a Swiss, because it had only been a short time since the German Occupation and the wounds were still unhealed. But I knew the Cretans. From the very first moment I said I was a German and not only did I have a good time, but wherever I went, I experienced the legendary Cretan hospitality. An afternoon, at sunset, I visited the German Cemetery in Maleme. It seemed like it was empty; only the last sun rays fell on it. But I was wrong. There was a living creature there. It was a Cretan woman dressed in black. To my greatest surprise I saw her lighting candles to the graves of the German soldiers, who died during the battle of Crete, and she was going methodically from the one grave to the other. I approached her... and I asked her: - “Do you come from here?” - “'Yes...” she replied. - “And why are you doing this? Those men killed so many Cretans during the war...!” The woman replied: - “Son, your accent proves you to be a foreigner, therefore you probably do not know what happened here from 1941 to 1944. My husband was killed in the battle of Crete and I was left alone with my only son. Germans took him as a hostage in 1943 and he died in a concentration camp (KZ) in Sachsenhauzen. I do not know where my son has been buried. But I know that each of these men was son of a mother like me. And I light candles to their memory, because their mothers cannot come down here. I am sure that another mother lights the candle in memory of my son.” And the German finished surprised: “Only in Greece such an answer could have been given!”

Been to Australia back in 2018. I visited some memorials in Sydney and Perth and showed the Anzac Troops the respect they earned throughout their history. I‘m a German myself but i mourn every loss of life. These fine men, which gave their lifes to protect other, will never be forgotten. May all of you live long, healthfull and happy lifes. Cheers 😊✌🏻

As Winston also said, “Hence, we will not say that the Greeks fight like heroes , but that heroes fight like Greeks .” Adolf Hitler said: “The Greek soldier, above all, fought with the most courage.”

Following the fall of Greece and Crete, the British decided to send in agents to aid and co-ordinate local resistance groups. These men included the writer Patrick Leigh Fermor, and had some notable successes, including the kidnap of the German commandant of Crete, described in Leigh Fermor's book Ill-met by Moonlight. The British agents got off to a bad start, however. Special Operations Executive needed men who spoke Greek, so recruited a number of Classical scholars. These men did indeed speak Greek - but the Greek of Homer and Thucydides. The locals found them incomprehensible...

I have a cousin named Crete, Maori went home and named their children after battle's, Alamein is another popular name after the battle of El Alamein. Ake Ake Kia Kaha E!

Man Crete is very popular. Between Kings and Generals, Armchair Historian and WW2 week by week, it’ll have a hard time choosing a date.

Thank you for this. Very emotional. This isn't taught nearly enough in school in Australia.

I watch your videos frequently, I can not express the chills and the blood turning ice cold moment that I experienced while watching this particular one... My Uncle, my Grandmothers Brother, was killed while serving aboard the HMS Valiant during this operation. He was one of the British sailors killed by the Luftwaffe bombing of the Valiant, the family was notified weeks later but not given much information beyond it occurring in the Mediterranean during a battle... chills... The loss of her brother devastated my grandmother, it was a wound she carried for the rest of her life. She met my Grandfather years later when she was serving in British Army, he in the US Army Air Corp, while preparing for the Normandy Invasion in England.

Australians and New Zealanders absolutely love Greece and her people! So many great Greek community’s in Australia who love and respect where they live. But also where they are from! ♥️

Germans: Operation Mercury was such a disaster! Americans and Brits: Hold my Market Garden.

As a Cretan I thank you Kings and Generals for this video. I would like to give an idea since I haven't seen foreign youtube channels cover the Cretan war of 1648-1669 between Venetians, who occupied Crete since 1211 but generally had the support of the people in comparison to the alternative, and the Ottomans, with the besieged city of Chandakas ( Χάνδακας ) falling to the Ottomans in 1669 ( there's an Ephialtes moment in the story as well! )

As a local and historian, I found 1-2 minor mistakes. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders landed at Tymbaki and then proceeded to Heraklio, not Chania. Also the 42nd street extended from the road between Souda and Chania to Tsikalaria, not the full length to Chania. Very hard to condence the battle in such a short video, but its actually a good one.

