Monument of National Resistance in Kaissariani

What I can see

The monument of National Resistance in Kaissariani or “Altar of freedom” is dedicated to the more than 600 Greeks executed here by the Nazis between 1942 and 1944. The monument consists of two central columns; perpendicular to these, black granite panels have been installed with the names of the dead. Behind the columns, there is a small pond, situated on the spot where blood from the executed men gathered. The monument was integrated in the Grove of Kaissariani and was the result of collaboration between several architects. The site is not accessible at all times, in order to prevent potential acts of vandalism. However, the monument is visible from the site’s entrance.

What I can't see

Both before and after the war (up until construction of the monument), the area was used as a shooting range. The Nazis conducted executions here together with their Greek collaborators. The climax was the execution of 200 opponents of the dictatorship of Metaxas, to retaliate the killing of a German general by the partisans in the Peloponnese. The Greek Resistance against Nazi troops played a major role in the outcome of World War II. The Greeks delayed the provisioning of Hitler’s forces in North Africa (by blowing up the Bridge of Gorgopotamos), which resulted in Hitler attacking the U.S.S.R. in the winter, with well-known catastrophic results for the Axis. The occupation of Greece by the Nazis accounted for the extermination of nearly 12% of the population, among which 130,000 civilians died in reprisal killings, over 350,000 from starvation and the cold during the first year of occupation in Athens alone and 70,000 Jews in concentration camps. Greece also suffered the destruction of 50% of its infrastructure, 75% of its industry, the theft of 8,500 museum exhibits, the destruction of ancient treasures, the burning of almost 1,500 villages, the looting of the Bank of Greece through a withdrawal of a total of 32,000 gold sovereigns, the imposition of a mandatory interest-free loan of 7 billion euros, plus 850 million euros through forged deutsche marks.

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