Where the Flaming Hell Are We?

Where the Flaming Hell Are We? by Craig Collie is an intensely vivid account of the Australian and New Zealand troops who were thrust into the tumultuous battlegrounds of Greece and Crete during World War II. The narrative begins in March 1941, where 40,000 ANZAC soldiers, most embarking on their first journey overseas, are deployed with a crucial mission: to thwart the rapid advance of the Wehrmacht through Greece. What starts as a search for excitement and adventure quickly transforms into a harrowing reality beyond their wildest fears.

The operation is destined for failure, yet amidst the chaos and inevitable retreat, the Australian and New Zealand troops manage to delay the German onslaught long enough to evacuate thousands of their comrades to the relative safety of Crete. It is on this strategic island that they face a new and terrifying form of warfare: paratroopers, deployed by the Nazis for the first time in a devastating airborne assault. The defenders' valiant stand becomes a desperate struggle for survival as the paratroopers rain down upon them.

Craig Collie, acclaimed author of The Path of Infinite Sorrow and Nagasaki, meticulously recounts the soldiers' trials in the mountains and villages of Greece, and the fierce combat on Crete that ensues. While the tales of Gallipoli and the Fall of Singapore are well-known, the equally significant and tragic events in Greece and Crete often remain overlooked. Through Collie's thorough research and compelling storytelling, the book underscores the critical role these battles played, shedding light on the flawed British leadership that had far-reaching consequences for the Commonwealth forces.

Where the Flaming Hell Are We? breathes life into the gripping and often untold stories of these brave men. Drawing on first-hand accounts, the book captures the raw emotions, camaraderie, and unyielding spirit of soldiers facing the horrors of war. Collie’s engaging narrative ensures that the soldiers' experiences, many told here for the first time, are vividly brought to life, providing an essential and moving testament to their sacrifices.

"Wonderfully woven, this is the fight for the Aegean in World War II come to life. A great read." - Peter FitzSimons, author of Kokoda

"Master storyteller Craig Collie recounts an untold history of a little remembered series of desperate actions in the Mediterranean spring of 1941. The well-researched narrative lives; populated with typical Anzac men and women, a story I'm sorry I didn't think to write myself." - Will Davies, author of Beneath Hill 60

"Vividly created... Using first-hand testimonies, this is dramatic popular history." - Sydney Morning Herald

"...brings to life two major events during Australia's involvement in World War II." - Canberra Times

"Collie delves into the experiences of the soldiers who fought in the mountains and villages of Greece, and faced entrapment and death on Crete. He uses a variety of sources to enhance the story of unworldly young men who viewed war as a big adventure. A highly readable account of a campaign of which little is known or understood in the wider Australian public." - Australian Defence Magazine

"Using a range of firsthand accounts, Collie tells an engaging story of the battles and the aftermath of evacuation, and capture for some." - Canberra Weekly