Australian Embassy
Greece
Bulgaria, Romania

BATTLE OF CRETE COMMEMORATIONS - CRETE 15-24 MAY 2021

BATTLE OF CRETE COMMEMORATIONS
CRETE, 15-24 MAY 2021

 

From 15 to 24 May 2021, the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Crete will be marked with a series of commemorative services and events in Rethymno and Chania organised by the local authorities in Crete. The Australian Embassy will be there to pay tribute to the Australian service men and women who helped defend Crete during WWII and to honour the bonds of friendship between Australians and Greeks that were forged in the cauldron of war. While the events will be held in a COVID-wise format and attendees will be required to practice physical distancing, large gatherings still present a risk. We therefore encourage Australians in Greece who wish to mark the Battle of Crete to do so safely.

(Australian War Memorial 008172; photographer George Silk)

Photo credit: Australian and other Empire troops evacuated from mainland Greece arrive at Souda Bay, Crete, some with their kits, in April 1941. They were lucky, as most landed without, for kits had to be abandoned or destroyed in many cases. (Australian War Memorial 008172; photographer George Silk)

 

 MEMORIAL SERVICES

 

Sunday, 16 May 2021

11.00 – Commemorative service and wreath-laying at the Battle of Crete Memorial

Location: Village of Chora Sfakion

 

Monday, 17 May 2021

11.00 – Commemorative service and wreath-laying at the Gouvernetto Monastery

Location: Akrotiri Peninsula, Region of Chania

 

18.30 – Commemorative service and wreath-laying at the New Memorial to the Fallen of Agrimokefala

Location: Municipality of Kantanos-Selinos, Region of Chania

 

Tuesday, 18 May 2021

18.30 – Commemorative service and wreath-laying at the Memorial to the Fallen Inhabitants

Location: 1, Kanari Coast, Nea Chora harbour, Chania town

 

Wednesday, 19 May 2021

08.00 – Flag hoisting at the Unknown Soldier Memorial by the 547 AM/TP Regiment

Location: Square of the Unknown Soldier (Platia Agnostou Stratioti), Rethymno town

 

18.00 – Commemorative service and wreath-laying at the Memorial to the Fallen & the Bust of Colonel Stylianos Manioudakis

Location: Village of Armeni, Region of Rethymno

 

19.30 – Commemorative service and wreath-laying at the Peace Memorial for Greeks and Allies

Location: Preveli, Region of Rethymno

 

Thursday, 20 May 2021

11.00 – Commemorative service and wreath-laying at the Army Cadets Memorial

Location: Kolymbari, Region of Chania

 

11.30 – Commemorative service and wreath-laying at the 110 Martyrs Memorial

Location: Missiria, Region of Rethymno

 

19.30 – Commemorative service and wreath-laying at the Monument of the Fallen

Location: Junction of Kallergiana, Municipality of Kissamos, Region of Chania

 

Friday, 21 May 2021

10.00 – Firka Fortress – Official flag hoisting  

Location: Harbour, Chania town

 

12.00 – Commemorative service and wreath-laying at the Battle of 42nd Street Memorial

Location: Tsikalaria Str., Tsikalaria, Region of Rethymno

 

18.30 – Commemorative service and wreath-laying at the Greek-New Zealand Memorial

Location: Galatas square, Galatas, Region of Rethymno

 

Saturday, 22 May 2021

10.00 – Commemorative service and wreath-laying at the Memorial to the Fallen Greeks

Location: Area of Latzimas, Region of Rethymno

 

11.00 – Commemorative service and wreath-laying at the Keritis Memorial

Location: Municipality of Platanias-Alikianos, Region of Chania

 

11.30 – Commemorative service and wreath-laying at the Australian-Greek Memorial

Location: Area of Stavromenos, Region of Rethymno

 

13.00 – Commemorative service and wreath-laying at the Greek-Australian Memorial | Presentation of RSL National awards to Cretan students

Location: 38, Igoumenou Gavriil Str. (Efedron Axiomatikon Square), Rethymno town

 

