This operation stands as possibly the defining moment for the Fallschirmjäger during World War Two.[1] The Fallschirmjäger would suffer further heavy losses during the Battle of Crete especially during Operation Merkur which would be the end of large scale airborne and glider operations for the Fallschirmjäger.[21] The Germans used 22,000 airborne soldiers but in only nine days 3,250 of them were killed or missing with another 3,400 wounded.[21] It was said that Chancellor of Germany Adolf Hitler was horrified at these losses incurred and that he would no longer sanction large scale airborne operations.[22] However, this last operation was a strategic success with the use of relatively little resources.