2026 marks the 85th anniversary of the disastrous battles for Greece and Crete, fought in April and May 1941. In early April, Germany moved to support the stalled Italian invasion of Greece. Outnumbered on two fronts, Greek and Commonwealth forces had no choice but to retreat south. Many Allied troops were either sent or escaped to Crete where they faced another German attack.

On 20 May, the Germans began an airborne invasion in the first-ever use en-masse of paratroopers. Despite a promising start, the Battle of Crete became a costly loss for the Allies. The 6th Australian Division (AIF) casualties in Greece amounted to 320 killed, 494 wounded and 2,030 captured. The fighting on Crete added a further 274 killed, 507 wounded and 3,102 captured to the division’s casualty list. Crete remained occupied by Axis forces to the end of the war. The stamp is from the A Century of Service: War Memorials issue of 2018.

The limited-edition 20c coin has been minted with the envelope privy mark.

1941 WWII Campaigns: Greece & Crete Postal Numismatic Cover (PNC)

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