The Skourvoula executions ( el, εκτελέσεις στα Σκούρβουλα) refer to the mass execution by

firing squad Execution by firing squad, in the past sometimes called fusillading (from the French ''fusil'', rifle), is a method of capital punishment, particularly common in the military and in times of war. Some reasons for its use are that firearms are ...

of 36 civilians of which 22 women, at the village of Skourvoula in

Crete Crete ( el, Κρήτη, translit=, Modern: , Ancient: ) is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the 88th largest island in the world and the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, after Sicily, Sardinia, Cyprus, ...

Greece Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders ...

by German Wehrmacht forces on 14 August 1944 during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

.Stephan D. Yada-Mc Neal ''Schlachthaus Griechenland: Deutsche, bulgarische und italienische Kriegsverbrechen in Griechenland 1941 - 1945'', BoD – Books on Demand, 2020.
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Background

The village of Skourvoula ( el, Σκούρβουλα) is located at an altitude of , southwest of

Heraklion Heraklion or Iraklion ( ; el, Ηράκλειο, , ) is the largest city and the administrative capital of the island of Crete and capital of Heraklion regional unit. It is the fourth largest city in Greece with a population of 211,370 (Urban Ar ...

. It is built on the southern slopes of Mt Psiloritis, overlooking the

Messara Plain The Messara Plain or simply Messara ( el, Μεσσαρά) is an alluvial plain in southern Crete, stretching about 50 km west-to-east and 7 km north-to-south, making it the largest plain in Crete. On a hill at its west end are the ruin ...

. During the Axis occupation of Crete, the entire region of Psiloritis sheltered local resistance fighters and British SOE agents. To intimidate the civilian population, General

Friedrich-Wilhelm Müller __NOTOC__ Friedrich-Wilhelm Müller (29 August 1897 – 20 May 1947) was a general in the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany during World War II. He led an infantry regiment in the early stages of the war and by 1943 was commander of the 22nd Air Landing ...

who was commanding the German garrison on Crete during the summer of 1944, had issued orders for retaliatory measures against the population of "hostile" villages.Marlen von Xylander ''Die deutsche Besatzungsherrschaft auf Kreta 1941–1945'', Rombach, Freiburg, 1989, p.125.

The executions

On 12 August 1944, two German soldiers stationed at

Tympaki Tympaki ( el, Τυμπάκι) is a town and a former municipality in the Heraklion (regional unit), Heraklion regional unit, Crete, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reforms it is part of the municipality of Faistos, of which it is a municipa ...

arrived at Skourvoula, tasked with the collection of eggs for the provision of the occupation troops. On their way back, they were ambushed by partisans who shot and killed them. In fear of German reprisals, the male inhabitants of Skourvoula decided to flee to the mountain. On the following day, carrying out Müller's orders, a German company marched into Skourvoula and arrested all villagers. After interrogations and brief imprisonment, they were released and allowed to return to their homes. On 14 August 1944, German forces returned and rounded up the inhabitants. A total of 36 locals, mostly from Skourvoula but also from the neighboring villages Magarikari, Kamares and Petrokefalo were shot at a site near the southwest edge of the village in front of the eyes of their relatives. Certain sources report 12 additional victims of impromptu shootings in the vicinity of the village.Καζαντζάκης, Ν., Καλιτσουνάκης, Ι. και Κακριδής, Ι.Θ.
Έκθεσις της Κεντρικής Επιτροπής Διαπιστώσεως Ωμοτήτων εν Κρήτη
'. Σύνταξις 29/6 - 6/8/1945. Έκδοση Δήμου Ηρακλείου, 1983, p. 68.

Aftermath

reparations Reparation(s) may refer to: Christianity * Restitution (theology), the Christian doctrine calling for reparation * Acts of reparation, prayers for repairing the damages of sin History *War reparations **World War I reparations, made from G ...

were ever paid to the families of the victims. Müller was found guilty of ordering atrocities against civilians in Crete and was executed by firing squad on 20 May 1947. A monument in remembrance of the victims has been erected at the place of their execution.

References

External links

German occupation of Crete: Skourvoula
(in German -
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Skourvoula executions Mass murder in 1944 Nazi war crimes in Greece 1944 in Greece Massacres in Greece during World War II Massacres of men Massacres of women Violence against women in Greece August 1944 events Crete in World War II War crimes of the Wehrmacht

Background

The executions

Aftermath

See also

References

External links