Historical Collection – The Battle of Crete

Gallery 5 presents an important collection of objects related to the Battle of Crete (1941), the period of the Occupation, and the Resistance.
The space displays military equipment, vehicles, soldiers’ personal belongings, maps, documents, and materials of the era, shedding light on both everyday life and the critical moments of the war on the island.

A prominent section is dedicated to the sabotage operation involving the abduction of German General Heinrich Kreipe in 1944—an audacious mission carried out by the British SAS in collaboration with the Cretan Resistance.

The collection highlights the role of the Cretans and their allies in the resistance struggle and conveys to visitors the resilience, ingenuity, and courage of a period that left a profound mark on the island’s history.