A Belgian collector has withdrawn rare World War II photographs showing the execution of 200 Greek political prisoners after signing a preliminary agreement with Greece, the Culture Ministry has announced.
The images, briefly listed for online auction, document the executions carried out by Nazi forces on May 1, 1944, at Kaisariani in Athens – one of the most symbolic atrocities of the occupation.
Greece has declared the photographs part of its national heritage and is seeking to secure them.
Culture Minister Lina Mendoni said experts verified the authenticity of the photographs in Belgium, confirming they form part of a larger collection taken during the Nazi occupation.
Following the attempted sale, a memorial at Kaisariani was vandalised. In response, the local municipality stated: “Historical memory will not be erased, no matter how much it bothers some people.”
Source: AP News
