The Region of Crete and the Society of Cretan Historical Studies / Historical Museum of Crete present a temporary exhibition dedicated to the Battle of Crete (May 1941).
It is hosted at the Historical Museum of Crete until September 2025.

This anniversary exhibition is made possible through the generosity and collaboration of collector Dimitris Skartsilakis, who, in the spirit of a "war archaeology," has spent years gathering all kinds of material evidence from the 1941 battles on the island — military, personal, and narrative objects.

These findings are presented not only as historical testimonies but as starting points to ignite personal memory and public reflection, especially during this commemorative moment marking 80 years since the end of World War II.
Through a distinctive curatorial narrative by archaeologist Kleanthis Sidiropoulos, selected human stories unfold through tangible artifacts: from the bloodstained sash of an executed man to uniform parts and personal belongings of those killed in the trenches, framed by authentic period photographs that bring events and faces into focus.

Without ever forgetting the brutality and injustice of the Nazi invasion, or the heroism of the nearly unarmed Cretan civilians who supported the Allied forces at great personal cost, the exhibition sets aside the military events to turn its gaze towards the individual — especially those who lost their lives so early and so unfairly that spring.

Because ultimately, so many years later, we owe it to ourselves to revisit the story of the Battle of Crete from a different angle.

Admission is free.

Location: Level 0, Historical Museum of Crete | 27 Sofokli Venizelou Ave., Heraklion, Crete | Tel.: +30 2810 283219, ext. 101 | www.historical-museum.gr
Exhibition Dates: 30 May 2025 – 13 September 2025
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday, 09:00 – 17:00