The propaganda war: Analysing a “fake” photo, unveiling the truth behind it
By Pierre Kosmidis Source of photo P00433.009/AWM One of the most known, widely circulated and popular photos related to the Battle of Crete in May 1941, depicts a Ju52 Luftwaffe transport aircraft going down in flames, trailing thick black smoke behind it, while German paratroopers are seen to jump hastily out of it. According to the […]
Brothers von Blücher: Killed in Action on 21 May 1941 – Their sister’s story
By Pierre Kosmidis “…the Fallschirmjäger running short of ammunition and medical supplies, were amazed to see a rider and horse galloping towards them with boxes of supplies. The soldiers of the Black Watch were similarly stunned and only fired at the last moment, hitting both horse and rider. asked who the rider was, to be […]
The lost footage: Wehrmacht in Greece, 1943
By Pierre Kosmidis A very interesting video of the German occupation forces in Greece, dated 1943, with a variety of equipment, scenes from convoys, construction works and airfields with Bf109s and other quite interesting bits and pieces of information.
Australians in mainland Greece and Crete: The untold stories of courage and sacrifice
By Pierre Kosmidis Click on the links in RED for additional reading and resources Australia may be 13,575 kilometers away from Greece, but the bond between the two nations is strong and welded in blood and sacrifices. Greeks and Australians have been allies in all conflicts of the last 116 years. Soldiers from Australia and New Zealand […]
Bunker Archaeology: The German WW2 fortifications of Agii Apostoli in Crete
By Pierre Kosmidis Info and photos submitted by Emmanouil Tzilivakis, used by permission Nowadays, tourists and locals alike are flooding the wonderful beaches of Agii Apostoli, located within walking distance from Chania, most of them unaware of the fact that the area was heavily fortified by the Germans during WW2. The same area was used as […]
Book review: Hellenic Army soldier, 1938-1941 (vol. I)
By Pierre Kosmidis Photos: Khaki Depot It is one of those instances when a book manages to be a point of reference from the moment of its publication, both for the variety and depth of its documentation, as well as for its design, with the rare photographs of the era it includes, or with the drawings and […]
Sifnos island: The Hellenic Navy WW2 observation post
By Pierre Kosmidis Photos by George Dokopoulos, used by permission Dating back to the 1930s, a Hellenic Navy observation post in a secluded bay of Sifnos island, one of the most beautiful Aegean islands of Greece is being revealed, thanks to the photo documentation of Mr. George Dokopoulos. According to locals, who are now in […]
World War 2: Hellenic Army soldier 1938-1941 (vol. I)
By Pierre Kosmidis Φωτογραφίες: Khaki Depot Είναι από τις φορές εκείνες που ένα βιβλίο καταφέρνει από τη στιγμή της έκδοσής του, να αποτελέσει σημείο αναφοράς, τόσο για τον πλούτο της τεκμηρίωσης, όσο και για την εικονογράφησή του, είτε με τις σπάνιες φωτογραφίες εποχής που περιλαμβάνει, είτε με τα σχέδια απόλυτης πιστότητας του Νίκου Πάνου, ακόμα […]
April 15, 1941: The last dogfight of the Hellenic Royal Air Force vs the Luftwaffe
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 […]
Το Π8, ο λοχίας Ίτσιος, ο μύθος και η πραγματικότητα
By Pierre Kosmidis Πληροφορίες από το υπό έκδοση βιβλίο του κ. Ηλία Κοτρίδη, με τίτλο “Μπέλες, το όρος της Θυσίας”. Η Μάχη των Οχυρών, τον Απρίλιο του 1941, η οποία σημάδεψε τις πρώτες ημέρες της γερμανικής εισβολής από τα βόρεια σύνορα της Ελλάδας, στο πλαίσιο της “Επιχείρησης Μαρίτα”, όπως ονομάστηκε από τους Γερμανούς, αποτελεί μια λαμπρή σελίδα αντίστασης […]