Sean Patrick Maloney: “I rise today to mark the 61st anniversary of the Battle of Crete. This is a historic event with direct significance to…”

“I rise today to mark the 61st anniversary of the Battle of Crete. This is a historic event with direct significance to the allies' victory of World War II. On May 20, 1941, thousands of German paratroopers and gliders began landing on the island of Crete. Both the allies and Nazis wanted Crete because of its strategic location. At the time the British controlled the island. It was a very strong point on the lifeline to India and protected both Palestine and Egypt. The Nazi invasion force included the elite German paratroopers and glider troops. Hitler felt that this would be an easy victory. Yet he is quoted to have said shortly after the invasion, 'France fell in 8 days. Why is Crete free?' The invasion of Crete lasted 11 days. It resulted in more than 6,000 German troopers listed as killed, wounded or missing in action. The losses to the elite 7th parachute division were felt so hard by the German military, it signified the end of large scale airborne operations. They did not have another parachute division invasion in the rest of the war. This valiant fight by the Cretan people began in the first hour of the Nazi airborne invasion, in contrast to the European underground movements that took a year or more after being invaded to activate. Young boys, old men and women displayed breathtaking bravery in defending their Crete. German soldiers never got used to Cretan women fighting against them.”