Descent into Hell


Maleme, Crete, May 20th, 1941: The glider detachments of Braun and von Plessen were ordered to
capture the western approaches to the vitally important Maleme airfield and secure the right flank
of the assault regiment before joining Major Koch and the main body at the feild itself.

Game Length: 9 Turns

For the Germans to win they must neutralize the three AA guns and capture the bridge over the Tavronitis River.
For the New Zealnders to win they must defend the Maleme airfield and the bridge to the west.

Germans: Squads, LMG's, MTR's
New Zealanders: squads, LMG's, MTR's, AA guns

Boards: #8, #11, #14

Aftermarth: About 0645 Hrs in the morning, a far larger than normal force of German bombers and fighters
swept into attack positions of the 22nd New Zealand Battalion. Each AA gun, often the target of desultory 
daily attacks, now received the attention of two or three dive bombers; this was no ordinary morning's
harassment. Soon, great clouds of dust raised by the bombing obscured the view of the AA gunners -
those who survived. Even before the dust settled, German gliders began their silent descent. With the
roiling dust and the frantic, random firing from the enemy it looked, according to one German NCO,
"liked hell had boiled up." von Plessen's command came down first, and his well drilled troops swung
instantly into action. Fighting through the disorganized Kiwis to reach the guns, the Germans began to 
neutralize the AA positions even as Braun's force was descending into the bed of the Tavronitis. Indeed,
the dry river served superbly as cover for Braun to organize his force, which had miraculously not a
single casualty as yet. Sweeping along the bed and up the banks in a furious assault aimed at both ends 
of the bridge simultaneously, his command made short work of the New Zealand troops there - who had been
concentrating their attention on the sounds of firing to the east. Meanwhile, von Plessen's troopers were 
among the gun positions, finishing off the crews who were futilely defending themselves with pistols and 
shovels. But there they were pinned down by the rallying New Zealand infantry. Even so, by 0900 Hrs the 
glider troops had finished mopping up and had secured all their objectives, isolating a Greek regiment and
various Commonwealth detachments to the west. The "key" to Crete - Maleme airfield - was within the grasp of 
the 1st assault regiment.

Source: ASL Annual '89, ASL Scenario A3, Descent into Hell


  