100th

The Allied defenders had been made aware of the impending assault and had prepared their defenses accordingly. As the first gliders and paratroops touched down on the morning of May 20, they were met by intense fire. The resistance of the British forces was such, that by the end of the day, none of the three airfields was securely in German hands. The German casualties had been terrific and during the night one of the seaborne convoys was intercepted and destroyed.

The following day however, the Allied troops on hill 107 overlooking Maleme airfield began to withdraw, perhaps concerned that they were at risk of being outflanked. Finally, without the constant harassing fire, aircraft with Gebirgsjager reinforcements could land. The bitter fighting continued, but the British defenders realized that the battle was lost and began to make their way south to the south coast to be evacuated to North Africa. By June 1 the battle for Crete was over.