Crete had fallen to the Germans after a fierce, ten-day battle in May 1941. Soon after, resistance groups were formed by the Cretans and begun to harass the German forces till the end of the war. In response to the resistance activities, the Germans formed the "Jagdkommando Schubert", a paramilitary force led by Sdf. Fritz Schubert, whose aim was to terrorize the civilian population.