The Heinkel He111 of Leros, shot down on 14 November 1943
By Pierre Kosmidis On 14 November 1943, the crews of two 46 Squadron Beaufighters, Flight Lieutenant D. J. A. Crerar (pilot) with Pilot Officer L. Charles, and Flying Officer B. F. Wild (pilot) together with Flight Sergeant R. W. Gibbons, shared in the destruction of a Heinkel He 111H (8011/6N+EP) of II./K.G. 100. This was […]
“With fire and knife the world always goes forth” – Interview with respected author Byron Tesapsides
By Pierre Kosmidis Photos submitted by Byron Tesapsides Few researchers focusing on World War 2 in Greece are so knowledgeable as Mr. Byron Tesapsides, from Thessaloniki, is. Mr. Tesapsides, a prolific author of books related to WW2 in Greece and collector of thousands of rare and previously unpublished photos documenting the nazi occupation of Greece […]
The Hellenic Navy vessel that fought on D-Day and became a WW2 floating museum
By Pierre Kosmidis After the Second World War, many ships that were not sold for scrap metal, were transferred to allied countries. One of those vessels, the LST-325 (Landing Ship Tank), which was built in 1943, was given to Greece in 1964 and remained until decommissioning in 1993 in the ranks of the Hellenic Navy. Vessels […]
WW2 Signal magazines (Greek edition “Σύνθημα”)
On offer for sale or exchange original issues of Signal magazines in Greek (“ΣΥΝΘΗΜΑ”). Contact ww2wrecks for details
Then and Now: Operation “Taifun”, the Battle for Leros, 1943-2016
By Pierre Kosmidis SWASTIKA OVER THE AEGEAN is a limited edition book by acclaimed author Anthony Rogers, a photographic record of events that occurred in and around the Dodecanese in the autumn of 1943. Those events resulted in the last decisive German victory of the Second World War. The Eastern Aegean was the setting for […]
The Royal Hellenic Air Force during World War 2
By Pierre Kosmidis During the Second World War, although being severely outnumbered, counting only 79 aircraft against the 380 fighters and bombers available to the Italian Regia Aeronautica, the Royal Hellenic Air Force managed to successfully resist the Italian invasion in 1940. On November 2, 1940, a Breguet 19 intercepted the 3 Alpine Division Julia […]
Now and Then: 1941-2016, rare photo from the British Expeditionary Force in Athens
By Pierre Kosmidis A previously unpublished photo, from the personal collection of a British Army Officer, brings back to life the moment when the British Expeditionary Force entered Athens, in March 1941. Major (his rank in 1941) E. Holding served throughout the Second World War in Egypt, mainland Greece and Crete, Libya, Tunisia, and Italy. […]
“The Germans in the Aegean, 1941-45”: Book review and presentation
By Pierre Kosmidis Jean-Louis Roba is an acclaimed author of 120 books on the Second World War. One of his first works is the book “The Germans in the Aegean Sea” on the occupation of the Greek islands by the German army. Jean-Louis Roba est un acclamé auteur de 120 livres sur la Deuxième Guerre Mondiale. […]
The sinking of Bartolomeo Colleoni in Crete, 19 July 1940
By Pierre Kosmidis Photos: IWM The Italian cruiser Bartolomeo Colleoni was sunk during the naval battle off Cape Spatha in north west Crete, on 19 July 1940. Out of her crew, 555 were eventually rescued by Allied warships, while 121 perished with the ship. The battle started when Allied ships in the Aegean saw two Italian […]
Greece must be saved! An appeal coming from India during WW2
By Pierre Kosmidis The courageous struggle of Greece against the Italians and the Germans in 1940-41 was admired from the USA to India, as it set an example of resistance against fascism and nazism in the early years of WW2, when the eventual Allied victory seemed all but certain. In that context and following the […]