 By 19 September, Karpathos, Kasos and the Italian-occupied islands of the Sporades and the Cyclades were in German hands.On 23 September, the 22nd Infantry Division (Lieutenant-General Friedrich-Wilhelm Müller) garrisoning Fortress Crete was ordered to take Kos and Leros.Having identified the vital role of the Allies' only airfield at Kos, "Fliegerkorps" X bombed it and the Allied positions of the island, from 18 September.