Jump Into Hell by Franz Kurowski

Author:Franz Kurowski
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780811743235
Publisher: Stackpole Books

THE MOUNTAIN TROOPERS IN THE STORMING OF CHANIA

For the assault on Chania, the initial positioning of forces had been similar to that during the assault on Galatas. The paratroopers of Oberst Ramcke stormed long the left wing of the front. Adjoining them was Bataillon Forster of Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 141, followed by the II./Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 100. Paratroopers of Gruppe Heidrich then adjoined farther to the right. Rounding out the frontage was Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 85, which was farther to the south and still in the middle of its flanking movement.

Around 1000 hours on 27 May, the first flights of Ju 87’s appeared, flew to the western edge of Chania and bombed identified enemy positions. As they climbed and turned away, the signal was sounded for the mountain forces to attack.

The attack advanced rapidly. From patch of woods to patch of woods, from defile to defile, the mountain troopers advanced. The enemy put up bitter resistance in farmyards and tangles of cacti. The English were pushed back in hand-grenade duels and the attendant close combat.

Towards 1300 hours, the I./Gebirgsjäger-Regiment of Oberstleutnant Schrank reached the village of Platanias. One hour later, the II./Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 100 of Major Schury was in Paligoria, just outside of Chania. The paratroopers, on the other hand, had bogged down in front of the positions of the new Zealanders. The 6./Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 100 swung against the enemy from the south. They showed up to the rear of the New Zealanders and surprised them, breaking their resistance. Major Schury’s entire battalion then attacked. The men climbed aboard the trucks that had been captured in Paligoria, and the antitank guns were limbered to them. The mountain troops assaulted into Chania in this impromptu manner.

Just before this attack, Generalmajor Ringel had ordered the forces under Oberst Utz to bypass the city to the left and head straight for the important military harbor of Suda. By the time the messenger had reached Major Schury, however, he was already rolling through Chania on his captured vehicles. At 1530 hours—before the paratroopers—the Major raised the Reich war flag on the main square of the city.

While Kampfgruppe Heidrich and Kampfgruppe Utz then pursued the enemy who was withdrawing in the direction of Suda, Major Schury had his 6th Company attack the city’s citadel. In an interview with the author, former Gefreiter Feutner of the 6./Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 100 provided the following firsthand account:

The heat of the day—it was already 1400 hours—bore oppressively down on our tired bones. The water in our canteens was long since gone; our thirst practically unbearable. Despite all of that, we were again under cover awaiting orders to attack again.

While a squad screened the “Yellow Hill” up front, we established contact with a platoon from a neighboring company and covered its advance on the village of Paligoria. What would be waiting for us in Chania? Were there even enemy forces still in the city after the heavy bombardment? Would we encounter armed civilians and rooftop snipers again?

Major Schury, who was on the hill, gave orders at 1415 hours to take and hold the fort in the middle of the city.

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