"The bestselling author of Stalingrad and D-Day vividly reconstructs the epic WWII struggle for Crete--reissued with a new introduction. Nazi Germany expected its airborne attack on Crete in 1941 to be a textbook victory based on tactical surprise. Little did they know that the British, using Ultra intercepts, had already laid a careful trap. It should have been the first German defeat of the war when a fatal misunderstanding turned the battle around. Prize-winning historian and bestselling author Antony Beevor lends his gift for storytelling to this important conflict, showing not only how the situation turned bad for Allied forces, but also how ferocious Cretan freedom fighters mounted a heroic resistance. Originally published in 1991, Crete 1941 is a breathtaking account of a momentous battle of World War II"--;Part one. The fall of Greece. Military missions ; Diplomatic missions ; Secret missions ; The double invasion ; Across the Aegean -- Part two. The Battle of Crete. A second Scapa ; The spear-point of the German lance ; Most secret sources ; A fine opportunity for killing ; Maleme and Prison Valley ; Close quarters at Rethymno and Heraklion ; First night and second day ; The seaborne invasion ; Disaster by land and by sea ; Stalemate at Rethymno and Heraklion ; The Battle of Galatas ; Laycock's commandos and force reserve ; South from Suda Bay ; Surrender ; Cairo and London -- Part three. The Resistance. Reprisal, evasion and resistance ; Into the field ; The peak of German power ; The year of change ; The Italian Armistice ; The abduction of General Kreipe ; The German withdrawal ; The last days of the Occupation -- Appendices: A. Secret organizations -- B. The British and German order of battle -- C. Ultra signals sent to Crete before the battle -- D. Greek political organizations.