The Mendenitsa Holocaust
The Mendenitsa Holocaust
Saturday, October 9, 1943
Saturday, October 9, 1943
The Chronicle of the Mendenitsa Holocaust
The Chronicle of the Mendenitsa Holocaust
by the Initiative to promote the history of Mendenitsa
by the Initiative to promote the history of Mendenitsa
On September 21, 1943, a battle took place near Thermopylae between the guerrillas and the Nazi German occupation troops that suffered several casualties. This incident was followed by military clearing operations in the West Locris region, carried out by the occupation forces.
On September 21, 1943, a battle took place near Thermopylae between the guerrillas and the Nazi German occupation troops that suffered several casualties. This incident was followed by military clearing operations in the West Locris region, carried out by the occupation forces.
On October 8, 1943, the Nazi German troops of the Edelweiss Mountain Division ascended from Molos to Mendenitsa, which was then a regional center of Guerilla Resistance. The operation was headed by five tanks followed by infantry units. In the mean time, the villagers, seeing this move, they scattered in the mountain and in the ravines where they hid, while few elderly and sick remained in the village. When the troops got there, they ordered some of the elders to get out and call the people hiding to return, promising not to harm them. Only few returned, mostly women and children. In the evening, they arrested all the elderly and held them hostage. The Nazi soldiers looted the village all night and raped several women.
On October 8, 1943, the Nazi German troops of the Edelweiss Mountain Division ascended from Molos to Mendenitsa, which was then a regional center of Guerilla Resistance. The operation was headed by five tanks followed by infantry units. In the mean time, the villagers, seeing this move, they scattered in the mountain and in the ravines where they hid, while few elderly and sick remained in the village. When the troops got there, they ordered some of the elders to get out and call the people hiding to return, promising not to harm them. Only few returned, mostly women and children. In the evening, they arrested all the elderly and held them hostage. The Nazi soldiers looted the village all night and raped several women.
The next morning, Saturday 09-10-1943, they gathered the elderly people in the village square in order to execute them. Finally they did not, because in the meantime they were ordered to burn the village. First, they blew up the church of Agios Athanasios near the village cemetery, where they found stored ammunition. Following this, they set fire to the entire village, from end to end. Of the 310 houses in the village at the time, 297 were completely burnt down along with the school and the local community office, eight houses were partially burned while five houses escaped by chance. It is noted, that the Nazi troops did not burn the church of the village (holy church of Agios Georgios). Along with the houses, all the belongings were burned, and especially the crops of the residents that had been recently collected and stored for the winter.
The next morning, Saturday 09-10-1943, they gathered the elderly people in the village square in order to execute them. Finally they did not, because in the meantime they were ordered to burn the village. First, they blew up the church of Agios Athanasios near the village cemetery, where they found stored ammunition. Following this, they set fire to the entire village, from end to end. Of the 310 houses in the village at the time, 297 were completely burnt down along with the school and the local community office, eight houses were partially burned while five houses escaped by chance. It is noted, that the Nazi troops did not burn the church of the village (holy church of Agios Georgios). Along with the houses, all the belongings were burned, and especially the crops of the residents that had been recently collected and stored for the winter.
Together with Mendenitsa, they burned the next day most of the settlement of Karavidia, farms and estates of Mendenitsa in the area of Arnitsa, as well as the mountain village of Drakospilia eight kilometers west of Mendenitsa, which has since been abandoned by its inhabitants. Having completely destroyed the village, the next day the Nazi German troops withdrew and residents began to return in, mourning the devastation and the victims of the atrocity. The Mendenitsa Holocaust is well known in the greater area of Fthiotis and especially in the Lokris region, as it left painful memories.
Together with Mendenitsa, they burned the next day most of the settlement of Karavidia, farms and estates of Mendenitsa in the area of Arnitsa, as well as the mountain village of Drakospilia eight kilometers west of Mendenitsa, which has since been abandoned by its inhabitants. Having completely destroyed the village, the next day the Nazi German troops withdrew and residents began to return in, mourning the devastation and the victims of the atrocity. The Mendenitsa Holocaust is well known in the greater area of Fthiotis and especially in the Lokris region, as it left painful memories.
The whole operation of the Mendenitsa destruction caused the violent death of several innocent people, whose names, age and origin are listed: 1) Konstantinos Mentis, 60 years old, from Mendenitsa, 2) Maria Menti, 55 years old, from Mendenitsa, 3) Despina Haldoupi, 26 years old, from Mendenitsa, 4) Theodoros Saliaris, 55 years old, from Mendenitsa, 5) Thanasis Michailidis, 23 years old, from Mendenitsa, 6) Georgios Avlakiotis, 25 years old, from Molos, 7) Maria Georgiou, 28 years old, from Karavidia, 8) Dimitrios Tzakostas, 30 years old, from Karavidia, 9) Aikaterini Vlassi, 76 years old, from Karavidia, 10) Dimitrios Lytas, 75 years old from Karavidia, and 11) Rizos Rittas, 85 years old, from Karavidia. They also arrested a young guerrilla named Paparounis (no other name and origin details exist) who was hanged in the city of Lamia a few days later after being tortured.
The whole operation of the Mendenitsa destruction caused the violent death of several innocent people, whose names, age and origin are listed: 1) Konstantinos Mentis, 60 years old, from Mendenitsa, 2) Maria Menti, 55 years old, from Mendenitsa, 3) Despina Haldoupi, 26 years old, from Mendenitsa, 4) Theodoros Saliaris, 55 years old, from Mendenitsa, 5) Thanasis Michailidis, 23 years old, from Mendenitsa, 6) Georgios Avlakiotis, 25 years old, from Molos, 7) Maria Georgiou, 28 years old, from Karavidia, 8) Dimitrios Tzakostas, 30 years old, from Karavidia, 9) Aikaterini Vlassi, 76 years old, from Karavidia, 10) Dimitrios Lytas, 75 years old from Karavidia, and 11) Rizos Rittas, 85 years old, from Karavidia. They also arrested a young guerrilla named Paparounis (no other name and origin details exist) who was hanged in the city of Lamia a few days later after being tortured.
All the above information about the Mendenitsa and Karavidia holocaust is mentioned in detail in the following books:
All the above information about the Mendenitsa and Karavidia holocaust is mentioned in detail in the following books:
(1) George Moraitis, "VODONITSA - THE CASTLE OF THERMOPYLES", Typoekdotiki SA, pp. 206-211. Athens 2002.
(1) George Moraitis, "VODONITSA - THE CASTLE OF THERMOPYLES", Typoekdotiki SA, pp. 206-211. Athens 2002.
(2) George Moraitis, "THE MEMORIES OF A RESISTANCE FIGHTER, Volume II", Kastaniotis Publications, pp. 321-351, Athens 1999.
(2) George Moraitis, "THE MEMORIES OF A RESISTANCE FIGHTER, Volume II", Kastaniotis Publications, pp. 321-351, Athens 1999.
(3) Maria Lambrou, "MENDENITSA- THE AMYNTIRIOS EPAVLIS", published by K. M. Zacharakis, pp. 264-275, Athens, 2013 (where they are mentioned in eloquent and painful narration the testimonies of several Mendenitsiots who lived personally the pain and horror of the Mendenitsa Holocaust),
(3) Maria Lambrou, "MENDENITSA- THE AMYNTIRIOS EPAVLIS", published by K. M. Zacharakis, pp. 264-275, Athens, 2013 (where they are mentioned in eloquent and painful narration the testimonies of several Mendenitsiots who lived personally the pain and horror of the Mendenitsa Holocaust),
(4) Alexandra Vlassi-Theodorikakou, "THE LAST ROOTS", Empiria Ekdotiki Publications, Athens 2009.
(4) Alexandra Vlassi-Theodorikakou, "THE LAST ROOTS", Empiria Ekdotiki Publications, Athens 2009.
(5) Nasou Fafouti-Athanassiou, "THERMOPYLES – A HISTORICAL RETROSPECT", Passari Publications, pp. 394-397, Athens, 1996.
(5) Nasou Fafouti-Athanassiou, "THERMOPYLES – A HISTORICAL RETROSPECT", Passari Publications, pp. 394-397, Athens, 1996.
(6) Nikos Manias, "WIRELESS OF ROUMELI", pp. 59-62, Athens, 2009.
(6) Nikos Manias, "WIRELESS OF ROUMELI", pp. 59-62, Athens, 2009.
Also see a catalog of the villages in the Prefecture of Fthiotis destroyed during the Nazi German occupation of Greece, published in the internet, which is based on a report entitled "DESTROYED TOWNS AND VILLAGES IN GREECE DURING THE 1940-1945 WAR" published by the Ministry of Social Welfare, Athens, 1946.
Also see a catalog of the villages in the Prefecture of Fthiotis destroyed during the Nazi German occupation of Greece, published in the internet, which is based on a report entitled "DESTROYED TOWNS AND VILLAGES IN GREECE DURING THE 1940-1945 WAR" published by the Ministry of Social Welfare, Athens, 1946.
Official Designation of Mendenitsa as “MARTYRED VILLAGE”
Official Designation of Mendenitsa as “MARTYRED VILLAGE”
Seventy seven (77) years after its Holocaust, Mendenitsa was officially designated by the Greek state as “Martyred Village” (MARTYRIKO CHORIO) of the Nazi German occupation period 1941-1944, through the Presidential Decree No. 32, Government Gazette A' 59 of March 20, 2020.
Seventy seven (77) years after its Holocaust, Mendenitsa was officially designated by the Greek state as “Martyred Village” (MARTYRIKO CHORIO) of the Nazi German occupation period 1941-1944, through the Presidential Decree No. 32, Government Gazette A' 59 of March 20, 2020.