Leros and the Aegean

In autumn 1943, the Dodecanese in the eastern Aegean was the setting for a series of German air-sea landings, something not normally associated with the Wehrmacht. Under heavy fire, landing craft ferried to shore German infantry and, more than two years after sustaining frightful losses in Crete, Fallschirmjaeger were deployed in their intended role, parachuting on to the islands of Kos, Astipalaea and Leros.

Both sides relied on aircraft and naval units, as well as conventional and unconventional ground forces. German paratroopers were drawn from the Luftwaffe and the special operations Division 'Brandenburg', which also fielded coastal raiders and assault troops. The Allies had on call 234 Infantry Brigade together with supporting units; a battalion of The Parachute Regiment, and Raiding Forces, which included the Long Range Desert Group, Special Boat Squadron, Commandos and Ieros Lohos (Greek Sacred Squadron).

Two months of conflict would culminate in a five-day battle for possession of Leros, which ended with the surrender of the British-led garrison on 16 November 1943. The island of Samos was taken without a struggle a few days later.

Unlike Operation Market Garden and the disaster of Arnhem one year later, the Aegean was first and foremost a British venture. As such, it may be considered the last irredeemable British defeat. For the Germans, the Aegean was a welcome reversal of recent setbacks and a final, but ultimately pointless, decisive victory: With the exception of Kastellorizo, key islands would remain under German occupation until May 1945.