The truth behind the myths: How many aircraft were shot down in 1940-41 during the Italian campaign against Greece
By Pierre Kosmidis Captioned photos by Lt. (GM) Nikolaos Christofilis HN, Author and Independent Researcher Wartime propaganda mechanisms are generally inflating the numbers of enemy aircraft shot down, while downgrading the numbers of their own losses. This general rule applies to every nation at war and as time goes by, many myths are shrouding the truth and […]
WW2 bunkers in Greece: Lt. Colonel (ret.) Ilias Kotridis and the “Metaxas line” that stopped the nazis in 1941
By Pierre Kosmidis Lt. Colonel (ret.) Ilias Kotridis has dedicated his life and efforts unearthing the lost secrets of the “Metaxas Line”, a complex of concrete bunkers and fortresses that withstood the German invasion. The Germans launched their attack on April 6, 1941 and the Greek army stationed at the bunkers caused a significant number […]
Walking in the forgotten battlefield: Hill 731 through the eyes of Italian researcher Riccardo Iacobini
By Pierre Kosmidis Photos by Riccardo Iacobini, used by permission Mr. Riccardo Iacobini, 36 years old, lives in a small town near Rome, in the region of “Castelli Romani”, south of the Italian capital. Mr. Iacobini has a strong passion for history since he was a kid, especially of the recent history stretching from the First World […]
“Εχθροί στη ζωή, αδέρφια στο θάνατο” – Η αναστήλωση του μνημείου στο ύψωμα 731
By Pierre Kosmidis Photos by George Krikelas Το ύψωμα 731 αποτέλεσε πεδίο σκληρών μαχών ανάμεσα στους Έλληνες και τους Ιταλούς, το Μάρτιο του 1941, κατά τη διάρκεια της αποτυχημένης εαρινής επίθεσης των Ιταλών, υπό το βλέμμα του Μουσσολίνι. Ο λόφος 731 (ονομάστηκε έτσι από το υψόμετρό του) βρίσκεται περίπου 20 χιλιόμετρα βόρεια της Κλεισούρας και […]
Walking on the footsteps of ghosts: The eerie WW2 battlefields of 1940-41
By Pierre Kosmidis Photos by Riccardo Iacobini, used by permission Autumn on the mountains of Albania is exploding with colours from a thousand trees. The smell of flowers, the humming of the bees, the birds chirping are all offering a unique experience to the visitor trekking the slopes and plateaus, away from modern civilisation. Yet, on […]
Aviation Archaeology: Solving the mystery of the RAF Halifax bomber, EB140 624 squadron, crashed on Wednesday, December 1st, 1943
By Pierre Kosmidis Christos Tsiolas and Yiannis Yiannoulas: Crash site and recovered Halifax parts photos Karl Kjarsgaard, Director at the Bomber Command Museum of Canada: Documentation and period photos Chris Stone: RAF 624 Squadron photo Additional information on Operation Swifter by Manolis Bardanis and Ken Joyce UPDATE: According to respected researcher Mr. Manolis Bardanis, the Halifax was […]
1940-41 – The forgotten heroes: The Greek cemeteries in Albania
By Pierre Kosmidis Photos: George Krikelas The Greco-Italian war of 1940-41 cost the lives of thousands of soldiers from both sides. Innumerable stories of hard fought battles, tales of heroism and despair are still echoing to this day in the mountainous regions of Albania, where the two armies fought, leaving many dead behind. Both […]
50 years at war: The story of a ravaged country through the eyes of Pavlos Galanos
By Pierre Kosmidis Photos by Andreas Galanos ΔΙΑΒΑΣΤΕ ΣΤΑ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΑ: ΜΕΡΟΣ Α’ – Μια ζωή στρατιώτης: Ο ελληνοϊταλικός πόλεμος 1940-41 μέσα από τα μάτια του Παύλου Γαλανού ΜΕΡΟΣ Β’, ΕΜΦΥΛΙΟΣ ΠΟΛΕΜΟΣ – Παύλος Γαλανός, 37 μήνες πολεμικών επιχειρήσεων Greece has been at war or under special circumstances for the better part of the first […]
Everything You Need to Know: Interview with Jan-Peter Brüning, author of the book Luftwaffe Gravity Knife: Weapon, Tool, Tradition
By Pierre Kosmidis Photos: © Jan-Peter Brüning, published with his permission ΣΤΑ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΑ/IN GREEK The “gravity knife” used mainly by German paratroopers during the Second World War has gained mythological dimensions. In many countries it is known today as the “Gravity Knife” but in Germany, the country of its origin, everybody just calls them Kappmesser – […]
Commemorating the crew of the RAAF Bristol Beaufort A9-317, lost on September 9, 1943
By Pierre Kosmidis Photos and documentation by Pamela Harrison www.ww2wrecks.com has previously featured a story on The WW2 “flying coffin” that never returned: The search for the lost Beaufort Mrs. Pamela Harrison has dedicated her time and efforts to help locate the doomed aircraft and the final resting place of its crew members. On September 9, 2020, 77 […]