The Kalavryta Execution Ground is the site of one of the most horrific massacres of World War II, the Kalavryta Massacre, by Nazi occupation troops on December 13, 1943. This massacre is considered one of the greatest war crimes committed in Greece during the German occupation.
History
The tragedy in Kalavryta happened in retaliation for the action of the resistance forces in the area, which had caused losses to the Germans during the Battle of Kerpini. The German forces decided to launch a retaliatory operation in the area of Kalavryta, which was named “Operation Kalavryta”.
On December 13, 1943, German troops rounded up the town’s male population, aged 14 and over, and drove them to the Execution Ground, a hillside outside the town. There, about 500 men were executed en masse with firearms. Almost all were killed, while only a few managed to survive by pretending to be dead. The women and children of the town were locked in the school, which the Germans tried to burn down. Afterwards, the town of Kalavryta was set on fire, and many houses and buildings were destroyed.
The Monument and the Place of Execution
The Place of Execution, also known as the Red Cross, is located just outside of Kalavryta, and is a place of deep historical memory and symbolism for the Greek people. A monument has been erected at this point in honor of those executed, with crosses representing the victims. In the center of the monument there is a large white cross, which dominates the place.
Every year, on December 13, memorial events are held, attended by the families of the victims and officials, to honor the memory of those who lost their lives. The space also functions as a place of reflection on the horrors of war and the consequences of violence.
