Since the initial airborne landings, the New Zealand higher leadership had shown little urgency in reacting to German moves. Now that the forces from Maleme had been reinforced and begun their march across the island, they showed the initiative that had been missing so far. Less than an hour after the Germans took the key village of Galatas, Kippenberger of 10th Brigade had brought together reinforcements from across the front to strike back at the advancing enemy.

Lt. Col. John Gray of 18th Battalion once again led the attack, with the remnants of his own command plus troops from 23rd Battalion, stragglers from the Composite Battalion and Capt. Forrester and his fanatical Greeks and Cretans. The Kiwi Concert Party, a big band also trained as infantrymen and sent to Crete to entertain the troops, joined the attack as well as the 4th Brigade's band. It was the second bayonet charge Gray had led that day, and the Kiwis followed him screaming Maori war cries. The mountain troops met them in the town square of Galatas, where fighting raged with knives and bayonets. The Germans managed to hold a few buildings along the south and south-west fringes of the town, but the newly-won positions were untenable and the New Zealanders withdrew during the night.

Gebirgsjäger leaders in Parachutes Over Crete use conventional named ranks. The library was setup using German rank references.