Tim de Craene runs Crain’s Militaria, a trading platform for documents and coins from the Second World War. Mr De Craene put the photographs, the existence of which was previously unknown, up for sale on eBay. The photographs are of an execution in the Athens suburb of Kaisariani on 1 May 1944.
The controversy broke after the Facebook group Greece at WWII Archives became aware that the photographs were being auctioned. The photographs are said to show the last moments of the resistance fighters, mainly communists, just before they were shot by the Nazis.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Greek government said that it would initiate proceedings to acquire the photos, “on condition that the owners can prove their authenticity or agree to an investigation by experts”.
Mr De Craene has since withdraw the photographs from auction. He told the Greek newspaper ‘Kathimerini’ that he understands that the images are particularly sensitive but stresses that his legal right of ownership must be recognised. He added he was willing to enter into discussions with the Greek authorities.
In Greece, the war history and bloody repression of left-wing resistance fighters are still very sensitive issues. The photos that have surfaced have reignited the issue.
The former Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis criticised the auction. He said that “It is disgusting that the descendants of the Nazis are cashing in on this”.
The Greek newspaper ‘Ta Nea’ writes that at least 2 of the victims in the photographs have already been identified by family members. The execution of the 200 Greeks was in retaliation for the deaths of 4 German soldiers in the south of the country.