In mid-February 2026, a shocking discovery surfaced on the online auction platform eBay: a series of rare, previously unknown World War II photographs depicting the final moments of 200 Greek resistance fighters—primarily communists—before their execution by Nazi forces at the Kaisariani shooting range in Athens on May 1, 1944. These images, showing the prisoners being led to their deaths (some appearing to sing or look directly at the camera), sparked immediate outrage and political reactions in Greece.
The seller was Tim De Craene (also referred to as Tim De Krane), a Belgian collector and dealer in WWII memorabilia who operates through Crain’s Militaria. He initially listed a subset of the photos (around 12 key images directly related to the execution), which quickly attracted bids exceeding $2,000. The full collection comprises 262 photographs from the archive of Wehrmacht Lieutenant Hermann Heuer, who served in Greece during 1943–1944, including some documents. The photos document not only the Kaisariani executions but also broader aspects of the German occupation period.
Following public exposure—highlighted by groups like Greece at WWII Archives—the auction drew widespread condemnation. The Greek Ministry of Culture acted swiftly, declaring the material as potential national heritage and a cultural monument. This classification leveraged eBay’s policies prohibiting the sale of items that could serve as evidence of Nazi war crimes. Government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis confirmed that the ministry would pursue acquisition if authenticity could be proven. Parliamentary Speaker Nikitas Kaklamanis and Culture Minister Lina Mendoni discussed the matter, emphasizing the need to secure the archive for the Hellenic Parliament or a suitable institution.
De Craene voluntarily withdrew the listings from eBay early on, acknowledging the sensitive historical nature of the material and expressing shock over related events, such as vandalism at the Kaisariani memorial.
A Greek delegation, including experienced ministry officials and independent experts, traveled to Belgium for an in-person examination. The meeting took place at Evergem Town Hall with the collector. After a thorough macroscopic review, the experts confirmed the authenticity of the entire 262-item collection.
Negotiations lasted about six hours, culminating in a preliminary agreement signed on February 20, 2026. Under the deal, De Craene withdrew any remaining items from sale. He expressed relief, stating he was “happy” and “relieved” that the process had concluded positively, though he declined further comments until final resolution.
The ministry announced: “The macroscopic examination… confirmed the authenticity of the material. A preliminary agreement was signed… and the collection was withdrawn from the online auction site.”
The next steps involve ratifying the full agreement, addressing legal details, and any remaining requests from both sides. This process is expected to conclude in the coming weeks, allowing the photographs to officially return to Greece as part of its historical archive—ensuring these poignant witnesses to Nazi atrocities are preserved and accessible for education and remembrance rather than private sale.
