Hello! Pop, I've been to Crete several times and have visited the German military cemetery, where the slain paratroopers lie. Some of them only seventeen years old. The caretaker of the graveyard was a Greek involved in the abduction and the smuggling of the commanding General Krype to Egypt. A blow against German moral. On my last visit I met a couple of young German lads in their twenties. They were travelling in an old German Kubelwagon from the war complete with insignia. Both of them were dressed in wartime German uniforms and this, they explained, was how they spent their holidays, travelling in the footsteps of the German army, through all the countries Germany had invaded. I tried explaining that doing this on Crete was perhaps not a sensible idea and was likely to end with them being shot dead, or driven off the road into a ravine. Needless to say they paid no attention to my warning. One of the most startling things I discovered is that one of them was carrying 10x8 inch black and white photos of his Grandfather in full SS dress uniform at the Nuremberg rallies. I remember thinking at the time, that he looked quite normal but who would carry such photographs on holiday with them? The Grandfather had been sent off to fight in the Battle of Kursk and was never heard from again. I still think of the pair of them occasionally and wonder what became of them both. In one of the hotels we stopped at on the South Coast, a German tourist threatened to burn their Kubelwagon if they didn't leave the hotel. They left the next morning. I was unaware of this complex that you explored and couldn't help wondering at the time and work needed to excavate it. Poor Cretans, they suffered so much with the occupation. Ironic, that Crete has lots of German tourists visiting the island. Best wishes to you. God bless.
Thanks for a excellent viedo. A suggestion, make a video on the Salpa bunkers on highway 6 Lappeenranta area. Another interessting place the Border Guard museum at Imatra.
Very interesting. Surely something could be made of those caves as a Museum or even a dwelling place. I still want the Currywurst mit Pommes und Mayonnaise and lots of MYTHOS cold beer.
Sporting the french hat singing german songs about fighting for russia in the balkans on a greek island wearing a german pack and some strange looking field pants :) Looks like a good time! I’d be scared getting lost in those tunnels!
This time I had no possibility. All the fallen, no matter what side, they all deserve a moment of silence. I think their memories are activated in silence.
"The Raid on Souda Bay was an assault by Italian Royal Navy explosive boats on Souda Bay, Crete, during the first hours of 26 March 1941. (...) the small craft attacked the Royal Navy heavy cruiser HMS York and the Norwegian tanker Pericles. The Allied vessels were both sunk in shallow waters by the explosive charges and eventually lost." (Wikipedia) I have known the name Souda for a long time and I am now glad to see what it is like. Thank you!
@@Helsinkipop not just "this time": "The Decima MAS saw action starting on June 10, 1940, In more than three years of war, the unit destroyed some 72,190 tons of Allied warships and 130,572 tons of Allied merchant ships. Personnel from the unit sank the World War I-era Royal Navy battleships HMS Valiant and HMS Queen Elizabeth (both of which, after months of work, were refloated and returned to action), wrecked the heavy cruiser HMS York and the destroyer HMS Eridge, damaged the destroyer HMS Jervis and sank or damaged 20 merchant ships, including supply ships and tankers. "
👍👍👍 Hi Pops .. some interesting history, thanks for sharing. What would any excursion be without afterwards, a march down to the local tavern for Bratwurst and Beer? 😁
My friend you went twice out on the glass bottom boat, that does mean I must visit that place, I stayed and lived in Crete Creta for some time during the year 2002, the people of Creta liked the English very much! I don't think any Waffen Schutzstaffel units assaulted creta that I know of so i presume Parachute and Mouthain troop units with a big dose of propaganda was enough to create haters of the German & Italian visitors. I do know one thing after reading about the Mediterranean theatre of war and that is your going to have more loses with attacking than defending. Toivottavasti voit hyvin Pops
Surely you must know of the information I commented on' you are a black belt on old times yeah, I thought at the time of writing it you probably do but I wrote my penny's worth for subscribed folk alike but if I have learnt you a small part of a major campaign I am very pleased to be be the one who enlighten you. Again, all the best
Fascinating. Love your work mate!
Then we both do excellent work :)
A pleasure as always, many thanks.
Looks like you are have a great trip .Always interesting .
What an interesting trip! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for taking us along, Pops!
Thanks pops. Another fantastic historic visit.
nice find that tunnel system Pops
Them pesky British! - How to deter them from your freshly acquired garden.
@@Helsinkipop we did offer them Tea first
Nothing better than watching a Finn wearing a French hat visit Crete to teach us about Germany! Great video and thanks for taking us along!
Thanks for taking us along to Crete, Pop. It was really neat to see those fortifications. Cheers, buddy!
Enjoy jour holiday Pop! Very interesting exploration👍. And nice French (?) army cap.
Thank you, and oh yes, the Bigeard with neck flaps for sun protection.
That bunker would make a great condo
Hello! Pop, I've been to Crete several times and have visited the German military cemetery, where the slain paratroopers lie. Some of them only seventeen years old.
The caretaker of the graveyard was a Greek involved in the abduction and the smuggling of the commanding General Krype to Egypt. A blow against German moral.
On my last visit I met a couple of young German lads in their twenties. They were travelling in an old German Kubelwagon from the war complete with insignia.
Both of them were dressed in wartime German uniforms and this, they explained, was how they spent their holidays, travelling in the footsteps of the German army, through all the countries Germany had invaded.
