[Sparta]

The Battle of Crete is one my favorite battles to study in WWII. The British and Commonwealth defence was as hopeless as you can get. The Commonwealth forces were outgunned and poorly-supplied. However, they made the Germans pay heavily for the island. As a result of losses to the Luftwaffe parachute regiments, the Germans thought that airborne assualts were too risky. They would pay for their shortsightedness as Normandy four years later.

If you want on or off the Western Civilization Military History ping list, let me know.

[Sparta]

Oops, that should've been three years later.

[SAMWolf]

I agree Sparta. It's a facinating battle to study from both sides and it's amazing how close it came to failing for the e Germans.

You can't help but wonder what the long term results for the African campaign would have been if Malta was the target for the operation.