Belgian collector at centre of controversy in Greece over sale of Nazi photographs
A Belgian collector has found himself at the centre of a controversy in Greece after he listed unique photographs of the execution of 200 Greek resistance fighters during the Second World War on the auction site eBay. The Greek government is now trying to get hold of the images.
Tim de Craene runs a trading platform for documents and coins from the Second World War, called Crain's Militaria. De Craene had put the photographs, whose existence was previously unknown, up for sale online. They are images of the execution in the Athens suburb of Kaisariani on 1 May 1944.
Controversy arose after the Facebook group Greece at WWII Archives noticed the auction. The photographs are said to show the last moments of the resistance fighters, mainly communists, just before they were shot by the Nazis.
The Greek government responded immediately on Monday. Spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis announced that the government would initiate proceedings to acquire the photos, “on condition that the owners can prove their authenticity or agree to an investigation by experts”.
De Craene has since stopped the auction himself, he told the Greek newspaper Kathimerini. He says he understands that the images are particularly sensitive but emphasises that his legal right of ownership must be recognised. He said he was willing to enter into discussions with the Greek authorities.
In Greece, the war history and bloody repression of left-wing resistance fighters are still very sensitive issues. The photos that have surfaced have reignited the issue. Among others, former Greek minister Yanis Varoufakis has spoken out critically about the auction. “It is disgusting that the descendants of the Nazis are cashing in on this,” he said.
According to the newspaper Ta Nea, at least two victims in the photographs have already been identified by family members. The execution of the 200 Greeks was in retaliation for the deaths of four German soldiers in the south of the country.
Illustration © PHOTO HANDOUT / ARGENTINA'S SUPREME COURT OF JUSTICE / AFP
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