Shocking photographs of the May 1, 1944 Nazi executions at Kaisariani, Athens—taken by Wehrmacht sergeant Hermann Heuer—have surfaced after 82 years, prompting the Greek government to acquire the collection and announce plans for the country’s first National Photo Archive.
The 262 images, which include 13 depicting the execution of 200 political prisoners (mostly Communists and resistance fighters from Haidari concentration camp), were listed for sale on eBay in late February 2026 by Belgian collector Tim de Craene for €100,000. Within days, the Greek Ministry of Culture intervened, halted the auction, verified authenticity, and purchased the entire archive—including documents, Greek banknotes, and newspaper clippings—for €100,000.
Culture Minister Lina Mendoni presented the photos in Athens in early March, describing the acquisition as a historic first: “This is the first time a public body has moved so quickly and in such a coordinated manner to halt an auction and acquire material that forms a significant part of modern Greek heritage.”
The images capture harrowing moments: prisoners ordered to remove coats for easier bullet penetration, walking defiantly toward the firing squad while looking straight into the camera, and the instant the Wehrmacht soldiers fire. Three particularly disturbing photos were deemed too graphic for public sale; eBay refused to list them, and Mendoni requested two not be published out of respect for the victims and their families.
The executions were reprisals for the killing of German Major General Franz Krech by resistance fighters in Molaoi, Peloponnese. The Kaisariani rifle range—today a major WWII memorial site—served as the execution ground.
A Rare Visual Record of Nazi Atrocities
Until now, visual evidence of mass executions during the German occupation (1941–1944) was scarce. Historians relied mainly on written testimonies and photos of destruction, famine, and ruined infrastructure. The Kaisariani collection provides a coherent, firsthand record of Nazi war crimes in Greece.
Experts note that the photos reflect a broader Wehrmacht photographic culture: alongside execution images, they include casual snapshots of soldiers relaxing on Piraeus beaches, touring the Acropolis, and training. Historian Valentin Schneider (National Hellenic Research Foundation) calls them “hybrid”—private souvenirs within the framework of Nazi wartime propaganda encouraged by Joseph Goebbels.
Maria Mertzani (Directorate for Conservation of Ancient and Modern Monuments) stressed the need for special care: “These are over 80 years old and require conservation, digitization, and long-term protection.”
Next Steps and National Photo Archive
The photos have been designated national monuments, granting them state protection. A research project led by Schneider will examine the context, attempt to identify victims, and contact families. Findings will be presented at an academic conference.
Institutions including the National Resistance Museum in Kaisariani, Haidari Municipality, Kaisariani Municipality, and the Greek Communist Party (KKE) have expressed interest.
Minister Mendoni announced the creation of Greece’s first National Photo Archive within the National Archive of Monuments. It will collect and preserve historically significant photographic collections, starting with the Kaisariani images, royal estate photos from Tatoi, Asia Minor refugee arrivals, and Archaeological Service records.
Broader Context: German Occupation and Reparations
The discovery revives discussion of the German occupation’s devastation—economic collapse, famine, forced labor, and mass reprisals. Greece continues to seek reparations, including for the 1942 forced-occupation loan (476 million Reichsmarks) and for damages estimated at €300–350 billion. Germany maintains that the issue was settled after the war, a position Greece disputes.
These photos strengthen Greece’s historical record and moral claim, ensuring the atrocities are neither forgotten nor repeated.
Sources: Greek Ministry of Culture (March 2026 presentation), Anadolu Agency cross-reports, National Hellenic Research Foundation, and official statements.
