Battle of Crete: Germans destroy Kandanos in retaliation

Tuesday, 2 June 2026/Source: Haniotika Nea/1 min read

During the Battle of Crete in May and June 1941, fierce fighting took place in the Selino region of southwestern Crete. The villages of Agrimokefalá and Flória, along with the Kandanos Gorge, saw combat between May 23 and 25, 1941. On June 3, 1941, German forces destroyed the town of Kandanos in retaliation for local resistance, razing it to the ground and killing civilians. Kandanos, the historic capital of the Kandanos-Selino municipality, carries a pre-Greek or Doric name reflecting its ancient roots. Today it stands rebuilt as a quiet inland town. Visitors can explore the area to understand the heavy toll the occupation took on Cretan communities. A memorial in Kandanos commemorates the destruction. The Selino region is accessible from Chania, roughly 70 kilometers southwest, and pairs well with visits to the Kandanos Gorge.