December
1943
"The word heroism I am afraid does not render the least of those acts of self-sacrifice of the Greeks,
which were the defining factor in the victorious outcome of the common struggle of the nations, during World War II, for the human freedom and dignity.
If it were not for the bravery of the Greeks and their courage, the outcome of World War II would be undetermined."
-Winston Churchill (speech to British Parliament, 24 April 1941
'Operation Kalavryta'
Church bells ring
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The occupation of Greece during WWII (1941-1944) was a period marked by cruelty and destruction, but the strength of resistance demonstrated by Hellenes was recognised across the world.
Achaia became an area of Resistance activity and in October 1943 Partisan fighters (andartes) captured 81 German soldiers. It was to be an act with far reaching consequences. ‘Operation Kalavryta’ was launched in which three thousand German troops, on foot and in vehicles, made their way to Kalavryta from five surrounding Peloponnesian cities.
Upon arrival in Kalavryta, the commander of the operation, Major Ebersberger, gathered residents together and gave a short speech promising that civilians would not be harmed, that the military aim was only to draw out partisan fighters.
On December 7, the Partisans executed the German soldiers still in captivity and in response General Karl von Le Suire flew to Kalavryta in order to issue instructions to Major Ebersberger on how to proceed with “atonement measures”.
On Monday December 13 the church bells rang out repeatedly – an unusual and scary sound for the locals. It was the German signal for residents to gather in the town. From that point, the Kalavrytans were separated under gunpoint. All women and children were gathered into Primary school which was heavily guarded by troops with machine guns. All males aged 12 years and older were rounded up and marched to an open area, just beyond the town cemetery, known as Kapi’s field, where machine guns posts were concealed.
Amid rising terror flares were released and lit up the sky. The ominous signal to proceed with ‘Operation Kalavryta’.
At least 463 boys and men aged from 12 to 80 were mown down in moments. The town was set alight. Houses, shops, the entire town was looted and burned. The population imprisoned in the school house heard the cacophony of destruction, smelled smoke, started to feel the warmth of flames coming from the school basement - and expected to be burned alive. After breaking windows and pushing against the doors, the mothers and children eventually freed themselves, rushing out in a torrent against the guards.
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The sky was red with fire. They were confronted with the sight of their peaceful, rural mountain town utterly destroyed and three generations of their men gone.
In a later recollection, British Army Captain O’Donnell, who was one of the first British Officers on the scene, described the “unbearable wailing” of the women.
Over the following days, the destruction extended to the holy and historic monasteries of Aghia Lavra and Mega Spilaeo, where buildings were burned and monks killed. As the troops receded and moved through the surrounding areas, all animals, money and clothing were taken or destroyed and remaining buildings torched.
By the end of the operation, at least 696 civilians had been murdered. Estimates vary and some place that number closer to 1100.
In Kalavryta town square, one clock on the church tower remains fixed at 2.34pm, forever marking the moment time stopped on December 13, 1943.