The Battle of Heraklion was fought during World War II on the island of Crete between 20 and 29 May 1941. British, Australian and Greek forces defended the port and the airfield of Heraklion against a German paratrooper attack. The German assault was launched without direct air support, and drops occurred over several hours rather than simultaneously. German units dropping near Heraklion (pictured) suffered very high casualties; those dropping further away were severely hampered by Cretan partisans. The German attack failed. When it was renewed the next day it failed again. The fighting then settled into a stalemate. A convoy of German seaborne reinforcements was intercepted by a British naval squadron and scattered. The Germans refocused on the battle for Maleme airfield, which they won, causing the Allies to evacuate. Commonwealth troops were taken off Crete by Allied warships on the night of 28/29 May; at sea, two Allied destroyers were sunk and two cruisers badly damaged, causing many casualties.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Heraklion

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1875:

Representatives from seventeen countries signed the Metre Convention, which set up an institute for the purpose of coordinating international metrology and for coordinating the development of the metric system. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metre_Convention

1927:

By the Treaty of Jeddah, the United Kingdom recognized the sovereignty of King Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia over Hejaz and Nejd, which later merged to become Saudi Arabia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibn_Saud

1965:

While attempting to land at Cairo International Airport, Pakistan International Airlines Flight 705 crashed for unknown reasons, killing all but 6 of the 121 people on board. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistan_International_Airlines_Flight_705

2012:

The first of two major earthquakes struck Northern Italy, resulting in seven deaths. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_Northern_Italy_earthquakes

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

wheelhouse: 1. A building or other structure containing a (large) wheel, such as the water wheel of a mill. 2. (automotive) The partially enclosed structure above and around a wheel of an automobile, typically partly formed by a portion of a fender panel that has been extended outward beyond the plane of the rest of the panel. 3. (nautical) An enclosed compartment on the deck of a vessel such as a fishing boat, originally housing its helm or steering wheel, from which it may be navigated; on a larger vessel it is the bridge. 4. (nautical) The enclosed structure around the paddlewheel of a steamboat. 5. (archaeology) A prehistoric structure from the Iron Age found in Scotland, characteristically including an outer wall within which a circle of stone piers (resembling the spokes of a wheel) form the basis for lintel arches supporting corbelled roofing with a hearth at the hub. 6. (Canada, US, baseball, by extension from sense 1.2) A pitch location which is favourable to the hitter. 7. (Canada, US, figuratively) A person's area of authority or expertise. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/wheelhouse

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

Our heart is a treasury; if you pour out all its wealth at once, you are bankrupt. We show no more mercy to the affection that reveals its utmost extent than we do to another kind of prodigal who has not a penny left.   --Honoré de Balzac https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Honor%C3%A9_de_Balzac