Greece Moves to Acquire Photos of Nazi Mass Execution

Greece said it had reached a preliminary agreement with a Belgian collector to acquire photographs showing the final moments of 200 Greeks executed by a Nazi firing squad during World War II. The 12 photos, believed to be the only existing images of the mass execution at a firing range in the Athens suburb of Kaisariani on May 1, 1944, were put up for sale on eBay and quickly drew attention on Greek social media.

The seller, Tim De Craene, stopped the auction and said he was “open to constructive dialogue” with Greek authorities. Independent experts confirmed the authenticity during a visit to Belgium, and the culture ministry said it had signed a “preliminary agreement” and declared the wider collection protected cultural heritage.

The pictures are part of a 262-photograph collection compiled by Hermann Heuer, a former Wehrmacht lieutenant who had been ordered to observe, and possibly assist, in the execution.

Greece, Kaisariani

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