SI Murau, Austria, in support of John W. Irvin’s  documentary OUT OF THEIR OWN HANDS  – Women of Crete and The German Occupation 1941-1945 

I am very happy that the Soroptimist International Club Murau, which I am a member of, (but living in NW Crete for most of the year), supports  John W. Irvin’s  documentary OUT OF THEIR OWN HANDS  – Women of Crete and The German Occupation 1941-1945 with € 1000,-,  thus contributing to keep the memory of the  ‘invisible Cretan women’s history’ alive and to pay recognition to these courageous village women in the Cretan Resistance, ensuring their legacy is not forgotten.

In the past the World War II roles of women in Greece have been undervalued, marginalised and overshadowed by the stories of male participants. The intention of the film (and
the series) is to honour the inspirational actions of ordinary but courageous village women and enrich our understanding of their contribution during the battle of Crete and the occupation and
deliver the recognition so richly deserved and so overdue.

OUT OF THEIR OWN HANDS –  SIZZLE CLIP 

DESCRIPTION
‘Out of Their Own Hands’ explores and celebrates the role of women who resisted the German invasion and occupation of Crete in WW II.

During the Battle of Crete in May 1941, women not only joined in the fight against the invading German paratroopers, they tended the wounded, buried the dead and provided food and supplies for their men and Allied soldiers on the battlefields. During the harsh four-year German occupation, women of Crete sheltered and cared for Australian, New Zealand and British soldiers “on the run”, and participated in resistance activities. They gathered intelligence, provided communication support, carried food, supplies and weapons to resistance fighters and at times took up arms, all this, while under the constant threat of reprisal executions. At the same time, they maintained their roles as carers and providers – raising children, making clothes, baking bread, tending goats and sheep, planting and harvesting crops – providing everything needed “more or less out of their own hands”.

Between 2006 and 2020, filmmaker John Irwin recorded over 30 hours of interviews with women of Western Crete, providing a thorough account of their unacknowledged roles in resisting the spread of fascism. Editing and postproduction of a six-episode series requires funding support of €33,500 for delivery and screening in May 2026, the 85th anniversary of the Battle of Crete

.Financing film projects is an ongoing challenge. Small government and community grants and some private sponsorship helps but producing authentic, historically accurate and professional documentaries, requires the appropriate funding and specialist technical expertise. Greek to English translation of interviews is an essential but costly and time-consuming part of the process. But for Irwin, the struggle is worth it and harvesting stories and experiencing the culture, history and landscape of Crete is the best life he can imagine.( Source: Neoskosmos.com)

WHY YOUR DONATION MATTERS.

Their stories are a powerful testimony to the strength, resilience and values of a generation of women in general, and Cretan women in particular during times of war. We hear the inspirational stories of how they resisted, adapted, survived, and supported their communities through a time of darkness. These women risked their lives, but their role has been largely ignored or barely acknowledged in the histories. Your contribution will bring their inspiring stories out of the shadows and deliver recognition so richly deserved, so long overdue.
Fundraising site:
https://whydonate.com/fundraising/out-of-their-own-hands

PRODUCTION TEAM

Producer/director – John Irwin

Associate Producers – Iannou Davis, Ismene Daskarolis, Christina Koufadaki, Helen Galerakis

(Grece), Karen Sidney (New Zealand), Ahmed Jamal (UK)

Consultant producer – Sotiris Goritsas, Athens

Editor – Annie Collins

Postproduction supervisor – Antonis Voutsinos

Production Companies – IndigoView, Wild Sweet Productions

Research consultants: Katerina Agnorastaki, History PhD candidate, University of Crete, Dr Anaya Sarpaki Cultural Heritage Advisor,
 Professor Aris Tsantiropoulos, University of Crete.

To recognize the heroic efforts of women in Crete during the German occupation, we should honor those who participated in the resistance, whether through direct combat, sabotage, or providing support for the Cretan resistance fighters. 

While historical details are often focused on male fighters, women’s roles in national struggles—including the Greek resistance—deserve specific attention for their contributions to freedom, gender equality, and democratic ideals. 

Women’s roles in the Cretan resistance – overview

During the German occupation of Crete, women played vital roles in the CRETAN RESISTANCE

These roles included: 

• Providing support to resistance fighters: 

Women acted as crucial couriers, passed along intelligence, and provided shelter and supplies to those fighting against the Axis forces.

• Direct participation in combat: 

Some women directly participated in fighting and engaging with the German occupation forces.

Symbolic importance: 

The actions of these women served as a powerful symbol of bravery and defiance against oppression, embodying national and democratic ideals.

• Recognizing their fight for gender equality: 

Acknowledge that women’s participation in the war also represented a struggle for their own rights and a push against patriarchal norms.

Nazi Reprisals and Sacrifices

•     Brutal Countermeasures: 

The Germans viewed any civilian resistance with extreme disapproval and responded with brutal reprisals against the civilian population. 

•     Murder and Deportation: 

During the war, nearly 1,000 Cretan women were killed by the Nazis, and another 500 were deported to Germany.

For more about John W. Irvin’s works click here

Sources: John W. Irvin, neos kosmos.com, vimeo.com