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 […]
Uncovered! Air attacks against hospital ships: War crimes of Luftwaffe and Regia Aeronautica in Greece, 1941
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 […]
Then and Now: Stuka attack on Greek steamer “Macedonia”, April 22, 1941
By Pierre Kosmidis Photos and Research: George Karelas George Karelas, a respected researcher and deep scuba diver is credited, along with his associates, with some of the most impressive finds related to World War 2 in Greece, including aircraft wrecks, shipwrecks and even the lost panzer division, a deep sea enigma that lasted for […]
April 1941: Operation Marita and the Greek “Maginot Line” that cost the Germans dearly
By Pierre Kosmidis On April 6th 1941, the Germans started their offensive against Greece. The German offensive against Greece, April 1941 Following the stalemate of their Italian allies in the Albanian front and the victories of the Greeks in the mountainous regions of northern Greece and Albania against the Italian army, since the unprovoked attack […]
The Metaxas Line bunkers through previously unpublished photos
By Pierre Kosmidis Photos submitted by Ted Konstantinov and used by permission The Metaxas Line, the series of bunker complexes in the northern borders of Greece, withstood the German onslaught, during the initial stages of “Operation Marita”, the German invasion of Greece, initiated on April 6, 1941. Many photos have surfaced over the years, mostly […]
Battlefield Archaeology: 1941-2017, the bunkers of “Metaxas line”, the Greek “Maginot line” fortifications
By Pierre Kosmidis Photos: Miltiadis Dimitriadis The German invasion of Greece was initiated on April 6, 1941, dubbed “Operation Marita”. The German forces faced stiff resistance at the borders of Greece with Bulgaria, an ally of the nazis in 1941 and the ensuing battles, which lasted for days, left a lasting legacy that still echoes […]
Reliving the past: Operation Marita and the German invasion of Greece in April 1941, through the eyes or reenactors
By Pierre Kosmidis Photos submitted by Kampfgruppe “Süden” Hellenic Reenactment Group, Kampfgruppe ”Bulgarien”, Asociaţia Deutsches Freikorps and used by permission The German invasion of Greece, codenamed “Operation Marita”, was initiated in the early hours of Sunday, April 6, 1941. The German forces attacked “Metaxas Line”, a series of concrete fortifications, located mainly along the border with […]
Then and Now: 1941-2018 a Luftwaffe Dornier Do 215 over Olympus
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 […]