Part 38: Turn 34: 0900 24th May

Game Turn 34: 0900, 24th May

Supply Levels:



The Australians are hit hard by artillery and MG fire from the GJR 100, and D Company, 2/7 Infantry takes the brunt of casualties, although mortars from the 2nd NZ Division are also targeted, albeit unsuccessfully. The dual purpose guns of the 1st Gebirgs Panzer Jager Company hit the Kiwi D Company, 19th Battalion hard, and the remaining New Zealanders flee to the rear. The integrity of the Kiwi line is about to disintegrate as they are starting to not have enough infantry to hold back the attack, especially with the coming GJR 85, which is currently still full strength.



The 2nd NZ Division decides to pull back, after laying down some cover fire using their artillery. The retreat goes relatively well, but they will need to make some distance from the Germans: as well as that, the Australians will need to disengage as well, or they will remain exposed.



In the next half an hour, more cover fire is provided, and by the end, the 4th Bde has managed to retreat at least 1.5 kilometres, with the remaining light tanks providing cover fire while the main body retreats. Many of the Greek troops, not even told about the retreat, are left behind to face the wrath of the Nazis.



It's just in time, as the GJR 85 finally arrives on the scene, taking a spot south of the diminished GJR 100. Some artillery is fired at the Australians as well, in an attempt to pin them down when they inevitably attempt to retreat. One of the Greek infantry companies, seeing the approaching German coming in force, flees the battle.



Unfortunately, it is too late for the Australians, as the LLSR makes an all-out attack. Artillery preparations force the Australians into cover, and a full frontal assault destroys the Australian front line, with only a single company managing to fight off the encroaching paratroopers. If a line isn't established soon, the Germans might have a straight shot for Canea.



The remaining elements of 19th Bde retreat to the entrenchments, while in Rethymnon tries to assault the remaining Germans, but is largely unsuccessful, with several assaults stopped within the scrubs and foliage of the hills and coast.



A follow-up assault by the LLSR Fallschirmjager finally manages to capture the last holdout of Australian resistance, forcing many of the brave Aussies to march towards the west under armed guard. The LLSR keeps moving up, although it is clear it won't have the impetus to keep moving forward for now.



The MNDBO hustles to cover the gap in the line, managing to get into the entrenchments without too much of a fuss. The line isn't complete and the 2nd NZ Division is too fragile to hold for much longer, but at least the road to Canea is for now blocked by the mixed forces of the defence organisation. In Heraklion, the clean-up of German paratroopers continues apace, with the recoilless rifle gun company finally taken out.