The Battle of Rethymno was part of the Battle of Crete, fought during World War II on the Greek island of Crete between 20 and 29 May 1941. Two Australian battalions, supported by Greek forces, defended an airstrip and the nearby town of Rethymno against a German paratrooper attack (pictured). Due to confusion and delays at the airfields in Greece, the German assault was launched without direct air support, and drops occurred over an extended period rather than simultaneously. German units dropping near Allied positions suffered very high casualties, both in the air and on the ground. More than 500 Germans were captured, including the local commander. The Germans concentrated their resources on the battle for the airfield at Maleme, 50 mi (80 km) to the west, which they won. The Allies ordered an evacuation of Crete on 27 May, but were unable to communicate this to the units at Rethymno. Faced by a superior force of Germans equipped with tanks and artillery the Australians surrendered on 29 May.

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

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1217:

First Barons' War: English forces under William Marshal defeated French troops at the Battle of Lincoln. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Lincoln_%281217%29

1873:

Levi Strauss and Jacob W. Davis received a patent for using copper rivets to strengthen the pockets of denim overalls, allowing their company to start manufacturing blue jeans. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob_W._Davis

1983:

uMkhonto we Sizwe, the paramilitary wing of the African National Congress, detonated a car bomb in Pretoria, resulting in 19 deaths and 217 injuries. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_Street,_Pretoria_bombing

1996:

In deciding Romer v. Evans, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a constitutional amendment in Colorado that prevented protected status under the law for homosexuals or bisexuals. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romer_v._Evans

_____________________________ 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:

Ages are no more infallible than individuals; every age having held many opinions which subsequent ages have deemed not only false but absurd; and it is as certain that many opinions now general will be rejected by future ages, as it is that many, once general, are rejected by the present.   --John Stuart Mill https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/John_Stuart_Mill