Operation Kalavryta

During the Second World War, Greece was occupied (April 1941 - October 1944) by the Axis forces and it was divided in German, Italian and Bulgarian occupation zones. During this period, armed and unarmed groups of Greeks, from across the political spectrum, organised the Greek Resistance. In order to wear down the Resistance that had developed in Kalavryta and break the civilians' morale, the German Occupation forces organised and conducted military operations in the mountainous area of Kalavryta. The largest one took place in December 1943, when the German Army's 117th Jäger Division began a mission known as "Unternehmen Kalawrita" (Operation Kalavryta), intended to encircle Greek Resistance guerilla fighters.

A classified order for the initiation of "Operation Kalavryta", signed on November 25th, 1943 by Karl von Le Suire. Then, on December 13th, 1943 the order was specialized by Lieutenant Colonel Wölfinger by defining the objectives of the operation as the identification and eradication of guerrilla groups in the greater area, detection of communists, arms and propaganda material and finally tracking the 5th Company of the 749th Division (First Lieutenant's Schober company was captured by the guerrilla groups during the battle of Kerpini, 6km away from Kalavryta on 16-18 October 1943). On November 29, German Stukas bombed the neighbouring village of Skepasto.

Days before their entry in Kalavryta, the German Occupation Forces started massive executions in the villages of Kerpini, Roghi, Zaclorou, Souvardo, Vrahni and in the Mega Spilaio Monastery.

On December 9, 1943, the motor-driven forces from Patras and Aigio marched into Kalavryta. Major Ebersberger, commander of the Operation, gave a short speech to the citizens. He promised that their goal was to search for the captives from the Kerpini Battle. From December 9th until December 12th, 1943 German Occupation forces looted and burnt a hotel (Helmos) and five houses (which belonged to partisans).

On December 13, the German Occuparion Forces gathered the families in the school. These stairs led the families to the main corridor. Soldiers had the order to separate the families inside the building. Men and boys (over the age of 12) were led onto a hill. Women and children were held hostage inside the building. The city was already set on fire by the soldiers. According to the orders, the aim of the internment was to keep the women and children as hostages so that they could kill them instead of the men and boys if there was any kind of uncalculated reaction on the part of the men.

This hill, an amphitheatrical place on the outskirts of the town, was chosen by the German Occupation Force to be the place of the last act of the "Operation Kalavryta", the murder of the male population of Kalávryta.

The report has two main parts. Firstly it records the destroyed places and secondly the number of executed men. A) The following sites were destroyed: Rogoi, Kerpini, Kerpini’s railway station, Ano Zachlorou, Kato Zachlorou, Souvardos, Vrachni, Kalavryta, Monastery of Megalo Spilaio, Monastery of Agia Lavra, Agia Kyriaki, Avles, Vysoka, Fteri, Klapatsouna, Pirgaki, Valitsa, Melissia, Monastery of Omblou, Lapanagi, Mazi, Mazeika, Pagrati, Morohova, Derveni, Valtos, Planerro, Kalyvia (4 km west of the Mazeika). B) 696 Greeks were executed.

By the Agency of United Photojournalists
Municipal Museum of the Kalavritan Holocaust.

The Pantheon of Executed men from "Operation Kalavryta" (5th until 14th December 1943), as it is exhibited in the 5th exhibition room of the Municipal Museum of Kalavritan Holocaust.

In the centre you can see the names of the Executed men in black and the names of the survivors in red.On the left are displayed the photos of 28 survivors (13 from Kalavryta and 15 from the surrounding villages) from the executions that took place from 5th to 14th December 1943.

Municipal Museum of the Kalavritan Holocaust.

By the Agency of United Photojournalists
Municipal Museum of the Kalavritan Holocaust

By the Agency of United Photojournalists
Municipal Museum of the Kalavritan Holocaust.

By the Agency of United Photojournalists
Municipal Museum of the Kalavritan Holocaust

Group photo of the orphans of the City of Kalavryta, sent to American donors.