ΑΣ_7

By Pierre Kosmidis

Research and photos: Andreas Galanos & Markos Spanos

FURTHER READING ON THE BATTTLE OF LEROS (CLICK THE LINKS BELOW TO READ THE STORIS AND SEE THE PHOTOS):

The Battles for Kos and Leros, 1943 – the new edition of “Churchill’s Folly”

Autumn 1943: Operation “Taifun”, the Battle for Leros, the tragic end of the LRDG and the defeat of the British

Leros Island, 1943: The underwater museum of WW2 aircraft wrecks and shipwrecks

The Heinkel He111 of Leros, shot down on 14 November 1943

Then and Now: Operation “Taifun”, the Battle for Leros, 1943-2016

WW2 German Stuka Ju87 aircraft shot down in 1943 recovered in Leros

Hellenic Air Force Museum – The wings of history

The Battle of Leros, which resulted in the last victory of strategic importance for the Germans in the Aegean, still echoes to this day.

Researchers Andreas Galanos and Markos Spanos photographed the telecommunications centre of the island of Leros, which was built and used by the Italians, as well as by the Germans, after the end of the Battle and up until the end of WW2.

Video by Markos Spanos

ΑΣ_1 — The antennae at the Italian Center Telecommunications Center. This was the heart of communications of all the island facilities.The batteries were also connected with telephone cables (Photo: Andreas Galanos)

ΑΣ_2 — Close up of one of the above antennae, located close to “Angyra” and “Merovigli” Hill. The building and the antennae were not damaged by tthe Luftwaffe, possibly because the Germans knew that the primary communications installation, the “eyes and ears” of Leros were at “Patela”, position of FAM DICAT. (F.A.M. Comando Fronte a Mare, DI.C.A.T. Comando Difesa Contraerea Territoriale). (Photo: Andreas Galanos)

ΑΣ_3 — One of the antennae and view of the building. Note the colour of the building, which remains in very good condition despite 70+ years since the end of WW2. (Photo: Andreas Galanos)

ΑΣ_4 — Note the sheer size of the antenna (Photo: Andreas Galanos)

ΑΣ_5 — One of the entrances to the communications compound.Note the armored steel door behind the wooden one (photo by Andreas Galanos)

ΑΣ_6 — The armored windows of the same compound (Photo: Andreas Galanos)

ΑΣ_7 — “FOR US THERE IS ONLY ONE STRUGGLE AND VICTORY FOLLOWS” The interior of the compound has this impressive mural, which survives to this day. (Photo: Andreas Galanos)

ΑΣ_8 — Another view of the mural, with the message that has nearly faded away. The building was used by the German Navy after the Battle of Leros. The Commonwealth troops in which the island was handed over by the Germans at the end of WW2 were accompanied by a Polish Unit, which in a show of excess zeal, since there was no resistance, shot dead the German navy officer Alfred Achilles inside this building. Following this incident, the British Commander ordered the Polish troops to withdraw. (Photo by Andreas Galanos)

16681706_10211695948292432_1634832441713248740_n — The same mural in May 2016 (photo by Markos Spanos)

16684572_10211701779678213_1599178535_n — The same mural in May 2016 (photo by Markos Spanos)

FURTHER READING ON THE BATTTLE OF LEROS (CLICK THE LINKS BELOW TO READ THE STORIS AND SEE THE PHOTOS):

The Battles for Kos and Leros, 1943 – the new edition of “Churchill’s Folly”

Autumn 1943: Operation “Taifun”, the Battle for Leros, the tragic end of the LRDG and the defeat of the British

Leros Island, 1943: The underwater museum of WW2 aircraft wrecks and shipwrecks

The Heinkel He111 of Leros, shot down on 14 November 1943

Then and Now: Operation “Taifun”, the Battle for Leros, 1943-2016

WW2 German Stuka Ju87 aircraft shot down in 1943 recovered in Leros

Hellenic Air Force Museum – The wings of history