1941.05.22 “Disturbing the Shades”
by Ralph Lee (1906-1947)
21 x 14 in., ink on board
Coppola Collection
Ralph Lee was an editorial cartoonist for the Portland Oregonian. He died suddenly, at 41, in January 1947. His cousin, Art Bimrose, was the editorial cartoonist for the Oregonian for more than three decades. In 1937, the Oregonian hired him part-time to work on printing plates. Following Lee’s death, Bimrose was hired as the Sunday editorial cartoonist.
On 27 April, German troops occupied the Greek capital, Athens. Following the Greek surrender Germany, Italy and Bulgaria divided the country into 3 zones of occupation. German and Italy jointly occupied Athens.
On the morning of May 20, around 3,000 German paratroopers fell out of the sky in the Canea-Suda area and at Maleme, Réthimnon and Iráklion. By the end of the day, this number had doubled and was being further reinforced by parachutists, gliders and eventually troop carriers. These began landing on Maleme airfield while it was still under Allied fire.
Allied and civilian resistance was stronger than expected, and by the first night of the battle the Germans had gained little except a precarious foothold at Maleme. The battle was fought at sea and in the air, as well as on land. The Royal Navy faced fierce German air attacks but was able to intercept a force of seaborne German troops, embarked on requisitioned civilian vessels, before they could reach Crete. The first significant Royal Navy casualties happened on May 22, when the light cruiser HMS Naiad was among the ships attacked.
The Germans won Crete in about 2 weeks, taking possession on June 1 as the Allies retreated to Egypt.
The cartoon is marked Thursday, 3/22/41, when in fact I think this is an error, where the “3” was supposed to be a “5.” There was no invasion on Saturday, March 22, and May 22 was a Thursday, and two days after the attack with aerial support and paratroopers.
