The Greek Ministry of Culture aims to acquire an entire collection of 163 historical photographs depicting last moments before the execution of prisoners during World War II, following the declaration of its historical significance.
The Greek Ministry of Culture has announced its intention to purchase a collection of 163 photographs linked to the Nazi occupation, which includes haunting images of the last moments of 200 executed prisoners in Kaisariani, taken on May 1, 1944. This collection has now been officially recognized as a monument, giving the government the legal basis to pursue its acquisition. Culture Minister Lina Mendoni stated that the ministry is not only interested in 12 photographs that surfaced in an auction, but in the holistic collection.
The 12 photographs, recently listed for auction by Belgian collector Tim de Craene on an online platform, have sparked public and governmental interest given their somber historical context. De Craene's firm, Crain’s Militaria, specializes in rare historical artifacts, including documentation from various periods, making these photographs potentially valuable pieces for educational and memorial purposes.
This move comes amid broader efforts in Greece to preserve and recognize sites related to its World War II history, and it reflects ongoing conversations about how the country commemorates its past. The potential acquisition underscores the importance of historical memory and the role of cultural heritage institutions in safeguarding the nation's collective memory against the backdrop of contemporary auctions of significant wartime artifacts.
