[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 64 (Tuesday, May 19, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E898-E899]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          HONORING THE 57TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF CRETE

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 19, 1998

  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark the 57th anniversary 
of the Battle of

[[Page E899]]

Crete. This is a historic event with direct significance to the allies' 
victory of World War II.
  On May 20, 1941, thousands of German paratroopers and gliders began 
landing on Crete. Both the allies and Nazis wanted Crete because of its 
strategic location. At that time the British controlled the island. It 
was a very strong point on the lifeline to India and protected both 
Palestine and Egypt.
  The Nazi invasion force included the elite German paratroopers and 
glider troops. Hitler felt this was to be an easy victory, yet he is 
quoted to have said shortly after the invasion, ``France fell in 8 
days. Why is Crete free?'' The invasion of Crete took 11 days. It 
resulted in more than 6,000 German troopers listed as killed, wounded 
or missing in action. The losses to the elite 7th parachute division 
were felt so hard by the German Military it signified the end of large-
scale airborne operations.
  This valiant fight by the Cretan people began in the first hour of 
the Nazi airborne invasion. In contrast of the European underground 
movements that took a year or more after being invaded to activate. 
Young boys, old men and women displayed breathtaking bravery in 
defending their Crete. German soldiers never got used to Cretan women 
fighting them. They would tear the dress from the shoulder of suspected 
women to find bruises from the recoil of the rifle. The penalty was 
death. The Times (London) July 28, 1941 report that ``five hundred 
Cretan women have been deported to Germany for taking part in the 
defense of their native island.''
  Another surprise for the German soldiers who invaded Crete was the 
heroic resistance of the clergy. A priest leading his parishioners into 
battle was not what the Germans anticipated. At Paleochora, Father 
Stylianos Frantzeskis, hearing of the German airborne invasion, rushed 
to his church, sounded the bell, took his rifle and marched his 
volunteers toward Maleme to write history. This struggle became an 
example for all Europe to follow in defying German occupation and 
aggression.
  The price paid by the Cretans' for their valiant resistance to Nazi 
forces was high. Thousands of civilians died from random executions, 
starvation, and imprisonment. Entire communities were burned and 
destroyed by the Germans as a reprisal for the Cretan resistance 
movement. Yet this resistance lasted for four years. The battle of 
Crete was to change the final outcome of World War II.
  The Battle of Crete significantly contributed in delaying Hitler's 
plan to invade Russia. The invasion was delayed from April to June of 
1941. The two month delay in the invasion made Hitler's forces face the 
Russian winter. The Russian snow storms and the sub zero temperatures 
eventually stalled the Nazi invasion before they could take Moscow or 
Leningrad. This was the beginning of the downfall of the Nazi reign of 
terror.
  This significant battle and the heroic drive of the Cretan people 
must always be remembered and honored. Democracy came from Greece and 
the Cretan heroes exemplified the courage it takes to preserve it.
  Today, the courage and fortitude of the Cretan people is seen in the 
members of the United Cretan Associations of New York, that is located 
in Astoria. The association's Chairman Steven Kohilakis and Co-Chairman 
Charles Marangoudakis, together with the presidents of the member 
clubs: Emmanuel Taouganakis, Omonia, Emmanuel Velonakis, Minos, 
Emmanuel Piperakis, Cretan Brotherhood, George Filippakis, Erotokritos 
and Aretousa, Marina Pefani, Pasifai, Cleo Aliferis, Cretan Sisterhood, 
Emmanuel Vlastakis, Filoxenia, John Daskos, Diktamos, Andreas 
Fiotodimitrakis, Labris, Mr. Polihronakis, Idomeneas and Mr. Berikakis, 
Kazatzakis are excellent representatives of their Cretan heritage.
  I request my colleagues to join me in honoring the Cretans in the 
United States, Greece and the diaspora.

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