Māpuna for Saturday 2 September 2023

Retracing the footsteps of the 28th Māori Battalion in Crete.

Allied War Cemetery, Suda Bay. Photo: Tama Muru

In this very special episode of Māpuna, RNZ Producer Tama Muru visits the Greek Island of Crete to delve into the history of the battle in 1941 which pitted New Zealand, Australian and British troops against elite paratroopers from Nazi Germany. Cretan historian Apostolis Panigirakis leads a tour of famous battlefield sites such as Maleme, Galatas and 42nd Street near Suda Bay where the 28th Māori Battalion performed a haka before taking part in a bayonet charge against advancing German troops. Apostolis says it was a heroic act which gave precious extra hours to Allied troops retreating to Crete's southern coast. And what of the Cretans themselves? The end of the battle did not mean the end of resistance to German occupation as the tangata whenua fought back. This included the audacious abduction of German General Kreipe in 1944. As Apostolis Panigirakis says the Cretans are 'a hard charging people' who are very hospitable but 'don't mess with them'. The battle also forged an enduring bond with the people of Aotearoa that persists to this day.

Cretan historian Apostolis Panigirakis at the Allied War Cemetery in Suda Bay. Photo: Tama Muru