Salute to those brave Australians and New Zealanders who gave their lives resisting in a foreign country against that horrible tyranny I have no word for them expect “RESPECT” ✊

Lost 3 cousins in the Battle of Crete. My grandfather and a Great Uncle also fought there though the later was captured

My great grandfather died defending Crete. RIP Private Neindorf Also there were many Australians defending Malame airfield with the New Zealand forces.

My granddad was one of Laycock's British commandos who covered the retreat off the island. He, like 3/4 of his unit, was left behind and captured by the Germans. Great to see the battle I've heard so much about being brought to life this way - brilliant video.

The Australians and Kiwi's went above and beyond the call of duty

I went to Crete as a kid and I had heard of the battle. I remember looking at the hilly, unvegetated, open terrain with gorgeous sea and landscape, and thinking how bloody the battle must of been. To think of the soldiers assaulting those open hills with bayonets and grenades under fire from machine guns, aircraft, and artillery. It must have been a terrible and awesome sight.

A warrior N.Z. soldier called Charles Upham was awarded the V.C. for his actions for the battle of Crete. He was one of many that fought bravely with their Cretan brothers & sisters against the enemy. They shall be remembered!

This episode taught us the importance of air superiority. Without the overwhelming superiority of the Luftwaffe, and the capture of Malemi Airport which ensured ceaseless flow of German supplies and manpower into Crete, the German army might not be able to seize the island, and very likely turned out to be "another Operation Market Garden".

Cretan Greeks: Hippity, hoppity... *G E T O U T O F M Y P R O P E R T Y*

I remember writing my end of year history assignment on how drastically different the outcome of the battle could have been, if Andrew had not withdrawn from hill 107. Kia kaha, still Proud to Call him a kiwi.

*But why did we never upgrade our wallets?* Because the new ones are smaller and cannot hold anywhere near the same amount of stuff as the old ones. Old people have things in their wallets. Substantial amount of bills, coins, cards, memory notes, coupons, family pictures and more. This is why the old style is so popular, because the new style does not offer such things. The new ones can hold few cards, very small amount of bills and maybe a memory card or two if you stretch it.

Respect Greece for brave defense from Turkey.

You really can see what high standard the Wehrmacht held back then, when they considered 23k enemy casualties and an accomplished objective a failure, because of 6k casualties on their side.

Kings and Generals, another amazing video! I absolutely love all your content and the level of detail you add to your videos really helps to put you guys miles ahead of the competition! Keep up the amazing work!

Imagine being a German Paratrooper slowly falling with your parashoot only to see under your feet 5 middle-aged muscular men with great mustaches waiting you to fall with their rakes and rolling pins.🙏🏼

The channels editing and overall production quality is just top notch, keep up the good work!!

Could you please do more videos covering more great battles of WW2? You all do a wonderful job of bringing them to life, it really helps us to visualize them more, so thank you!!!

This channel deserves tens of millions of subscribers, the video quality is over the roof!

Crete is the USA of Greece, even though owning guns is not allowed, a lot of Cretans have Berettas in their cars remembering those old days

Love the ending background music.. it's enthralling..intense

the quality of both animations and narration is just amazing!

Greetings from Crete , very good job !

Germans : Taking heavy casualties in the operation to take Crete Italians : Just walking around until the worst end and they reach ierapetra

Ah, JU52. I remember having seen one fly around where I grew up way after WW2. The 3 engine and striped(?) metal hull are quite unique and noticeable. 10:15 When fighting against Paradrops, no tank is outdated or to weak. Paratroopers always travel light.

These videos keep getting better, fantastic job K&G

This was such an awesome series. Very well done!

That feeling when you are a paratrooper and your equipment lands in enemy machine guns lines of fire

Love and respect Greece from Bangladesh

I would really like seeing more modern battles. Keep up the good work.

Waking up to another great video from Kings👍

make a video for the Greek resistance 1941-1945

My Papou’s brothers and sister were killed in this war. And he had to bury them in his backyard when he was about 3 or 4. One of his brothers was only 2 years old.

My god as always I love you guy's videos!!!!! And the the details you guyys put into your videos is amazing as always and the animations truly just hooks you in to the video even more!!!

Yesss more kings and generals WW2!! You sir have made my Sunday, Thank you!!

