Part 69: The Fourth Day and Beyond

Historical Post: 4th Day and Beyond

As mentioned, the 5th Brigade managed to retreat in a much more timely fashion than our equivalent in this game. Most of the 2nd NZ Division, along with elements of the 19th Australian Brigade that had arrived during the night in order to replace the positions formerly held by 4th NZ Brigade (something that actually caused a delay in the attack because Freyberg was adamant that the 4th Bde positions should be filled before the counter-attack on the 22nd occurred), fought the Germans not at Modion/Platanias like in our game, but much further back, at Galatas, near Prison Valley. Although the 2nd NZ Division fought bravely, with the fact that 5th Gebirgs elements had managed to link with the 3rd FJR in Prison Valley, the position was untenable. It was only the fortitude of Greek forces that prevented the Kiwis from being completely cut off, as they slowed down the forces of GJR 85 that were attempting to flank them from the south.

The Commonwealth forces were forced to withdraw to Canea proper and Suda, also protecting a stretch of road known as 42nd Street that linked the two locations together. From there, history kind of reflects our own timeline, although with some differences. The Germans managed to get close to Canea/Suda much earlier than our timescale, but that is due to the fact that the Allies in our game defended a line much closer to Maleme than in real life. Evacuation was already in motion by the 26th, however, much like in the game, and Layforce also landed in Suda with much of the Allied forces in disarray and ready to leave. From there they would defend Suda, but in the end it cost them greatly.

In Rethymnon, Campbell did not receive words of the evacuation, and eventually the entire force there would be captured by the Germans. in Heraklion, the stalemate continued.