Photos of a 1944 Nazi massacre in Greece have emerged for first time – but their sale has sparked fury from some of Greece’s leading political figures as they are offered up to buyers on eBay
Shocking photos of a horrific Nazi mass execution in WW2 have gone on sale on eBay more than 80 years after the horrific atrocity – sparking a furious reaction.
No photos of the massacre of hero resistance fighters in Greece had been known to exist before. Distraught relatives have already identified some of the men in the distressing pictures.
Now the Greek government has been urged to step in to try and buy the photos as a tribute to the 200 men who were killed in the Athens suburb of Kaisariani on 1st May 1944. It was one of the most notorious incidents in the Second World War.
Initial analysis by experts said the photos are authentic. Former Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras has urged the Greek government to buy the images from the eBay seller.
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In a letter to the parliamentary president, he said the final moments of the “Greek patriots” should not be traded but placed in the possession of the state.
He wrote: “I therefore take the liberty of suggesting that the Parliamentary Foundation purchase these photographs as a tribute to the resistance and its dead, but also as a testament to the heroism with which the Greek people confronted the horrors of the Nazi occupation.
“I believe – and I am sure that you and every Greek agree – that the final moments of the Greek patriots, the depiction of the tragedy and their courage, should not be traded, but should become the property of Parliament and the country.”
Communist Party leader Dimitris Koutsoumbas also demanded urgent action, calling the photos “historical documents of immeasurable value” that proved Nazi war crimes.
He warned they must not end up in private collections or enter auctions with an uncertain outcome. Instead, they must be returned to Greece – and Parliament should “take all necessary legal and other measures” to stop the sale and bring the documents into the possession of the Greek state.
The Belgian collector, named as Tim de Craene, said he personally halted the eBay auction after realising the sensitivity of the images. He said he was open to talks with Greek authorities but insisted his legal ownership should be recognised.
The mass execution at Kaisariani remains one of the most notorious reprisals carried out by Nazi forces in occupied Greece. Just five months later, German troops withdrew from the region as the Red Army advanced across Europe.
