In 1943 and 1944, the German occupying forces on Crete carried out numerous »retaliation measures« against the civilian population. A memorial site in the mountain village of Amiras honours the victims. There are further monuments in several villages on Crete.
After the Italian troops had withdrawn from Greece in September 1943, assaults on the German occupying forces and acts of sabotage by Cretan partisans became more frequent. The Wehrmacht reacted to the resistance in a similarly brutal manner as they had in 1941: entire villages were destroyed and many civilians killed in reprisal. On September 12, 1943, 12 German soldiers were killed in combat against partisans near Ano Viannos in south-east Crete. That same day, general Friedrich W. Müller, commander of the 22nd Infantry Division stationed on Crete, ordered his men to immediately shoot residents of villages around Ano Viannos. He prompted his soldiers to be severe and to show no consideration for the civilian population. In the days that followed, soldiers destroyed several townships in the area. The male village residents were gathered and shot in groups; houses were burned down. Several women were thrown into burning houses by the soldiers. Wehrmacht reports on »Operation Viannos« speak of 440 killed Greeks. Wehrmacht units carried out similarly brutal actions in south-west Crete in the following weeks.
Over 440 men, women and children perished during the »retaliation measures« carried out around Ano Viannos. About 350 of them came from Ano Viannos itself.
The exact number of civilians who were murdered on Crete between 1941 and 1944 is not known. It is estimated that Italian and German occupying forces killed between 2,000 and 3,500 Cretans. Hundreds of villages were completely or partially destroyed.
The exact number of civilians who were murdered on Crete between 1941 and 1944 is not known. It is estimated that Italian and German occupying forces killed between 2,000 and 3,500 Cretans. Hundreds of villages were completely or partially destroyed.
Today, almost every village on Crete in which »retaliation measures« were carried out has a memorial bearing the names of the victims. Located in the south-west of Crete is the ghost town of Epano Simi, which was completely destroyed and remained uninhabited after the war. The ruins of the former village serve as a reminder of the events of September 1943.
The monument in Amiras, which is a few kilometres away, lies on a hill on the outskirts of the village. Nine stone figures bear the names of the children who were murdered in the region of Ano Viannos on Crete.
The monument in Amiras, which is a few kilometres away, lies on a hill on the outskirts of the village. Nine stone figures bear the names of the children who were murdered in the region of Ano Viannos on Crete.
- Name
- Erinnerungsorte für die Opfer von »Vergeltungsmaßnahmen« 1943/44