Chania and War

On May 20, 1941, the Nazis attacked Crete. The ensuing war and occupation and continuing on-going war with the Nazi army proved devastating to both the German troops and the civilians and cities of Crete.






Both Iralkion and Chania were destroyed by the German attacks and occupation. Aerial and naval bombardment activities were levied against Crete.














Much of the World War II damage has been covered in the ensuing 65 years by new construction. Some of the results have been restorative in nature, returning to somewhat the design of the original work. Much of the construction however, has been hasty and expedient.


Much of the damage from 1941 remains visible in Chania today.












Museums throughout Crete have memorabilia concerning WWII. We toured one in Arhanes which has an amazing story of how the civilians ambushed and captured a German general. They then hid him and eventually removed him from Crete. This was another example of a uniformed military force being savagely attacked by civilian members of the country that they had invaded.

That's only one war that Crete has witnessed during its past 8,000 years. How much the wars of that period have destroyed in Crete and Greece, to say nothing of the rest of Europe, the middle East, Asia and the Anericas can never even be imagined. It is fair to say however, that the great bulk of human knowledge, culture, art, and advancements have been destroyed again and again by war. Crete is a testimony to the tiniest part that has escaped.


© John Womack, 2006. All rights reserved.
Photos made with Canon Elura 70 on SD card.