The Kalavryton Society of NSW came together to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Holocaust of Kalavryta, ensuring we do not forget of the tragic events that saw the Nazi forces murder hundreds of innocent civilians.
The association gathered at Bankstown Greek Orthodox Church St. Euphemia on Sunday, December 10, recognising the terrible events that took place on December 13 1943 in Kalavryta.
Among those that paid respects were the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Mr Ioannis Mallikourtis, as well as a survivor from the Kalavryta Massacre, 99-year-old Angelo Bouris.
Mr Bouris, from the village of Kerpini, witnessed the horrific events which saw the Nazis forces execute 693 innocent civilians and children over the age of 12.
The organisation issued the following statement regarding the anniversary of this terrible occasion.
“As we gather here today, 80 years hence, the echoes of Kalavryta resonate through time. We honour the memory of those lost and the resilience of those who survived, vowing to ensure that the pages of history bear witness to the tragedy that unfolded in the heart of Kalavryta.”
The massacre was orchestrated by the German Army’s 117th Jäger Division in retaliation for the execution of 78 German soldiers captured by the Greek Resistance.
The German forces had begun “Operation Kalavryta” or “Unternehmen Kalavryta” in an attempt to encircle the Greek Resistance guerrilla fighters in the mountainous area surrounding Kalavryta.
When they captured and killed the German soldiers, the response was to target the civilians of the town, intending to kill the majority of the male population.
The events also saw the women and children gathered and put into a school which was then lit ablaze, with some able to escape from the building in what is said to be because of an Austrian soldier leaving a door of the school unlocked.
The Holocaust of Kalavryta left a terrible impact on the town that will never truly be forgotten.
