Domenikon Massacre
Encyclopedia
The Domenikon Massacre was a violent reprisal by the Italian Royal Army on February 16-17, 1943 during Italy
's occupation of Greece
following the Greco-Italian War
, in which about 150 civilians were killed. The incident represents one of the worst Italian war crimes
during World War II
.
in Thessaly
. When Greek partisans attacked Italian forces and killed Italian soldiers, General Cesare Benelli, commander of the Pinerolo Division, ordered an action in reprisal. Hundreds of Italian soldiers surrounded the village and searched it house to house. They captured more than 150 men, ranging from 14 to 80 years of age. They held them as hostages well into the night and then proceeded to execute them.
This event was not an isolated incident. According to historian Lidia Santarelli, it was the first in a series of repressive measures carried out in the spring and summer of 1943, following an order by General Carlo Geloso
, commander of the Italian forces of occupation, whereby anti-rebel action would result in collective punishment. The order was based on the notion that in order to crush the Greek partisan
movement, whole local communities had to be wiped out.
This page of history was long forgotten. Interest was renewed when documentary film-maker Giovanni Donfrancesco made La guerra sporca di Mussolini (Mussolini’s Dirty War), which was first broadcast on 14 March 2008 on the History Channel.
In Italy
the documentary was never shown because Italy’s public broadcaster RAI
was not interested in the project.
On 16 February 2009, Italy apologised to Greece (through its ambassador in Athens) for the massacre.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
's occupation of Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
following the Greco-Italian War
Greco-Italian War
The Greco-Italian War was a conflict between Italy and Greece which lasted from 28 October 1940 to 23 April 1941. It marked the beginning of the Balkans Campaign of World War II...
, in which about 150 civilians were killed. The incident represents one of the worst Italian war crimes
Italian war crimes
Italian war crimes are a well documented but poorly publicized aspect of the history of Italy during the 20th century.-War crimes:During the first half of the 20th century, Italy was involved in several colonial wars, notably against the then only independent African states, Ethiopia , and in World...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Events
Domenikon is a village in central GreeceGreece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
in Thessaly
Thessaly
Thessaly is a traditional geographical region and an administrative region of Greece, comprising most of the ancient region of the same name. Before the Greek Dark Ages, Thessaly was known as Aeolia, and appears thus in Homer's Odyssey....
. When Greek partisans attacked Italian forces and killed Italian soldiers, General Cesare Benelli, commander of the Pinerolo Division, ordered an action in reprisal. Hundreds of Italian soldiers surrounded the village and searched it house to house. They captured more than 150 men, ranging from 14 to 80 years of age. They held them as hostages well into the night and then proceeded to execute them.
This event was not an isolated incident. According to historian Lidia Santarelli, it was the first in a series of repressive measures carried out in the spring and summer of 1943, following an order by General Carlo Geloso
Carlo Geloso
Carlo Geloso , was an Italian military officer who rose to the rank of General, commanding the Italian occupation army in Greece during the Second World War....
, commander of the Italian forces of occupation, whereby anti-rebel action would result in collective punishment. The order was based on the notion that in order to crush the Greek partisan
Greek Resistance
The Greek Resistance is the blanket term for a number of armed and unarmed groups from across the political spectrum that resisted the Axis Occupation of Greece in the period 1941–1944, during World War II.-Origins:...
movement, whole local communities had to be wiped out.
This page of history was long forgotten. Interest was renewed when documentary film-maker Giovanni Donfrancesco made La guerra sporca di Mussolini (Mussolini’s Dirty War), which was first broadcast on 14 March 2008 on the History Channel.
In Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
the documentary was never shown because Italy’s public broadcaster RAI
RAI
RAI — Radiotelevisione italiana S.p.A. known until 1954 as Radio Audizioni Italiane, is the Italian state owned public service broadcaster controlled by the Ministry of Economic Development. Rai is the biggest television company in Italy...
was not interested in the project.
On 16 February 2009, Italy apologised to Greece (through its ambassador in Athens) for the massacre.