The events in Anogeia for the 79th anniversary of the 3rd Holocaust of Anogeia by the Nazi occupation troops in 1944, in the presence of many guests, have been completed.

In Armi Square, in the presence of the Deputy Minister of National Defense Ioannis Kefalogiannis, who represented the government, a memorial prayer was held by the Archbishop of Crete, Mr. Eugenios. Clergy, Authorities, citizens commemorated the anniversary of the Holocaust, while young students read the decree for the act of the Holocaust and sang the song/dirty song of the Anogeans “Oh Panagia my Anogeani”.

“With special emotion and respect for another year today in Anogeia we pay tribute to all our relatives, our fellow villagers, who gave their lives for Freedom, but also for all those who fought during the years of the Nazi occupation to be where they are today our country is free”, the Deputy Minister of National Defense stated to APE-MPE about the day, also pointing out that all Greeks: “…we take an example from their struggle and their lives and today the armed forces are those who ensure the integrity, Freedom but also the sovereign rights of our country”.

The regional governor of Crete, Stavros Arnautakis, who participated in the events of honor and memory of the 79th anniversary of the Holocaust, laid a wreath at the monument of the fallen Fighters. In his statement on the historic anniversary, he said: “With respect and emotion we commemorate the martyrdom anniversary of the Anogia Holocaust. We remember the victims of a great disaster, not to open the wounds of the past, but to teach us all that the dangers to Democracy and Freedom have not disappeared. As the Region of Crete, we honor all the residents of Anogeia who, in the heroic days of the Second World War and the National Resistance, from Psiloritis, with an unenslaved soul, with self-sacrifice and heroism, taught the whole world the values ​​and ideals of Hellenism. Today, 79 years after August 1944, Anogeia, Crete, Greece honor all those who kept the flame of Freedom unquenchable, all those who did not cower, who did not hesitate to sacrifice, who did not remain neutral at a critical historical moment”.

Also laying a wreath on behalf of the government was Deputy Minister Yiannis Kefalogiannis, on behalf of PASOK a wreath was laid by the MP of Rethymnon Manolis Chnaris, the MP of Heraklion Konstantinos Kefalogiannis, representatives of the self-government, the armed forces, the Union of Victims, representatives of agencies, etc.

Speaking to APE BEE, the Archbishop of Crete, Mr. Eugene said: “With deep honor and gratitude we honor the people who passed and fought before us and gave us the possibility for our freedom as well as the spiritual Freedom we enjoy today. We met today all together to say a big thank you to them for what they were, but also for the Orthodox culture they handed over to us. The one who was fought and you often fight in our times too, but thank God he has the guarantees to look to the future”.

Finally, the mayor of Anogeia, Sokratis Kefalogiannis, told APE-MPE that today, which is a day of honor and glory, when everyone pays tribute to the games: “…We must not forget as Greeks that memory is the best weapon to march into tomorrow as well and the unity that we so desperately need as a people”.

Anogeia, which belongs to the Network of Martyr Cities and Villages, was razed by order of the German general commander of the Fortress of Crete Miller. An order which in no time resulted in the complete razing of the village of Psiloritis and which was completed on the 5th of September. The order stated: “Because the city of Anogeia is the center of English espionage in Crete and because the Anogeians executed the murder of guard sergeant Geni-Gave and the guard under him and because the Anogeia carried out the sabotage of Damasta, because in Anogeia they are asylum and protection to the insurgents of the various resistance groups and because the kidnappers with General Von Kreipe also came from Anogeia using Anogeia as a transfer station, we order the EQUALITY of these and the execution of all male Anogeians who wanted to be found in and around the village in distance of one kilometer.