Executions of Kokkinia

The Executions of Kokkinia (Greek: Μπλόκο της Κοκκινιάς) took place on the August 17, 1944, and was the largest Nazi roundup and one of the largest-scale war crimes perpetrated during the German occupation of Greece. The operation was carried out by members of the Luftwaffe and collaborationist Security Battalions, and involved the execution of hundreds of civilians (mostly partisans), thousands of hostages being sent to concentration camps, and the burning down of entire house blocks, as well as significant atrocities. The massacre was partly in retaliation for the Germans' defeat in Battle of Kokkinia five months before, on 4-8 March 1944. The leaders and members of the Security Battalions involved in the killings were never convicted by the Greek state.