80th Commemoration of Battle of Crete – Programme: Kissamos, Kolymbari, Maleme, Chania 20th – 23rd May
The airborne invasion of Crete took place during WWII when German paratroopers landed at Maleme Airport west of Chania.
Crete was the scene of the largest German airborne operation of the war. And it was the first time in history that an island had been taken by airborne assault.
Afterwards, Crete was dubbed the graveyard of the German Parachutists, they suffered nearly 4000 killed and missing in the assault.
It was also the first time the Germans had encountered stiff partisan activity, with women and even children getting involved in the battle.
Read all about the Battle of Crete here
Programme from 20th to 23rd May
(events on 18th and 19th in Chania on our FB site ‘Kissamos News and Events’)
THURSDAY, MAY 20, 2021
11:00 – KOLYMVARI at the MONUMENT (in front of the En Elladi Restaurant):
Memorial Prayer
Laying wreaths and a minute of silence in memory of the Fallen
National Anthem
19:30 -KISSAMOS
PART A – at the MONUMENT OF THE FALLEN
Memorial Prayer
Laying wreaths and a minute of silence in memory of the Fallen
National Anthem by the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Municipality of Kissamos
The Association for the Preservation of Historic Vehicles participates
PART B – “IRINEOS GALANAKIS” SQUARE – KISSAMOS TOWN HALL
Greeting from the Mayor of Kissamos, Mr. George Mylonakis
Speech entitled “The Municipality of Kissamos in the Battle of Crete:. Known and less known details “, by the Historical Researcher and Author, Mr. Dimitrios Nikolakakis
Photos and videos
Traditional treat
Exhibition-tribute to the Battle of Crete, with photographs, historical and military, objects from the private collection of Stylianos Tripalitakis
Exhibition Duration: 17 to 21 May 2021. Opening hours: 10:00 – 14:00 and 18:00 – 21:00
Organization: Municipality of Kissamos – Public Benefit Enterprise of the Municipality of Kissamos (KEDIK)
Thursday, May 20, CHANIA:
20:30 – CENTER OF MEDITERRANEAN ARCHITECTURE – EXHIBITION WITH THE TITLE “THE BATTLE OF CRETE – 80 YEARS”
Opening of an exhibition-flashback to the events of the Battle of Crete through rare, unpublished photographs and objects of the time. Historical archive of Dimitris Skartsilakis and collection of objects by Stelios Tripalitakis.
Exhibition Duration: 20 to 30 May 2021
Opening hours: 10:00 – 14:00 and 18:00 – 22:00
FRIDAY, MAY 21, 2021
10:00 – FORTRESS FIRKA
Official raising of Flags
National Anthems
10:30 – VISIT TO THE NAVAL MUSEUM OF CRETE
Presentation of new exhibits of the Battle of Crete
Organization: Nautical Museum of Crete
TOUR OF THE EXHIBITIONS IN GIALI TZAMISI, THE CENTER OF MEDITERRANEAN ARCHITECTURE AND THE SABBIONARA GATE (Koum Kapi)
Giali Tzamisi: Art Event “Damned Portraits” by Dimitris Asteriou
SUNDAY 23 MAY 2021
11:30 – OLD PORT OF CHANIA – PARADE OF FLAGS OF THE TRADITIONAL ASSOCIATIONS OF CHANIA
A delegation of Traditional Associations of the Municipality of Chania will parade in the Port of Chania, starting from Talo Square and ending at Neorio Moro.
13:00 – MALEME – EVENT AT THE GERMAN CEMETERY
Memorial Prayer
Laying wreaths
Organized by: Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Athens
18:30 – MALEME AIRPORT – Closing Ceremony at the Maleme Airfield and the Battle of Crete monument.
PART A – At the Monument of the Battle of Crete, laying wreaths, memorial prayer, minute of silence for the Fallen.
National Anthems
PART B
Greeting from the Deputy Regional Governor of Chania, the Mayor of Chania, Mr. Panagiotis Simandirakis and speech by the Mayor of Platanias, Mr. Ioannis Malandrakis
Paratroopers
F16 aircraft from 115 AM in formation with the RED ARROWS acrobatic team of RAF
The Red Arrows display over Maleme airfield on 23rd May to mark the 80th
anniversary of the Battle of Crete.
Acknowledged as one of the world’s premier aerobatic teams, the Royal Air Force
Aerobatic Team, The Red Arrows, is the public face of the Royal Air Force.
Inauguration of the “Battle of Crete” Museum (the source does not mention further details)
Source: agonaskritis.gr
