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Battlefield Archaeology: The mountains of doom in northwestern Greece, by Ntinos Mpampakos
One of Nature’s wonders in Greece, is the mountainous region on the northwestern part of the country.
Now serene, a haven of wildlife, which attracts trekkers from across the world, these mountains were once the setting of fierce fighting, during the Greco Italian War of 1940-41 and the Greek Civil War, 1946-1949.
The beauty of Nature, heals the scars of War. On these mountains, thousands of young men died, especially during the Greek Civil War, 1946-1949.
Even today, while most of the UXO has been collected by the Greek Army’s bomb disposal specialists, relics of the war remain forgotten in time.
Mortar rounds, aerial bombs, light arms ammunition, firing positions, gun relics and other war material, remind us of the blood that was shed on these mountains.
A bear looks at the visitors of its home. Once people fought and died on this exact location, now bears call this place home.
Mr. Ntinos Mpampakos, 29 years old, has shared the photos he has shot, during his numerous visits on the mountains, showing the beauty of Nature, but also the devastation of War.
Mr. Ntinos Mpampakos, on one of the mountain explorations.
“I come from Krystallopigi, Florina and I live in Kastoria”, Mr. Ntinos Mpampakos says to www.ww2wrecks.com, adding:
Ι am professionally engaged in timber trade. I am also a hunter, fisherman and mushroom picker, which helps me find battlefields in the mountains I go to.
I also enjoy wildlife photography and read and learn as much as I can the history of the area during WW2 and the Greek Civil War.”
A fighting position used by the Communist backed “Democratic Army of Greece”, during the Civil War, 1946-49.The area is called “Charos Kotylis”. It is said that at this point the Government backed “National Army” rounded up a group of Communist backed “Democratic Army” soldiers. In their attempt to escape, some were left behind and in order not to be captured, they jumped off the cliff. A monument was erected, well after, by the Greek Communist Party at this location.On our way on the same road, we can see a monument dedicated to the Greek government backed Gendarmes slaughtered by the “Democratic Army” the Communist backed army during the Greek Civil War, 1946-49.Fighting position on a vantage point. Around this area, vast quantities of war material can still be found.A rifle found on the mountains.Mortar round tails litter the ground, around a fighting position.A Yugoslavian hand grenade used by the Communist backed “Democratic Army”81mm mortar rounds, possibly of German origin, used by the “Democratic Army”.Mountain goats look curiously at the humans trespassing their habitat. 80 years ago, young men killed each other, due to their political and ideological differences, during the Greek Civil War, 1946-1949.A Greek Army helmet found in the area where the Greeks fought against the Italians in 1940. Did its owner survive? If only this helmet could speak…An aerial bomb.A relic of war, lies undisturbed for over 80 years.A pick axe. The wooden part has since disappeared.In the old battlefields, wherever you look at, there are the tools of destruction.A cave used as an ammunition cache. Nothing remains inside today.Mr. Ntinos Mpampakos (centre) , with two of his friends, during one of their explorations.Part of a German 20mm antiaircraft gun, used by the “Democratic Army”You can see the part of the 20mm gun (photo above) in this series of photos. Source: History in the makingGreek Civil War relicsLooking for new adventures, Mr. Ntinos Mpampakos is walking on the mountains, armed with his camera and survival equipment.An alpine lake, Nature is reborn every Spring, unfortunately though, the young men who fought and died there, are only remembered through monuments and accounts of the Hell that once was there.The mountainous region in northwestern Greece, where fierce fighting took place in 1940-41 and 1946-49.
