German soldiers of the 5th Mountain Division of the Nazi Wehrmacht are preparing to board the Junkers Ju.52 transport aircraft for a flight to Crete, to the Maleme airfield. May 21, 1941.
At that time, German paratroopers had already landed on Crete and, within 24 hours, seized the airfield, knocking out the Allied forces from its environs. Having been given the opportunity to land transport planes on the airfield, the Germans sent reinforcements of part of the 5th Mountain Division to Crete and their victory in the battle was predetermined.