Junkers Ju.52/3m, part five

 

The Junkers Ju.52/3m was massively used also during the Balkans Campaign. Thanks to the Ju.52, Axis forces could be rapidly deployed through the whole theatre.

It was during this campaign that a special variant of the Ju.52 was introduced as up to twelve Ju.52/3mg4e were modified to carry an extra rotating tower equipped with a 20 mm MG 151 to serve as escort gunships. However, they were not very successful and were limited to operations over the Mediterranean.

Fifteen Ju.52 took part in the not so famous Operation Hannibal, the airborne assault on the Corinth Canal, in order to secure it. Original plan was for Fallschirmjäger (German paratroops) assault engineers to seize both sides of the canal (which links both Ionian and Aegean Seas) on a surprise glider assault, while both battallions of the 2nd Fallschirmjäger regiment parachuted both North and South of the bridge to neutralize any Allied forces at the canal.

The assault took place on 26th April 1941 and was a success as the Fallschirmjägers managed to hold the bridges and deactivate the demolition charges set by the Allied forces.

Shortly later, the Wehrmacht launched Operation Mercury, the invasion of the island of Crete, on 20th May 1941. The Luftwaffe sent a massive formation of 493 Ju.52/3m to fly a total force of 8.500 paratroopers and tow gliders to the Greek island, which was defended by Greek and British Commonwealth forces. Eleven days later, on 31st May, the Fallschirmjägers captured the island, but at the high cost of 4.000 paratroopers killed and 151 Ju.52/3m destroyed or damaged beyond repair (according to other sources, 4.500 killed and 170 Ju.52/3m destroyed). This was the first battle in military history where airborne troops were used massively, and also the first one where the German troops found heavy local resistance. Given the high casualty rate and the belief that the airborne forces had no longer the surprise factor, Adolf Hitler became reluctant to authorise further large airborne operations, preferring to employ paratroopers as ground troops. 

Sources:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junkers_Ju_52

2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Corinth_Canal

3. Signal Squadron - Aircraft In action 186 - Junkers Ju-52 in Action

4. Osprey - Combat Aircraft 120 - Ju 52/3m Bomber and Transport units 1936-1941