The German paratroopers became more organized as their numbers increased. They became aggressive and deadly, spreading fear and destruction. Like Sara, Anna was there in the town of Galatas to witness the massacre, although neither one knew that the other one was there in all the confusion. Fearless and defiant, she ventured out on the streets to care for the wounded, Greeks and Germans alike. She came across an old woman shot dead. She had taken the German bullets to save the life of a child who was still alive when Anna pulled him out from under her bloodied body.
Taking the frightened child, Anna was welcomed at the Red Cross field hospital outside Maleme, where the wounded in the hundreds waited their turn to be treated. Although most did not speak the same language, they had no trouble communicating or helping one another. Anna was pleased to see disabled German soldiers playing cards with injured New Zealanders and an Englishman helping a wounded German soldier walk.
Anna worked straight for twenty-four hours while at the same time seeking information about Nikolas. She checked the identification tags of the badly injured and those disfigured beyond recognition, praying "Oh God, I beg you, keep my Nikolas safe." Finally Anna went out for a walk. She needed relief and fresh air. But there was none. The foul aroma of crude oil burning, the stench of rotting flesh, and the sickly smell of blood on the soldiers hobbling by, combined with the decaying fish littering the beach, along with the countless dead bodies of British sailors washed ashore, offered little relief.
Her walk disrupted the frenzied feeding of flies upon the dead, many of whom were starting not to resemble their original human form. Anna cut her walk short, returning to the field hospital.
The kindness displayed among the wounded gave her hope. She could see the face of God in the tireless, dedicated doctors and nurses, who were frantically doing all they could to preserve life. A German soldier was asking a British Army corporal, "What are we doing here killing each other, when our two countries united, could do so much good?"
Anna woke up the next morning nauseated, even though she had not eaten anything the night before to cause the unpleasant feeling. Perhaps it was exhaustion. The conquering Germans came and took control of the hospital, but did not interfere much with its operation. Anna was accepted and liked by the Germans and freedom fighters alike.
The British had evacuated to the south to embark for Egypt. The New Zealanders and the Australians followed behind. Some, however, never made the evacuation because the British ships could not take all of them. The king of Greece, his brother and sister, and all of the Greek government officials were already gone. The ports of Sfakia and Agia Roumeli were busy at night. Daytime evacuation was out of the question with the German Air Force patrolling Crete during the daylight hours.