On the 83rd anniversary of the Battle of Crete, Historical Quest Publishing House in Athens has launched the Greek edition of ‘Battle on 42nd Street’ by Adelaide author Peter Monteath. This week, launch events in Athens and Chania celebrated the latest addition to Greek literature’s coverage of the conflict which focuses particularly on the Anzac contribution in the conflict.
Battle on 42nd Street was first published in Australia in 2019 with one critic describing it as “military history at its best: deeply researched and powerfully told.” The book places the battle of 42nd Street which occurred on 27 May 1941 in the context of the 11-day struggle for the island.
Drawing on research from Australian, New Zealand, Greek, Cretan and German sources, Battle on 42nd Street explores the 27 May action, but also how the German invasion of Crete was conceived and executed, and how the Allied forces, including the Greek army, and the people of Crete themselves, fought the most advanced military power of the time – and very nearly prevailed, held back only by the misjudgements of Allied commanders.
Battle on 42nd Street tells the story of how Australian and New Zealand troops summoned one last act of brutal defiance near the village of Tsikalaria. The 42nd Street action has never been widely acknowledged or analysed beyond the official war histories of Australia and New Zealand, and until now, no Greek publication has dealt with this seminal chapter in the fall of Crete.
Peter Monteath, who is attending the book’s launch in Greece, told Neos Kosmos that he is delighted the book is now available to a Greek readership. “The history of the Battle of Crete does not belong to any one nation; by nature, it was a multinational affair, and what I tried to do is view that history through many lenses.
“The Greek perspective is of course crucial. It was above all the future of Greece that was at stake. If a book by an Australian about the Battle of Crete can enrich the Greek understanding of a piece of Greek history, and the part the Anzacs played, then I would be very pleased.”
Monteath said that he did not expect the book to have a new life beyond its original edition. “I’m very grateful to Rethymno-based WWII Crete historian Mike Sweet, not only for suggesting the possibility of a Greek edition back in 2020, but then finding a Greek publisher to take it on.”
“I’m indebted to Yannis Chronopoulos, owner of Historical Quest in Athens, for realising this dream and for ensuring a high-quality translation and production”. Monteath added that the support of Sydney’s Nick Andriotakis and Flinders University to realising the project was crucial.
Chronopoulos has dedicated the book to the memory of his grandfather, Stavros Londo, who fought in the Battle of Crete with the Greek 9th Infantry Regiment which was raised in Kalamata. “After many ups and downs over the last four years, while it often seemed all was lost, I’m so pleased we’ve been able to publish what is a remarkable book.”
Book info:
Η Μάχη της 42ης Οδού: Ο Πόλεμος στην Κρήτη & ο Αγώνας των Anzacs μέχρις εσχάτων
Format: 256 pages, paperback
Published: May 2024 by Historical Quest
ISBN: 978-618-5088-94-1
RRP: €20 (currently available online for €18) + delivery.
Orders can be made to Historical Quest’s eshop: https://www.historical-quest.com/eshop.html or email: info@historical-quest.com