18.00 – Commemorative service and wreath-laying at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery in Souda

Location: Souda Bay, Region of Chania

 

Sunday, 23 May 2021

07.00 – Official doxology

Location: Metropolitan Church, Chania town

 

10.00 – Official doxology

Location: Presentation of Mary Metropolitan Church, Rethymno town

 

10.30 – Memorial service and wreath-laying at the Rethymno Gerndarmerie School

Location: 29, N. Kazantzaki Str. (Scholi Astyfylakon), Rethymno town

 

11.00 – Official doxology

Location: Metropolitan Church, Chania town

 

13.00 – Commemorative service and wreath-laying at the German War Graves Cemetery

Location: Maleme, Region of Chania

 

18.30 – Closing Ceremony: Commemorative service and wreath-laying at the Battle of Crete Memorial at Maleme Airport

Location: Maleme, Region of Chania

 

20.00 – Lowering of the flag at the Unknown Soldier Memorial by the 547 AM/TP Regiment

Location: Square of the Unknown Soldier (Platia Agnostou Stratioti), Rethymno town

 

 CULTURAL EVENTS

 

Saturday, 15 May 2021

18.30 – Exhibition Inauguration: Battle of Crete photographs and testimonials

Location: Sabbionara Rampart, Chania town

Duration: 15-30 May 2021, 10.00-14.00, 18.00-22.00

 

19.30 – Exhibition Inauguration: Visual art by D. Asteriou

Location: Giali Tzamisi, Chania town

Duration: 15-30 May 2021, 10.00-14.00, 18.00-22.00

 

Tuesday, 18 May 2021

20.30 – Presentation of the book ‘Nikos Kopasis 1917-2017. The 7th day of the Battle of Crete at Stavromenos Rethymno and the aspects of a life’ | Presentation of student awards

Location: Municipal Cinema ‘Kipos’, Stratigou Emmanouil Tzanakaki 34 Street, Chania town

 

Wednesday, 19 May 2021

21.00 – Central event of the Municipality of Chania: Presentation of open-air photographic exhibition ‘Chania bombarded’

Location: Municipal Cinema ‘Kipos’, Stratigou Emmanouil Tzanakaki 34 Street, Chania town

 

Thursday, 20 May 2021

20.30 – Exhibition Inauguration: Battle of Crete exhibition by the Battle of Crete Commemoration Committee

Location: Centre of Mediterranean Architecture, Akti Enoseos, Georgiou Katechaki Square, Chania town

Duration: 20-30 May 2021, 10.00-14.00, 18.00-22.00

 

Friday, 21 May 2021

19.00 – Exhibition Inauguration: Photographic exhibition featuring original archive material from Dimitris Skartsilakis

Location: Municipal Garden of Rethymno (northern side), Rethymno town

Duration: 21 May – 20 June 2021

 

21.00 – Documentary Premiere: ‘Sons of Tu Matatuenga’ by Michael Havas

Location: Municipal Cinema ‘Kipos’, Stratigou Emmanouil Tzanakaki 34 Street, Chania town

 

Saturday, 22 May 2021

20.30 – Central event of the Regional Unit of Chania: Presentation of Stamp Collection | Concert

Location: Municipal Cinema ‘Kipos’, Stratigou Emmanouil Tzanakaki 34 Street, Chania town

 

Monday, 24 May 2021

18.30 – Central event of the Municipality of Apokoronas: ‘Aghia Sofia’ Public Benefit Foundation | Presentation of sports awards

Location: Apokoronas, Region of Chania

 

21.00 – Opening of Battle of Crete Audiovisual Festival

Location: Municipal Cinema ‘Kipos’, Stratigou Emmanouil Tzanakaki 34 Street, Chania town

 

 FURTHER INFORMATION

 

For additional information, please contact:

Regional Unit of Rethymno: Mr Stavros Paltatsidis, +30 28313 40801

Regional Unit of Chania: Ms Roula Oikonomaki, +30 28213 40160