By Pierre Kosmidis Research and photos by George Karelas, used by permission The chaotic days just before and during the German invasion of Greece, which was initiated on April 6, 1941, codenamed “Operation Marita”, have seen the Luftwaffe enjoying total air superiority. This meant that the German aircraft dominated the skies and bombed, without any significant opposition, any […]
By Pierre Kosmidis Christos Simatis, a freediver from Corfu, Greece, shared a video he shot of a Ju88 wreck in Corfu island, Greece. The Junkers Ju 88 was a German World War II Luftwaffe twin-engined multirole combat aircraft. According to respected researcher Byron Tesapsides, claimed that if the diver found it in Barbati: Aufklärungsgruppe […]
By Pierre Kosmidis Research and photos by George Karelas Updated in January 2021 with information by Giuseppe Barbetta PART ONE CLICK ON THE LINKS IN RED FOR FURTHER READING George Karelas from Patras, Greece, is a technical scuba diver and historical researcher credited with some of the most impressive WW2 Wrecks ever found, researched or identified in […]
By Pierre Kosmidis Photos: © Jan-Peter Brüning, published with his permission ΣΤΑ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΑ/IN GREEK The “gravity knife” used mainly by German paratroopers during the Second World War has gained mythological dimensions. In many countries it is known today as the “Gravity Knife” but in Germany, the country of its origin, everybody just calls them Kappmesser – […]
By Pierre Kosmidis Photos submitted by Stavros El An item from a crashed Luftwaffe aircraft in the area of Metaxas Line, shot down in early April 1941, needs to be identified. Expert opinion is welcome! According to respected researcher Joop Hendrix, this part belongs to a Bf109. Respected aviation researcher Thanos Antonelos provided the following information: RAF […]
By Pierre Kosmidis Original painting: George Moris The nazi invasion of Greece, initiated on April 6, 1941, dubbed “Operation Marita”, swiftly turned into a rapid advance for the Germans, despite the fierce battles that were fought across the northern borders of Greece with Bulgaria, in the “Metaxas Line”. One largely forgotten episode of this struggle […]
By Pierre Kosmidis The hospital ship “Socrates” at the port of Piraeus, while stretcher bearers wait Photos and Research by George Karelas Text by Pierre Kosmidis A series of deadly air attacks by the Luftwaffe and Regia Aeronautica against Greek hospital ships in 1941 have remained largely forgotten for decades. Thanks to the efforts of […]
By Pierre Kosmidis Mount Olympus, the highest mountain in Greece with its highest peak at 2,918 metres, was considered to be the home of the ancient Greek gods. On April 6 1941, the German offensive against Greece, codenamed “Operation Marita” resulted in the capitulation of the Greek Army on April 20, 1941. The Greek Army, which had […]
By Pierre Kosmidis Photo by Manolis Bardanis Research by Manolis Bardanis and George Karelas The serene beaches of Rinia, close to Mykonos island, have a tragic past, which was unveiled thanks to the combined efforts of Greek researchers Kostas Koukovinis and Thanos Antonelos Now, thanks to respected researcher Manolis Bardanis, who searched the archives of […]
By Pierre Kosmidis Great book covering the top aces of the Luftwaffe with an overview and personal stories of pilots such as Rall, Barkhorn, Marseille and Hartman. First published in 1968, the stories are more immediate to the events, that is these fellows were still alive. Also as 1968, the authors spend some time explaining […]