War Museum

VENETIAN / TURKISH RULE

The Venetian occupation is the historical period during which important areas of Greece gradually passed under the direct or indirect rule of the Republic of Venice. The Venetian Empire lasted from the beginning of the 13th century until the end of the 18th century. The most important centres of Venetian rule in Greece were Crete (Candia), the strategically important cities of Methoni and Koroni, the Ionian Islands, Monemvasia, Athens and Euboea.

On the island of Crete, the period of Turkish rule began in 1669 and ended in 1913, with the victorious Balkan Wars for Greece. The Ottoman presence on the island is testified by the building of the Museum itself, inside which a hammam was constructed during the Ottoman occupation.

GREEK REVOLUTION 1821

In March 1821 the Greek Revolution broke out in the Peloponnese region and quickly spread throughout Greece, from Crete and Central Greece to Epirus, Macedonia and Thrace. Although Crete was not incorporated into the territory of the Greek State at its foundation, the Orthodox inhabitants of the island, through a series of revolutions (1833, 1866, 1878, 1878, 1889, 1897), claimed and achieved the union of Crete with the Motherland in 1913.

THE MACEDONIAN STRUGGLE 1904-1908

During the Macedonian War, the Greek state tried to protect the region of Macedonia from the expansionist ambitions of the Bulgarians, who wanted access to the Aegean Sea. Many Cretan Volunteers also participated in the Macedonian Struggle.

BALKAN WARS 1912-1914

With its victorious participation in the two Balkan Wars (1912-13), Greece managed to expand its borders and integrate into its territory solid Greek populations that had until then been under Ottoman rule. Crete gained its longed-for freedom and was united with Greece as a result of the victory in the Balkan Wars.

WORLD WAR I 1914-1918

Greece entered the First World War on the side of the Entente and emerged victorious.

ASIA MINOR CAMPAIGN 1919-1922

After the end of World War I, the Paris Peace Conference allowed Greece to land Greek Army forces in Asia Minor in 1919. The resistance the Greek troops met there led them to campaign in the East. The initial victories were followed by defeats, which led to the violent expulsion of the Greeks from Asia Minor.

GREEK-ITALIAN WAR 1940-1941

On ²⁸ October 1940, Greece categorically refused to submit to fascist Italy, an ally of Germany. The Greeks enthusiastically accepted the call to protect their native lands and wrote the epoch in the mountains of Pindos. Displays of Italian weaponry and spoils of war tell of the victories of Greek soldiers.

GERMAN INVASION OF GREECE 1941

On April 6, 1941, Nazi Germany attacked Greece. Although the Greek Forces defended themselves vigorously, they were unable to defeat the German armed forces. The Greek forces defended the fortifications on the border with Bulgaria, but Hitler’s troops managed to bypass them and reach Athens, forcing the Greek government to capitulate.

BATTLE OF CRETE

The last battle in defence of Greek territory was fought in Crete, in May 1941. The German forces, using a very large number of paratroopers, the largest in history, attempted to occupy the island of Crete. The Battle of Crete was fought by the Greek armed forces that had fled to the island after the capitulation, by the British forces on the island and by the ordinary inhabitants who fought bravely against the conquerors. Eventually the German war machine managed to break the heroic resistance of the island. Relics, weapons, uniforms, books and personal items tell visitors about the glorious battle.

OCCUPATION / NATIONAL RESISTANCE / LIBERATION

The Occupation, the Resistance and the Liberation complete the tribute to the Second World War. During the Occupation, the Greek people paid a heavy price in terms of human losses, economic losses and infrastructure. Nevertheless, the Resistance against the occupiers was great. Finally, the Liberation was sealed with the withdrawal of the German troops from the country and the arrival of George Papandreou to take over as Prime Minister of Greece.

KOREA

Greece, consistent with its traditions and obligations as a member of the United Nations (UN), responded to his call for participation in the expeditionary force to defend the freedom and independence of the Korean people. The ECSC consisted of an Infantry Battalion and a “Dacota-C 47” Transport Aircraft Squadron. The Corps participated and distinguished itself in many decisive battles, spearheaded victories and won many honors.

CYPRIOT HALL

Cyprus, the island situated between three continents, developed its own distinct political and cultural tradition, which went hand in hand with that of Greece. Throughout the centuries, the island’s conquerors, Assyrians, Persians, Romans, Lusignans, Ottomans and British, despite the traces they left behind, did not manage to alter the Greek identity of the island.