 To allow an evacuation of the main body of British forces , Wilson ordered the rearguard to make a last stand at the historic Thermopylae pass , the gateway to Athens . General Freyberg 's 2nd New Zealand Division was given the task of defending the coastal pass , while Mackay 's 6th Australian Division was to hold the village of <unk> . After the battle Mackay was quoted as saying " I did not dream of evacuation ; I thought that we 'd hang on for about a fortnight and be beaten by weight of numbers . " When the order to retreat was received on the morning of 23 April , it was decided that the two positions were to be held by one brigade each . These brigades , the 19th Australian and 6th New Zealand were to hold the passes as long as possible , allowing the other units to withdraw . The Germans attacked at 11 : 30 on 24 April , met fierce resistance , lost 15 tanks and sustained considerable casualties . The Allies held out the entire day ; with the delaying action accomplished , they retreated in the direction of the evacuation beaches and set up another rearguard at Thebes . The Panzer units launching a pursuit along the road leading across the pass made slow progress because of the steep gradient and difficult hairpin bends . 
