The Drakeia massacre (Greek: Η σφαγή της Δράκειας) refers to the mass execution of 115 men by SS soldiers in the village of Drakeia, located on Mount Pelion, in Thessaly, on 18 December 1943. It was part of the multiple Nazi reprisals against the Greek Resistance in occupied Greece.[1][2]

Drakeia Massacre
Monument in memory of the 115 victims of the 1943 massacre in Drakeia, Mount Pelion, Greece.
LocationDrakeia, Mount Pelion, Greece
Date18 December 1943
TargetCivilians
Attack type
Mass murder
Deaths115
Perpetrators4th SS Polizei Panzergrenadier Division
MotiveNazi reprisals
InquiryNone
AccusedNone
ConvictedNone

A wake in memory of the victims is held in the area every year, in the presence of members of the Greek Parliament, members of the Government of Greece and other dignitaries.

References edit

  1. ^ Van Boeschoten, Riki, "Broken Bonds and Divided Memories: Long-term Effects of War Atrocities in a Greek Mountain Village", European Association of Social Anthropologists (2004)
  2. ^ Foot, John, Italy's Divided Memory, Palgrave Macmillan (2009) p.146

39°22′34″N 23°03′00″E / 39.376°N 23.050°E / 39.376; 23.050