THROUGH THE ARCHIVES: Nazis leave Crete, Athens may soon be free

From the News Letter, September 16, 1944
Members of the Presidential Guard stand on the Acropolis of Athens, with the 5th century BC Parthenon temple in the background on Thursday, October 12, 2017, during a ceremony on the 73rd anniversary of the liberation of Athens from Nazi German occupation during the Second World War. Picture: AP Photo/Petros GiannakourisMembers of the Presidential Guard stand on the Acropolis of Athens, with the 5th century BC Parthenon temple in the background on Thursday, October 12, 2017, during a ceremony on the 73rd anniversary of the liberation of Athens from Nazi German occupation during the Second World War. Picture: AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris
Members of the Presidential Guard stand on the Acropolis of Athens, with the 5th century BC Parthenon temple in the background on Thursday, October 12, 2017, during a ceremony on the 73rd anniversary of the liberation of Athens from Nazi German occupation during the Second World War. Picture: AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris

The plight of the Germans in the East is growing steadily worse, reported the News Letter on this day in 1944.

While the Russians were engaged in the final battle for Warsaw, it was reported that the Nazis were leaving Crete.

The Hellenic Information Bureau reported: “Information reaching Cairo indicates that the occupation of Athens will soon end.”

Reuter stated that highly reliable reports were reaching Cairo which indicated that the German position in South-Eastern Europe was “crumbling very quickly”.

Reuters stated: “The enemy’s hopes of escape to the north have almost vanished, and demoralisation is spreading rapidly.

“The Germans are passing through Athens and moving north. Other forces are building defence works in Athens.”

The report added: “In view of the imminent liberation of the capital, the population of Athens and the Piraeus are swept by unprecedented enthusiasm.

“Popular demonstrations demanding the liberation of prisoners and the preservation of Athens from destruction, for which the Germans are preparing, are now more frequent.”

Meanwhile it was reported that Greek guerrillas, after heavy fighting against Germans supported by security battalions, had liberated the towns of Kalama and Pyrgos, in the Peleponnesus.

It was noted: “All the men of the security battalions were taken prisoner.

“As a result of popular pressure 2,000 prisoners in Chaidari concentration camp have been freed, among them M Sophoulis, leader of the Liberal Party.”

It was also reported that the Bulgarians are evacuating Macedonia and Greek Thrace, and as they moved out, Tito’s men were moving in and harassing the Germans.

Allied aircraft had been pounding the Germans as they sought to escape.

Three aerodromes crowded with transport aircraft, and a submarine base in the Athens has been attacked by up to 500 Italy-based heavy bombers.

Airfields near Athens had also been bombed as were the enemy-held harbours in Southern Dalmatia.

Reports from Albania, Montenegro and Northern Yugoslavia tell of ineffective efforts by the German garrison to force their way out northwards, but they had been forced back to their starting points by guerrillas bands, “and they are now besieged and unable to move”.

A Czechoslovak communique stated that German troops had suffered “very heavy casualties” in the Allied bombing attacks.

Whilst on the previous Thursday night the Russians had again raided Budapest.

Marshal Tito had issued a call to the people of Serbia to aid the Liberation Army. The Yugoslav radio had declared that 98 town had been liberated in Yugoslavia, and 24,000 Germans had been killed and 11,900 captured.