Stock photo
Stock photo
Battle for Crete by John Hall Spencer (Paperback, 2020)
Speedyhen (1644716)
99.8% positive Feedback
Price:
£12.79
Ships today if you order in the next Ships today if you order in the next 1h 49m
Returns:
30 days return. Buyer pays for return postage. If you use an eBay delivery label, it will be deducted from your refund amount.
Condition:
- Buy it nowBattle for Crete by John Hall Spencer (Paperback, 2020)
Oops! Looks like we're having trouble connecting to our server.
Refresh your browser window to try again.
About this product
Product Information
Battle for Crete is a fine account of the political and military prelude to the evacuation of British, Australian and New Zealand forces from Greece to Crete in April 1941, and of the subsequent German offensive against Crete, the first airborne assault in history on a defended island. During two year's research the author visited the battlefields, had access to previously unpublished Admiralty files, and talked to and corresponded with many of the combatants, from Admiral of the Fleet Lord Cunningham and Colonel- General Student, the German commander, to scores of private soldiers in Australia and New Zealand. He tells of confused negotiations between Anthony Eden and the Greek Government and of the even great confusion between the British War Cabinet and their commanders in the field about the decision to defend Crete; of the arrival in Greece of General Wilson disguised as 'Mr Watt'; of the lack of preparation in Crete and the suppression of a critical report at the request of General Wavell; and of the perilous last-minute escape of the King of Greece. Of the fighting itself on the vital Maleme airfield, the author records alternate German and New Zealand experience at the level of the ordinary fighting soldier. There are also chapters on the Royal Navy's operations under dawn-to-dusk attack from Stuka divebombers; and the book closes with an account of the terrible retreat over the 8,000-foot White Mountains to the tiny evacuation beach on the desolate southern coast. John Hall Spencer has used his very varied sources to build up an exciting picture of one of the most important and bitterly contested campaigns of the Second World War. Battle for Crete shows clearly why Hitler's paratroopers were almost repulsed by an ill-equipped and tired Allied army and why a British general came close to apologising to his troops for the ordeal which they had endured. AUTHOR: John Hall Spencer was educated at Bedford School and the Royal Naval College, Greenwich. He had a regular commission in the Royal Marines before joining Beaverbrook Newspapers in Fleet Street, then J Walter Thompson in Berkeley Square for twenty-one years. He then set up his own international marketing business in 1982. In 2011 he was awarded an OBE for services to Business, Charity and work with Young People in London.Product Identifiers
PublisherPen & Sword Books LTD
ISBN-139781526781369
eBay Product ID (ePID)13046627816
Product Key Features
SubjectGovernment, History
Publication Year2020
Number of Pages318 Pages
Publication NameBattle for Crete
LanguageEnglish
TypeTextbook
AuthorJohn Hall Spencer
FormatPaperback
Dimensions
Item Height234 mm
Item Width156 mm
Additional Product Features
Country/Region of ManufactureUnited Kingdom
Title_AuthorJohn Hall Spencer
All listings for this product
![Battle for Crete by Spencer, John Hall [Paperback]](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/1TEAAOSwV-lnGP-I/s-l225.jpg)
Ratings and reviews
Most relevant reviews
- 19 May, 2021
Good Book
Interesting battle when airborne troops were used for the first time in great numbers. It was touch and go if the airborne force would succeed but with luck and close air support they won. I think that dfending Crete was more of a political decision rather than a military one. The story would make an excellent film!Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned
