Culture Ministry examines acquisition of WWII execution photos
Greece’s Culture Ministry is examining the possible acquisition of a set of photographs purportedly depicting the execution of 200 Greeks by German occupation forces in Kaisariani on May 1, 1944, after the images appeared for private sale on eBay.
Parliament President Nikitas Kaklamanis and Culture Minister Lina Mendoni discussed the issue by telephone on Monday. The photographs, whose authenticity has not yet been verified, are labeled as showing the wartime execution during World War II.
Mendoni said the ministry would take all necessary legal steps to secure the archive and transfer it to the Greek Parliament if its authenticity and lawful provenance are confirmed. Kaklamanis pledged parliamentary support in verifying and acquiring the material.
In a later statement, the ministry said the Central Council of Modern Monuments will meet on Wednesday to examine the authenticity of the 12 photographs and consider legal options for their acquisition.
According to the ministry, the images were listed for sale on Saturday by a collector of German Army memorabilia and World War II documents. Ministry officials have contacted the seller and are expected to travel to Ghent, Belgium, in the coming days to assess the photographs’ authenticity, legal provenance, and historical value.
If verified, the collection could be classified as a monument, forming the legal basis for its claim by the Greek state, the ministry said.
