Escape and Evasion in Enemy-Occupied Crete 1941-43

Talk by historian Ian Frazer, former Lecturer at Otago Univesity and co-author of ‘On the run РAnzac escape and evasion in enemy-occupied Crete’.In the Battle of Crete in May 1941, the 2/7th Australian Infantry Battalion, fought with much honour, including a last-ditch stand at ‘42nd Street’ in the final days of the battle.
Fighting in the rear-guard, they were denied evacuation at the last minute and forced to capitulate. Large numbers went on the run as evaders and escapers. Some managed to escape Crete by themselves; many more were rescued by the British secret services.
This story, which spanned more than two years after May 1941 is not so well-known. It was another outstanding chapter in the history of the Battalion.
This talk is a tribute those soldiers and the brave Cretan families who gave them shelter and eventually helped them escape.