I enjoy your videos, just a correction to the flags, our flag (NZ) has 4 red stars, which differentiates us to our ANZAC brothers the Aussies. My Uncle served in the 28th Maori Battalion. I grew up in a greek neighbourhood in Wellington with many descendants from Crete, the bonds between our countries will always be strong.

"If I had to take hell, I would use the Australians to take it and New Zealanders to hold it" - Erwin Rommel

Nice video with clear explaining of striking steps

Another great video. Well done.

I’m a Greek American. My family came here after ww2. I am 27. Me and my sons will always stand in defense of Australia, New Zealand, and Britain for their aid in this war. Idc if it was strategic for the war itself, it means a lot that all the kiwis and Australians and British lost their lives defending the ancestral homeland of the Greek peoples

I really like the map art style, looks like from HOI4

Greetings from Crete !!! you are one of the best YouToube channel ever !!! you are welcome in Crete !!!

Amazing! As always :)

Kings and Generals puting other youtube content creators to shame.

I am a simple Guy: I see a Kings and Generals video, i click in the Like and watch immediately. Simple! Haha

Amazing video as always :)

Love this channel. Shows historical content that mainstream history channel's ect refuse to cover.

I would’ve used my Cretan archer special unit and kicked them out!

The animation on these videos is just ridiculously good.

Great map work and content!

My Grandfather arrived with the second wave (Gebirgsjäger) and was wounded by a british granade. He later volunteer out of the Lazarett to join the Wehrmacht Heeresgruppe Mitte for the attack on Moscow cause he wanted to be 'part of the Endsieg Parade'. He was later wounded again (lost his right thump) in the so called Winterbattle of 41/42 and made home to Austria with the Eisernes Kreuz first class. Never talked much about Russia but he had good memories about Kreta

respect Greeks and British forces from Turkey

What a wonderful documentary 😘😘👍

Great video!

Germany in 1940- 1941: Hitler flips a coin with both same sides: Its heads. Invade another country

My respect for the Wariors from the Southern Pacific, who voluntarily fight for the freedom of their neighbors in other parts of the world, even now. This is what is called participating to be "light of the world"

Thank you , K&G .

I really enjoyed watching this.

Why didn't you mention that Freyberg ignored the intelligence that the main attack would come from the air and concentrated defense on the coast for a major naval invasion that never came loosing Malame airfield and the whole island in the process despite having tanks cannons and twice as many men

I like these! Keep em rolling

The way these episodes are edited reminds me of this old History Channel show called “Line Of Fire” used to love that show.

Long live British, New Zeeland and Australian heroes! Such good people.

One small mistake (evacuation of hill 107) can change the entire tide of war.

wonderful! super! I like all of your videos!!!!

THIS WAS VERY WELL DONE.

The Matilda Mk.II was in no way, shape, or form obsolescent at this point in the war.

Godspeed to the men who perished in the battle. 🇩🇪 🇬🇧 🇦🇺 🇳🇿 🇬🇷 🇮🇹

Impressive video.

whenever king and generals upload a vedio I feel hapiness

Freyburg: I'm about to ruin this whole defence

Sorry one small error: Julius Ringel commanded 5th Mountain Division in Crete, not 8th.

good info ty

Thank you

Can you guys make a video about the siege of Leningrad?

It seems to me that, given the fact that the Greeks had lead the most successful land defense in Europe against the Axis, maybe they should have been given a role in commanding the defense of Crete. These British Generals don't seem to be doing too well.

Very well done, but I wonder if you could make à video about Basil II 's campaigns.

Interesting to hear this battle being explained from another channel, after already watching the version from the World War Two channel. Indy was much more critical about the allied command's defence against the paratroopers.

The effectiveness of aircraft was very high in this battle because the Brits lacked carriers and the sea- and ground-based armament of that era was a joke in comparison to today's anti-aircraft missiles... It is crazy to see how weak ships were against air attacks.

"We Australians are impossible to kill!" -Fredrick Bishop

Again, love your videos, but hope you can consider WW2 video for the Battle of Bataan & Corregeidor.

Good!!!well done

🇦🇺 🇳🇿 actually defended 🇬🇷 like their own something that is very admirable and as always 🇬🇧 only thinking about how to escape