WWII Monuments in Epirus, Greece
Title
WWII Monuments in Epirus, Greece
Subject
Greece
Description
These images and text document the many and varied World War II monuments scattered across the rugged landscape of Epirus, in northwestern Greece. They also provide evidence for the strong culture of ongoing World War II commemoration in the region. What the monuments commemorate ranges from the Hellenic Army's victory over Mussolini's forces in 1940 through the role of Greek women in the war, to the victims of Nazi atrocities, and even a Communist dominated resistance organization. The collection is part of a larger project that includes scholarship on some of the memorials, and interactive mapping of all of them which will enable users to geographically locate each one, learn its historical context, and contribute to discussion about it. View the interactive map
Contributor
Christopher J. Richter, Christina Salowey
Rights
Images provided for non-commercial research and reference use only. No permission is required from the rights-holder(s) for educational uses. For other uses, you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). Should you have use questions or any legal concerns about this image or collection, please contact: http://presslib.hollins.edu/.
Coverage
Epirus, Greece
Collection Items
Xani Kallitheas
At the intersection of the main Kalpaki road and a dirt farm road stands a memorial to a particular incursion against the Nazi force. The memorial is marked by low metal posts, painted white joined by a chain, and two cedar trees, the usual memorial…
Zitsa ELAS Monument
In the Plateia of National Resistance on the outskirts of the town of Zitsa, a large (~ 25 meters in diameter), circular, and marble-paved space, has as its centerpiece a marble-clad rectangular, two tiered monument. The lower tier has a dedicatory…
Vigla Cemetery
This enclosed cemetery is approached by a staircase and pavement, which is the approach to 43 adjacent tombs. The pavement has a mosaic of the word ΟΧΙ, "no" arranged in the middle of it. Each tomb has a cross laid on it and is marked by a second…
Soldier of 1940
The warrior monument is erected on a hill outside the village of Kalpaki at the intersection of the major roughly N-S route from Ioaninna to Kozani (and the Albanian border just beyond) and a smaller road that is the northern route into the tortuous…
Xani Delvinakiou
A raised plaza across the road from the entrance to the village of Delvinakios, in an area called Hani Delvinakiou (or Inn of Delvinakiou) is the area for a major war memorial. The three-side pillar was erected in 2005 replacing an earlier memorial…
Ligopsa Monument
This stele memorial set on four marble steps is enclosed in a garden space at the outskirts of the village of Ligopsa. The inscribed stele lists the names of men who died for their country from 1908 - 1955. A cannonball sits on the top of the stele.
Ligiades Martyr Monument
This matyr monument is located in the unusual two-level plateia near the entrance to the village of Ligiades on a prominent spur of land, overlooking Ioaninna, the lake, and the plain, with Mt. Mitsikeli as a backdrop. Rising out of a a low,…
Moni Sossinou Monument
The monument is placed at the top of Sosinos Hill, which is the site of Moni Sosinou and commands a spectacular view over the Kalamas River valley, the site of the early battles of the Italo-Elleniko War in 1940-41. The truncated pyramid is topped…
Konitsa ELAS Monument
At the top of the pass, a stone-built base faced with a marble dedicatory plaque is topped with a stone-carved relief depicting an andartes-style fighter. The monument is surrounded with a iron fence. The marble plaque lists four deceased ELAS…
Konitsa Pass Monument
A monument dedicated to the fallen heroes of Greece stands at the high point of the pass between Kalpaki and the Aoos River Valley. The monument is a pillar of triangular shape, i.e. with three sides, two of which bear a poetic inscription. The top…
Konitsa Military Mausoleum
An expansive plaza in the woods with a paved area and a stone built memorial with a cross acting as an altar for the fallen. The mausoleum commemorates both the ItaloElleniko War of 1940-41 and the Civil Wars in the region. The complex also contains…
Kalpaki Fritzis
This bust statue stands in the side yard of the Kalpaki War Museum. The cast bronze bust of Colonel Fritzis stands atop a marble pillar inscribed with his name, the date of his death, and the donation of the statue by the War Museum.
Kephalovryso Monument
Outside the city office building in Kephalovryso is a war monument that still receives active wreath commemoration at the time of the celebrations of ΟΧΙ day. The low pediment, faced with marble has inscriptions listing the names of local inhabitants…
Kalpaki Metaxas Papagos Georgios
The monument lines the road across from the Kalpaki war museum and is comprised of three marble pedestals topped with a marble pillar and bronze bust. The monument precinct is fenced off and two cannons on the right and the left are displayed. The…
Kalpaki Strategion Cave
Not far from the War Museum in Kalpaki is the location of the historic site, the Strategion, or Army Headquarters, of the 8th Division, which was inhabited during the Italian invasion in October 1940. The site is secured behind a fence and not…
Ioaninna Holocaust Memorial
This two-sided monument stands in a triangular space on the streets of Ioaninna. Two benches flank the monument and are topped with slate. One side of the monument has an [aluminum] and brass relief sculpture in five panels. The third panel, in the…
Heroon 1940 Konitsa
At the top of the pass heading into the Pindus Mountains going north from Konitsa, an enclosure with a cenotaph of the men fallen in 1940 is marked by a toppled metal sign stating Heroon 1940. The cenotaph is approach through an arched gateway. There…
Grambala Hill
This conical memorial, roughly 15 feet in height, surrounded by a circular paved area and risers forming a theatral area, is positioned at a hairpin turn in the road up to the Papingo villages. The stone-built truncated conical monument is topped…
Ano Ravenia Fallen
A marble-faced stele, set on a two step base carries the names of 29 individuals lost because of wars between 1940 - 1949. No ages or birthplaces are given, but presumably all are from the village of Ano Ravenia where the monument is located. The…
Eleuthero Monument 1943
A stone-built stele with an inset marble plaque, set on a stepped platform. The monument is situated on a ridge approached by a rustic staircase. Its position commands a view of the Pindus mountains and upland valley in which the village of Eleuthero…