War Museum

A: The Greek Revolution of 1821

Works of art with depictions of heroes of the Greek Revolution of 1821, manuscripts and weapons tell the story of the Greek struggle for freedom. An important place is occupied by the original letter of Theodoros Kolokotronis to the mayors of the Kalavryta province in 1826 and the copy of his funeral mask.

B: Greek-Turkish war 1897

Weapons, lithographs, photographs and loot tell the story of the effort of the Greek State to expand its borders. The rifle “Mylonas” occupies an important place.

C: Macedonian Struggle (1904-1908)

Moving on to the collection on the Macedonian Struggle (1904-1908), we see the effort of the Greeks to protect the region of Macedonia from the expansionist ambitions of the Bulgarians, who wanted access to the Aegean Sea. Weapons, photographs and loot bring the Greek struggle to life.

D: Balkan Wars (1912-1913)

The victorious battles and naval battles allowed Greece to expand its borders. The Greeks in Macedonia, Crete, Ioannina, the islands of the North Aegean were liberated and incorporated into the Greek State. Weapons, photographs, relics and lithographs depict the victorious wars.

E: World War I (1914-1918)

Greece entered the First World War on the side of the Entente and emerged victorious. Weapons, photographs and uniforms show us the era.

F: 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 Greeks from Asia Minor.

G: 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. Weapons, relics, loot, photographs, cartoons and uniforms convey to visitors the enthusiasm of the Greeks during the conscription, the hardships of war, and the joy of victory.

H: German Invasion

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 border forts with Bulgaria, but Hitler’s troops managed to bypass them and reach Athens, forcing the Greek government to capitulate. The last battle to defend Greek territory was fought in Crete in May of that year.

I: Occupation

During the Occupation, the Greek people paid a heavy price in human losses, in the economy and in infrastructure. The Resistance against the occupiers was great and is depicted in the exhibits of the unit.

I: Middle East / North Africa / Rimini

The action of the Greek Armed Forces continued, in the context of the Allied operations against the Axis forces, initially in North Africa and then in the Middle East, the Aegean islands, Italy and Normandy. Photographs and weapons tell the story of the struggle of the Greek Armed Forces.

1A: Liberation

The liberation of Greece in 1944 from the occupying forces created a climate of joy that was captured in the photographs of the time.