Cretans executed by Nazis identified 83 years later through DNA

·

Eighteen civilians executed by the Nazis on Crete during World War II have been identified 83 years later through DNA analysis conducted by the Comparative Genomics Lab at the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology of the Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas (FORTH).

According to ekathimerini, in an article of Tassoula Karaiskaki, it is mentioned that the 18 male victims, aged 16-60 from the village of Adele, were executed on June 2, 1941 after the Battle of Crete by soldiers of the Third Reich on the orders of the German paratrooper commander General Kurt Student.

The research director of the project, Nikos Poulakakis, told Kathimerini that the Nazis gave the victims shovels, and their families believed they were being taken to a concentration camp or forced labor, but they were taken to the area of Sarakina and forced to dig their own mass grave.

Their relatives found their remains several days later and moved them to another grave. In 1960 the remains were exhumed but they could not be individually identified.

Source: ekathimerini

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

From crisis to compassion: Timos Roussos and his family’s mercy mission in war-torn Cyprus

When Turkish troops landed on Cyprus on 20 July 1974, six-year-old Timos Roussos was sitting on the floor of his family’s home in Lemesos.

A granddaughter returns: Georgia Georgiou retraces her yiayia’s occupied village in Cyprus

When Georgia Georgiou handed over her Cypriot ID at the border checkpoint to cross into occupied northern Cyprus, she felt an ache.

‘You never get over it’: A childhood shattered by the Turkish invasion of Cyprus

On a warm July morning in 1974, 10-year-old Anastasia Di Loreto (née Karatzia) was jolted awake by the sound of bombs falling on Kyrenia.

Cyprus: The paradox of tolerance and impunity for Turkey

The lack of a unified, systematic and practical strategy on the part of Greece has led the Cyprus crisis into national disarray.

Lost homes and lingering hope: Greek-Cypriots reflect on Turkish invasion and its aftermath

From hidden stories to haunting memories, two Greek-Cypriot men share what it means to carry the burden of Cyprus’ past.

You May Also Like

Greek police record 2,104 public movement violations

The Hellenic Police (ELAS) recorded a total of 2,104 violations of a government lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus on Wednesday.

Greek president sends message of solidarity to France

“Europe will not surrender to religious fanaticism and intolerance,” Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou said in a social media post on Thursday, expressing support for...

Nick Kyrgios backs decision to allow Novak Djokovic to play at 2023 Australian Open

Tennis star, Nick Kyrgios, has backed the decision to allow Novak Djokovic to compete at the 2023 Australian Open in Melbourne next month.