Heraklion Honors WWII Hostages Deported from Makasi Arcade

Monday, 15 June 2026/Source: CretaOne/1 min read

The Mayor of Heraklion, Alexis Kalokaerinos, attended a ceremony of remembrance honoring the hostages of the Makasi Arcade, a covered passage in central Heraklion that became a site of tragedy during the Axis occupation of Crete in World War II. During the occupation, hundreds of Cretan civilians were detained at this location before being deported to concentration camps on the Greek mainland and in Germany. The ceremony marked one of the darkest episodes of the wartime period for the city. Visitors to Heraklion can find the Makasi Arcade in the city center, near the old market area. The event reflects Crete's strong culture of collective memory around the occupation years. For context on this history, the Heraklion Historical Museum offers exhibits covering the wartime period on the island.