[Kapitän]

Originally Posted by Kapitän

Started new career in August 2019 to commemorate the beginning of WWII, 80 years before ...

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Tuesday, 20 May 1941: - U.A.K. and 2nd Training Division (U.L.D.), Gotenhafen -

Work-up's and Trials with the U.A.K. (Kpt.z.S.R. BRÄUTIGAM), the 2nd Training Division, Gotenhafen (Freg.Kpt. HARTMANN).

Operation "Rheinübung":
KMS Bismarck and Prinz Eugen are deteced by Swedish Naval and Airforces in the Kattegat - the British Admirality will gain knowledge of this through informal channels the following day.

Beginning of Operation "Merkur", the invasion of Crete by German Airborne and Mountain Troops.

Started new career in August 2019 to commemorate the beginning of WWII, 80 years before ...

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Saturday, 24 May 1941: - U.A.K. and 2nd Training Division (U.L.D.), Gotenhafen -

Work-up's and Trials with the U.A.K. (Kpt.z.S.R. BRÄUTIGAM), the 2nd Training Division, Gotenhafen (Freg.Kpt. HARTMANN).

Operation "Rheinübung":
Battle of the Denmark Strait between KMS Bismarck & Prinz Eugen and HMS Hood and Prince of Wales. HMS Hood is sunk by Bismarck at 0601h, at about 63° 22' North, 32° 17' West. Out of a crew of 1,418 men, only three survived. Prince of Wales withdraws from the battle due to heavy damage. Bismarck and Prinz Eugen do not pursue but head south.

Operation "Merkur" (Mercury):
On Wednesday, 21 May 1941, German troops have taken the strategically important Hill 107 and Maleme airfield.
An Axis convoy of around 20 caïques, escorted by the Italian torpedo boat Lupo, tried to land German reinforcements near Maleme. Force D under Rear-Admiral Irvine Glennie, with three light cruisers and four destroyers, intercepted the convoy before midnight; the convoy turned back with the loss of more than half of its boats, despite Lupo's defence.
On 22/23 May 1941, another Axis landing attempt is repelled by Force C (three cruisers and four destroyers, commanded by Rear Admiral Edward Leigh Stuart King) but is taking heavy losses from the German Luftwaffe, as is Force A1 commanded by Rear Admiral H B Rawlings.
Fighting against fresh German troops, that are being flown in by the Luftwaffe, the Allies retreat southward and on May 24, after air attacks on Allied positions in Kastelli/Heraklion, the 95th Gebirgs Pioneer Battalion advanced on the town. These air attacks enable the escape of German paratroopers captured on 20 May; the escapees killed or captured several New Zealand officers assigned to lead the 1st Greek Regiment. Fighting with the remnants of the 1st Greek Regiment will continue in the Kastelli area until 26 May, hampering German efforts to land reinforcements at Heraklion.