What happened in Kaisariani on May 1, 1944?

On May 1, 1944, approximately 200 Greek prisoners were executed by Nazi forces in the Athens suburb of Kaisariani.

Why were the Kaisariani executions carried out?

The executions were carried out by the Nazis as a reprisal for the killing of German General Franz Krech by Greek resistance fighters.

What is significant about the newly emerged photographs?

The newly emerged photographs provide the first visual documentation of the Kaisariani executions, showing prisoners' final moments and the gruesome nature of the event.

Home / War and Conflict / Nazi Atrocity: Fainting Guards at Greek Massacre

Nazi Atrocity: Fainting Guards at Greek Massacre

18 Feb

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Summary

Nazi guards fainted during a brutal 1944 execution of 200 Greeks.
New photos show prisoners' final moments before execution.
The executions were a reprisal for a Nazi general's killing.

Nazi Atrocity: Fainting Guards at Greek Massacre

Newly discovered photographs offer a harrowing glimpse into the Kaisariani executions, where approximately 200 Greek prisoners were massacred by Nazis on May 1, 1944. This atrocity, considered one of the worst during the German occupation, occurred in retaliation for the killing of German General Franz Krech.

The images depict the prisoners' final moments as they were marched to a shooting range in the Athens suburb. Reports from witnesses describe Nazi guards fainting from the brutality of executing men in batches of 20, leading to their replacement by more composed soldiers.