Greece has announced its intention to demand the return of a collection of photographs from World War II that was recently discovered for sale on the eBay auction site. These images reportedly depict some of the worst war crimes committed by Nazi Germany in Greece and were taken during the Nazi occupation that lasted for four years. Cultural Minister Lina Mendoni emphasized the historical significance of these photos, declaring them a national monument and stating that the Ministry will seek the legal means to acquire them for the Greek state.

The photographs, allegedly captured by a German army lieutenant during the occupation, are particularly poignant as they document the final moments of 200 Greek communists before their execution on May 1, 1944, at the Kaisariani shooting range in Athens. This mass execution was a reprisal against the communist resistance, who had been blamed for the deaths of a German general and his staff. The Minister highlighted the importance of recovering these images to preserve the memory of the atrocities of that period and to honor the victims and their families.

Initially, twelve photographs were posted on eBay on Saturday but were removed the following Monday. The Greek Communist Party has also been active in this matter, recognizing four individuals from the images. This incident raises broader questions about the ownership and commercialization of historical artifacts related to war crimes and the ethical implications of profiting from such sensitive historical documentation.