Metóchia

The Battle for 42nd Street took place on 27 May 1941 during the latter stages of the Battle of Crete. It was a fierce engagement between ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) forces and advancing German troops. The battle occurred along a road east of Souda Bay, which the Allied soldiers had nicknamed "42nd Street" after the 42nd Field Company of the Royal Engineers who had previously camped there. It was known locally as Tsikalarion Road.

The ANZAC forces involved in this battle primarily consisted of the Australian 2/7th Battalion and the New Zealand 28th (Maori) Battalion, supported by elements of the Australian 2/8th Battalion. These units were tasked with conducting a rearguard action to slow the German advance and buy time for other Allied forces to evacuate from the south coast of Crete. In a daring and aggressive move, the ANZAC troops launched a surprise bayonet charge against the advancing Germans of the 141st Gebirgsjäger Regiment. The ferocity and suddenness of the attack caught the Germans off guard, resulting in significant enemy casualties and temporarily halting their advance. The Australians and New Zealanders fought with exceptional bravery, engaging in close-quarters combat that often devolved into hand-to-hand fighting. This action, while brief, was remarkably effective in disrupting the German operations and boosting Allied morale during a critical phase of the retreat. The Battle for 42nd Street stands as a testament to the courage and fighting spirit of the ANZAC troops, demonstrating their ability to work together effectively under extreme pressure and against a numerically superior enemy.Read more