Kandanos
Encyclopedia
Kandanos or Kantanos is a town and former municipality in the Chania peripheral unit, Crete
, Greece
. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Kantanos-Selino, of which it is a municipal unit. It was part of the former Selino Province which covered the southwest of the island. The town has 564 residents.
occupation during World War II
. During the Battle of Crete
, resistance fighters had held advancing German soldiers for two days, preventing them from reaching Paleochora to secure it. In retribution the occupiers razed the village to the ground and erected a sign: "Here stood Kandanos, destroyed in retribution for the murder of 25 German soldiers, never to be rebuilt again."
The town was rebuilt however, and the sign retained in a war memorial
. Several of the Byzantine churches and their frescoes were restored. Germany donated a waterworks after the war to the village and former soldiers stationed there returned in reconciliation.
There is a health center, a police station, a bank branch, a post-office and some stores, taverns and cafes in the village. The municipality also includes 28 villages, like Anisaraki, Koufalotos, Plemeniana, Kadhros, Kakodiki and Floria
.
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Kantanos-Selino, of which it is a municipal unit. It was part of the former Selino Province which covered the southwest of the island. The town has 564 residents.
History
The town of Kandanos and its surrounding area suffered particularly badly from GermanGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
occupation 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...
. During the Battle of Crete
Battle of Crete
The Battle of Crete was a battle during World War II on the Greek island of Crete. It began on the morning of 20 May 1941, when Nazi Germany launched an airborne invasion of Crete under the code-name Unternehmen Merkur...
, resistance fighters had held advancing German soldiers for two days, preventing them from reaching Paleochora to secure it. In retribution the occupiers razed the village to the ground and erected a sign: "Here stood Kandanos, destroyed in retribution for the murder of 25 German soldiers, never to be rebuilt again."
The town was rebuilt however, and the sign retained in a war memorial
War memorial
A war memorial is a building, monument, statue or other edifice to celebrate a war or victory, or to commemorate those who died or were injured in war.-Historic usage:...
. Several of the Byzantine churches and their frescoes were restored. Germany donated a waterworks after the war to the village and former soldiers stationed there returned in reconciliation.
There is a health center, a police station, a bank branch, a post-office and some stores, taverns and cafes in the village. The municipality also includes 28 villages, like Anisaraki, Koufalotos, Plemeniana, Kadhros, Kakodiki and Floria
Floria
Floria is a small village in the Selinoprovince of southwest Crete, Greece. Floria is part of theKandanos municipality and, according to the latest census, hasaround 60 inhabitants.On 23 May 1941 and while the Battle of Crete was unfolding,...
.