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Battle of Bir Hakeim | The Axis siege and French breakout (WW2) + The Battle of Crete (1941) | First mass use of German paratroopers (Fallschirmjäger)

The Fortress of Bir Hakeim served as one of the most important strongholds of the Free French Army against General Erwin Rommel’s Panzerarmee Afrika. In May 1942 around 3700 soldiers of the 1st Free ...
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Crete 1941 : Germany's lightning airborne assault / Peter D. Antill ; illustrated by Howard Gerrard

Operation Mercury, the German airborne assault on the island of Crete in May 1941, was the first strategic use of airborne forces in history. The assault began on 20 May, with landings near the island ...