IV 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 227 

Recognizing and appreciating the historical significance and the heroic human 

endeavor and sacrifice of the people of Crete during World War II 

and commending the PanCretan Association of America. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 9, 2009 

Mrs. MALONEY (for herself, Mr. BILIRAKIS, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. SARBANES, 

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN, Mr. SPACE, Mr. SESTAK, Mr. PALLONE, Mr. 

BROWN of South Carolina, Ms. TSONGAS, and Mr. WEXLER) submitted 

the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 

Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing and appreciating the historical significance and 

the heroic human endeavor and sacrifice of the people 

of Crete during World War II and commending the 

PanCretan Association of America. 

Whereas 2009 marks the 68th anniversary of the heroic Battle of Crete, which took place on the Greek island of 

Crete during World War II between Nazi German forces 

and the people of Crete assisted by the Allied armies; 

Whereas the people of Crete fought tenaciously during the 

Battle of Crete, delaying for two months the Nazi German invasion of Russia; 


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•HRES 227 IH 

Whereas this delay forced Nazi German forces to invade Russia in the face of the brutal Russian winter, changing the 

final outcome of World War II and leading to the defeat 

of fascism; 

Whereas many historians agree that the Battle of Crete was 

one of the most significant battles of World War II; 

Whereas the Battle of Crete involved the first primarily airborne military invasion in history; 

Whereas the Battle of Crete contributed to saving the free 

world from Nazi German occupation, thus preserving democracy, freedom, and human dignity; 

Whereas the Battle of Crete was the first time the Allied 

forces utilized intelligence from the deciphered Nazi 

Enigma code; 

Whereas the Battle of Crete was the first time invading Nazi 

troops encountered mass resistance from a civilian population, and as a result of the heavy casualties suffered by 

the parachutists, Hitler forbade any similar future large 

scale airborne operations; 

Whereas the Cretan Resistance Movement was organized following the invasion to fight the Nazi German occupation 

of the island of Crete; 

Whereas for 4 years, the Cretan Resistance Movement inflicted heavy casualties upon Nazi German forces, including kidnaping a heavily-guarded Nazi German General, 

setting an example for all of the people of Europe to follow; 

Whereas the people of Crete suffered savage reprisals for 

their heroic resistance when the Nazi German invaders 

randomly executed thousands of civilians and burned and 

destroyed entire communities; 


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•HRES 227 IH 

Whereas many participants in the Battle of Crete and the 

Cretan Resistance Movement later emigrated to the 

United States and became American citizens; and 

Whereas many of these citizens became members of the 

PanCretan Association of America, an organization comprised of Greek Americans with ancestry from the island 

of Crete and committed to preserving and promoting the 

rich culture and proud history of Crete: Now, therefore, 

be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) observes the memory of the fallen heroes of 

3 the Battle of Crete; 

4 (2) honors the living men and women of Crete 

5 who, during World War II, fought an oppressive in6 vader to preserve the ideals of freedom, democracy, 

7 and the pursuit of happiness; and 

8 (3) commends the PanCretan Association of 

9 America for preserving and promoting the history of 

10 Crete and its people. 

Æ 


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