This May marks the 85th anniversary of one of World War Two's most brutal and pivotal battles. The German airborne invasion of Crete in May 1941 witnessed extraordinary acts of courage that would echo through military history forever. Join SOE Expeditions as we retrace the exact footsteps of Allied defenders, following the evacuation routes that saved thousands of lives whilst exploring the battlefields where heroes like Charles Hazlitt Upham earned immortal glory.
The rugged terrain of Crete holds secrets that textbooks cannot capture. Every olive grove, mountain pass, and coastal path tells a story of desperate resistance and unimaginable bravery. This is no ordinary battlefield tour—this is your opportunity to experience history through the eyes of those who lived it.
Our expedition follows the precise routes taken by Allied forces as they conducted one of the most challenging fighting withdrawals in military history. You will walk the mountain paths where exhausted soldiers carried wounded comrades, traverse the valleys where rearguard actions saved thousands of lives, and stand upon the beaches where Royal Navy ships risked everything to evacuate survivors.
The 85th anniversary of the Battle of Crete arrives at a crucial moment in world history. As international tensions rise and democratic values face challenges, the lessons of Crete become increasingly relevant. The battle demonstrated how free peoples, when united in common cause, can resist seemingly insurmountable odds.
Operation Mercury began at dawn on 20 May 1941, unleashing the largest airborne invasion in military history. German paratroopers descended from the Mediterranean sky like deadly rain, targeting key airfields at Maleme, Rethymno, and Heraklion. What followed were eleven days of brutal fighting that would determine the fate of the Eastern Mediterranean.
The defenders British, Australian, New Zealand, and Greek forces faced overwhelming odds. Yet their fierce resistance shattered German confidence in airborne operations forever. Crete became the graveyard of the Wehrmacht's elite Fallschirmjäger, with casualties so severe that Hitler never again attempted a major paratrooper assault.
Our expedition honours both military personnel and civilian resistance fighters who transformed Crete into a symbol of defiance.
£1500 includes full board, all transfers in country, trekking, guide for 5 days.
Does not include flights to Crete.
Not to be missed!
Ross Cable has pursued a lifelong interest in military history. He spent 26 years in the Australian Regular Army, then Reserve and moved to Europe after ‘retirement.’ Ross’ final role in the Army was as the staff officer in charge of military battlefield tours..
This allowed extensive historical travel throughout these countries and to Israel. He has also visited and reconnoitred battlefields across the Asia-Pacific, Russia, Eastern and Western Europe and the US Civil War.
Ross is an Academy Graduate (ADFA) with a honours degree in history.
