Forgotten Anzacs Book launch Sydney 21 May 2008

On May 20, 1941 and on their attempt to conquer the Greek island of Crete, before heading to Russia, German parachuters launched their attack, facing, from the very first moment, fierce and strenuous resistance by the islanders together with the Greek and Commonwealth army soldiers, its key forces being the 2nd part of the New Zealand brigade, the 19th Australian brigade and the British 14th infantry brigade, under the command of Bernard Freyberg.

Left: Australian soldiers at the Acropolis

The ensuing battle was thereafter known as the Battle of Crete, one of the biggest air raids in history, which ended up in critically delaying the German offensive against Russia, thus leading to the disastrous, for the offenders, outcome of WWII.

The sacrifices of the Anzacs are commemorated each year in Crete as well as in Sydney, with a Service at the Cenotaph in Martin Place, organized by the Joint Committee of Australian, New Zealander & Cretan Associations, in the presence of both Australian and Greek military authorities at the highest level, as well as of the Consul General of Greece in Sydney.


In the spirit of commemoration, the Press & Communication Office of the Consulate General of Greece in Sydney, is organising the presentation of Peter Ewer’s book