Living history: 96-year-old recalls Crete's 1941 invasion

Saturday, 23 May 2026/Source: Haniotika Nea/1 min read

Every year in late May, Crete commemorates the Battle of Crete, the fierce 10-day airborne invasion launched by Nazi Germany in May 1941. The battle is remembered as a defining moment in Cretan identity, when local civilians, including women and children, fought alongside Allied forces against the German paratroopers. Vera Tapeinaki, a 96-year-old resident of Galatas, recently shared her firsthand memories of those events, offering a rare living account of wartime Crete. Galatas, a village near Chania in western Crete, was the site of a key counterattack during the battle. Visitors to the region can explore the Battle of Crete Museum in Chania and the Maleme war cemetery nearby. Commemorative ceremonies typically take place around May 20-27 each year and are open to the public.