I tried explaining that doing this on Crete was perhaps not a sensible idea and was likely to end with them being shot dead, or driven off the road into a ravine. Needless to say they paid no attention to my warning.
One of the most startling things I discovered is that one of them was carrying 10x8 inch black and white photos of his Grandfather in full SS dress uniform at the Nuremberg rallies.
I remember thinking at the time, that he looked quite normal but who would carry such photographs on holiday with them?
The Grandfather had been sent off to fight in the Battle of Kursk and was never heard from again.
I still think of the pair of them occasionally and wonder what became of them both.
In one of the hotels we stopped at on the South Coast, a German tourist threatened to burn their Kubelwagon if they didn't leave the hotel. They left the next morning.
I was unaware of this complex that you explored and couldn't help wondering at the time and work needed to excavate it.
Poor Cretans, they suffered so much with the occupation. Ironic, that Crete has lots of German tourists visiting the island.
Best wishes to you.
God bless.
Thanks for reminiscing and your insight!
Good video and history , thanks for sharing , God bless !
Excellent as always
Thank You!
that was another very interesting video my friend! thanks for showing it👍
Have a great time, kind regards from Germany🙋♂️🪖😎
Danke! Sehr aufmerksam!
Good to see you back,great video..
Another fascinating video, thank pops!
Excellent video! Holidays are usually better spent on real adventures rather than on the beach or tourist traps.
Well said.
That looks like a much better posting than the eastern front.
nice place to avoid the eastern front until 1945 and get captured ,this guys there must be very lucky
Ich freue mich jedes Mal, wenn ich ein neues Video von dir sehe.
Danke schön!
Thanks for a excellent viedo. A suggestion, make a video on the Salpa bunkers on highway 6 Lappeenranta area.
Another interessting place the Border Guard museum at Imatra.
Not a bad idea.
21cm = 8.26inch. That’s a powerful rifle!
Coul convert that into a really nice home.
A doomsday prepper bunker, indeed.
Too old for the Russian invasion, so they let you out for a Mediterranean holiday. Excellent video. All the very best to you 👍 🍻
Very interesting. Surely something could be made of those caves as a Museum or even a dwelling place. I still want the Currywurst mit Pommes und Mayonnaise and lots of MYTHOS cold beer.
Very nice as always . Cool installations , with History thrown in . Good to see you again Pop. I'd love to see that .. bg
Sporting the french hat singing german songs about fighting for russia in the balkans on a greek island wearing a german pack and some strange looking field pants :) Looks like a good time! I’d be scared getting lost in those tunnels!
Thanks for posting Pops , I’ve been to Suda Bay many times but didn’t know about the gun emplacements. Did you visit the war cemeteries.
This time I had no possibility. All the fallen, no matter what side, they all deserve a moment of silence. I think their memories are activated in silence.
As ever, thank you for putting the effort in so that I don't have to! 🤣 Fascinating stuff and what an interesting bunker.
"The Raid on Souda Bay was an assault by Italian Royal Navy explosive boats on Souda Bay, Crete, during the first hours of 26 March 1941. (...) the small craft attacked the Royal Navy heavy cruiser HMS York and the Norwegian tanker Pericles. The Allied vessels were both sunk in shallow waters by the explosive charges and eventually lost." (Wikipedia)
I have known the name Souda for a long time and I am now glad to see what it is like. Thank you!
Oh yes, it was a small British navy base before the paratrooper assault. This time the Italians not completely useless German allies...
@@Helsinkipop not just "this time":
"The Decima MAS saw action starting on June 10, 1940, In more than three years of war, the unit destroyed some 72,190 tons of Allied warships and 130,572 tons of Allied merchant ships. Personnel from the unit sank the World War I-era Royal Navy battleships HMS Valiant and HMS Queen Elizabeth (both of which, after months of work, were refloated and returned to action), wrecked the heavy cruiser HMS York and the destroyer HMS Eridge, damaged the destroyer HMS Jervis and sank or damaged 20 merchant ships, including supply ships and tankers. "
I know Finnish education is truly world class, but I didn't think any country would teach marching songs (especially for another country)
Haha, yeah, this German Freikorps was involved in our 1918 civil war. That's the connection. Thanks for the comment!
👍👍👍
Hi Pops .. some interesting history, thanks for sharing.
What would any excursion be without afterwards, a march down to the local tavern for Bratwurst and Beer? 😁
Skoda, so Czech guns, plus the French pieces
My friend you went twice out on the glass bottom boat, that does mean I must visit that place, I stayed and lived in Crete Creta for some time during the year 2002, the people of Creta liked the English very much! I don't think any Waffen Schutzstaffel units assaulted creta that I know of so i presume Parachute and Mouthain troop units with a big dose of propaganda was enough to create haters of the German & Italian visitors. I do know one thing after reading about the Mediterranean theatre of war and that is your going to have more loses with attacking than defending.
Toivottavasti voit hyvin Pops
Thank you for the insight!
Surely you must know of the information I commented on' you are a black belt on old times yeah, I thought at the time of writing it you probably do but I wrote my penny's worth for subscribed folk alike but if I have learnt you a small part of a major campaign I am very pleased to be be the one who enlighten you.
Again, all the best
A bunker without graffiti? WTFrick?
Indeed, very strange...