Dramatic Photos

Kondomari Massacre

Franz Peter Weixler-Bundesarchiv

The aftermath of the Kondomari Massacre commited by FJs in retalliation of supposed FJs being killed and mutilated by Creten civillians during Operation Mercury, June 2nd 1941. A truely horrible picture which shows the worst of mankind. (Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-166-0527-02A) Cretan villagers of Kantomary after being executed by Fallschirmjägger. As many as 10 villagers (children and women included) were executed for each German soldier killed in the vicinity. Even when there was 100 Cretans to execute, the Fallschirmjäger would line up 8 at a time. The reprisals were of wanton cruelty. The village of Anogia, for instance, was emptied of its inhabitants and then razed to the ground as a revenge to the abduction of General Kreipe by members of the British SOE along with Cretans, on April 26, 1944.