Eighty-four years and one day have passed since one of the most heroic moments of Greek resistance against Nazi Germany’s invasion. The Battle of Crete, which held out for over 20 days, remains a symbol of the struggle against Nazism in historical memory.

The brutal battles have been extensively documented, as have the atrocities committed by Nazi forces in retaliation for the fierce resistance by the local population. For many in Germany today, the Battle of Crete is still seen as a mark of heroism and valor.

AfD MP Rüdiger Lucassen made a post to honor his father, Hans Lucassen, who fought as a German paratrooper in the Battle of Crete in 1941.

See his post:

Heute vor 84 Jahren sprang mein Vater Hans Lucassen mit seinen Kameraden des Fallschirmjägerregiments 1 über Kreta ab. Das Unternehmen Merkur wurde zur größten Luftlandeoperation der Kriegsgeschichte. Nach 12 Tagen verlustreicher Kämpfe gegen einen materiell und personell… pic.twitter.com/jj48Yq2Lpi

— Rüdiger Lucassen, MdB (@MdB_Lucassen) May 20, 2025

The German MP, in his post, states:

“Eighty-four years ago today, my father Hans Lucassen jumped over Crete with his comrades of the 1st Paratrooper Regiment.
Operation ‘Merkur’ was the largest airborne operation in the history of warfare.
After 12 days of fierce fighting against a numerically and materially superior opponent, the Mediterranean island was captured.

The military performance of the units that fought is still recognized today by military historians and soldiers.
The personal fates of the German paratroopers bring tears to the eyes. Like that of the three Blücher brothers:
Hans-Joachim, Leberecht, and Wolfgang Graf von Blücher (descendants of the famous Prussian field marshal) were killed within hours.
Hans-Joachim died in Wolfgang’s arms while trying to carry ammunition to his brother’s unit. Leberecht was likely fatally wounded during the parachute landing.

For my father, Crete was his first major war mission. It was followed by years on the Eastern Front and the Battle of Monte Cassino.

The conquest of Crete also established the reputation of the modern paratrooper corps.
To this day, the basic elements and names of this battle are known among Bundeswehr soldiers – even if political leadership tries to suppress it.

Winston Churchill described it this way:
‘These brave, well-trained, and absolutely reliable paratroopers represented the flower of German bravery.’”

What Lucassen omits from his post are the horrific war crimes committed by these very Nazi paratroopers in Crete:

1. Kondomari (June 2, 1941)

The first mass execution of civilians in occupied Europe.
23 unarmed men were executed by German troops. The execution was photographed by German photographer Franz-Peter Weixler – the photos remain rare documentation of Nazi war crimes.

2. Kandanos (June 3, 1941)

The entire village was destroyed, and its inhabitants were executed.
The Germans posted signs stating: “Kandanos will never be inhabited again.”
It stands as a symbol of Nazi barbarity in Crete.

3. Viannos and Ierapetra (September 14–16, 1943)

One of the worst massacres of the Occupation.
Over 450 civilians were executed across 20 villages.
Villages were set on fire, infrastructure destroyed, and many victims tortured before execution.

4. Anogeia (August 13, 1944)

Anogeia was razed by order of General Müller, due to active resistance in the area.
Over 100 residents were executed, and all homes were destroyed.

5. Overall in Crete:

During the Occupation (1941–1945), thousands of Cretan civilians were executed.
Over 100 villages were destroyed.

The AfD’s “We’re Not Nazis” Claim and Germany’s New Law

Lucassen’s party, the AfD, is officially classified as extremist by Germany’s Office for the Protection of the Constitution.
In 2021, the AfD was placed under surveillance as an “extremist organization”.

Senior members have made statements justifying the Nazis and questioning the Holocaust.
In 2019, the German intelligence service reported that the AfD is linked to the so-called “far-right historical revisionism”.