410520_04: Heraklion: A Fine Opportunity for Killing! - PzC 13 Salerno '43

Heraklion, May 20th 1941: For the assault on Heraklion, Student picked the reinforced 1st Fallschirmjäger Regiment led by Colonel Bruno Bauer. This was not Bauer's first airfield assault, his unit had captured Dordrecht in Holland during the Attack on the West in May 1940. As at Rethymnon, his force too was late and most of his men had not even embarked in their assigned aircraft by 1400hrs, the projected time they were supposed to be over the target. Bauer was not only furious at not getting away on time, but also that he had to make do with two less companies because of a shortage of aircraft caused by lost and damaged aircraft in the morning drop at Maleme. Over the target, the story was much the same as that at Rethymnon, with the Fallschirmjäger being brought under fire even before they exited the aircraft. Unlike Maleme, here the drop zones were wide open, and FJs were brought under fire before they could recover their weapons. There were plans to follow up the invasion force with air landings, like those at Maleme, in addition, a battalion of Gebirgsjager were to be sent by water to arrive at Heraklion the next day. However, the High Command back in Greece heard nothing from the operations in the east part of the island, as all wireless sets were out, and as the Germans never made a habit of reinforcing failure. These additional troops bound for Heraklion were recalled, and the original force was on their own, facing a much larger than expect defending force. [Size, medium] Designer Note: This historical scenario may be unwinnable, as the attacking Germans are hopelessly outnumbered. Its inclusion in the game is merely telling part of the story of this battle, as such, the victory conditions are set to give the German side a chance to win, while not being successful in their assigned mission.