Maleme
Encyclopedia
Maleme is a town and airport 16 km (9.9 mi) to the west of Chania
, in North Western Crete
, Greece
. It is located in Platanias
municipality, in Chania prefecture
.
Maleme has a few large hotels and several pleasant apartments close to the beach and some bars and a discothèque at the western end. Its beach is made of fine pebbles and is popular though often less crowded than the beaches of Gerani
, Agia Marina
and Platanias
.
tholos tomb has been discovered in the vicinity of Maleme.
paratroopers invading Crete in 1941, at the start of the Battle of Crete
(Operation Mercury) during World War II
. The paratroopers captured the airstrip, which was located just outside the town. Once captured, this airstrip allowed the Germans to airlift in the reinforcements needed to capture the rest of the island. Many of the paratroopers lost their lives in the attack and are buried in the German war cemetery (35.533779°N 23.831137°W) located on a hill above Maleme.
There is an Royal Air Force
(RAF) Memorial to the airmen of 30
and 33
Squadrons who died during the battle. The memorial is located (35.525363°N 23.828619°W) behind the roadside hedge between Maleme and Tavronitis overlooking the (35.526625°N 23.825604°W) Iron Bridge across the Tavronitis River and the end of Maleme aerodrome.
Chania
Chaniá , , also transliterated Chania, Hania, and Xania, older form Chanea and Venetian Canea, Ottoman Turkish خانيه Hanya) is the second largest city of Crete and the capital of the Chania peripheral unit...
, in North Western Crete
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. It is located in Platanias
Platanias
Platanias is a village and municipality on the Greek island of Crete. It is located about west from the city of Chania and east of Kastelli-Kissamos, on Chania Bay. The seat of the municipality is the village Gerani. Platanias is a popular tourism village with a beach, several hotels, restaurants...
municipality, in Chania prefecture
Chania Prefecture
Chania is one of the four regional units of Crete; it covers the westernmost quarter of the island. Its capital is the city of Chania. Chania borders only one other regional unit: that of Rethymno to the east. The western part of Crete is bounded to the north by the Cretan Sea, and to the west...
.
Maleme has a few large hotels and several pleasant apartments close to the beach and some bars and a discothèque at the western end. Its beach is made of fine pebbles and is popular though often less crowded than the beaches of Gerani
Gerani
Gerani is a village in the Famagusta District of Cyprus, located northeast of Trikomo....
, Agia Marina
Agia Marina
Agia Marina may refer to several locations:In Greece:* Agia Marina, Crete, near Chania, Crete* Agia Marina, Elis, in Elis Prefecture* Agia Marina, Kavala, in Kavala Prefecture* Agia Marina, Leros, in Leros, Dodecanese PrefectureIn Cyprus:...
and Platanias
Platanias
Platanias is a village and municipality on the Greek island of Crete. It is located about west from the city of Chania and east of Kastelli-Kissamos, on Chania Bay. The seat of the municipality is the village Gerani. Platanias is a popular tourism village with a beach, several hotels, restaurants...
.
History
Bronze Age
A Late MinoanMinoan civilization
The Minoan civilization was a Bronze Age civilization that arose on the island of Crete and flourished from approximately the 27th century BC to the 15th century BC. It was rediscovered at the beginning of the 20th century through the work of the British archaeologist Arthur Evans...
tholos tomb has been discovered in the vicinity of Maleme.
World War II
Maleme is best known as a landing site for GermanGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
paratroopers invading Crete in 1941, at the start of the Battle of Crete
Battle of Crete
The Battle of Crete was a battle during World War II on the Greek island of Crete. It began on the morning of 20 May 1941, when Nazi Germany launched an airborne invasion of Crete under the code-name Unternehmen Merkur...
(Operation Mercury) during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The paratroopers captured the airstrip, which was located just outside the town. Once captured, this airstrip allowed the Germans to airlift in the reinforcements needed to capture the rest of the island. Many of the paratroopers lost their lives in the attack and are buried in the German war cemetery (35.533779°N 23.831137°W) located on a hill above Maleme.
There is an Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
(RAF) Memorial to the airmen of 30
No. 30 Squadron RAF
No. 30 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates the second generation C-130J Hercules from RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire. The squadron operates alongside No. 24 Squadron and No. 47 Squadron all flying the Hercules.-History:...
and 33
No. 33 Squadron RAF
No. 33 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates the Puma HC.1 from RAF Benson, Oxfordshire.-Current role:The squadron is part of the RAF Support Helicopter force, which reports into the Joint Helicopter Command....
Squadrons who died during the battle. The memorial is located (35.525363°N 23.828619°W) behind the roadside hedge between Maleme and Tavronitis overlooking the (35.526625°N 23.825604°W) Iron Bridge across the Tavronitis River and the end of Maleme aerodrome.