The bridge of river Tavronitis was one of the most important infrastructure projects of the Cretan State, as it connected the provinces of Chania and Kidonia with Kissamos and Selino. During World War II, and specifically during the Battle of Crete in May 1941, the area around the bridge set the stage for fierce clashes between the attacking Germans and the defending Greeks and their Allies, who were trying to prevent the enemy from approaching the Airport of Maleme. Naturally, gaining control of the bridge that connected two such important points and opened the road to the airport was a strategic advantage. Despite the resistance, the Germans managed to prevail and caused serious damage to the bridge by dropping bombs. Today, the bridge is a monument to the heroism of the Greeks and foreign Allies, and a part of the living history of Crete.
Main Bibliography
- Bury John – Meiggs Russell, A History of Greece. To the Death of Alexander the Great, Translated by Rouli Tataki, K. N. Petropoulos, Anna Papadimitriou - Grammenou, Konstantinos Buraselis, Angelos Matthaiou, Athens 2011.
- Αλεξάνδρου, μτφρ. Ρούλη Τατάκη, Κ. Ν. Πετρόπουλος, Άννα Παπαδημητρίου Γραμμένου,
- Κωνσταντίνος Μπουραζέλης, Άγγελος Ματθαίου, Αθήνα 2011.
- Lefèvre François, Histoire Du Monde Grec Antique, Translated by Anastasia Kefala, Mina Kardamitsa, Athens 2016.
- Καρδαμίτσα, Αθήνα 2016.
- Antonopoulou Zeta, Τα Γλυπτά της Αθήνας: Υπαίθρια Γλυπτική 1834-2004, Athens 2003.
- Karaiskou Vicky, Νεοελληνική Γλυπτική: Ματιές και αναγνώσεις, Athens 2011.
- Pavlopoulos Dimitris, Ζητήματα Νεοελληνικής Γλυπτικής, Athens 1998.
- Γλυπτά, Αθήνα 2020.
- Pavlopoulos Dimitris, Από τον Ιερό Λόχο στον Κωνσταντίνο ΙΒ’: Νεότερα Αθηναϊκά Γλυπτά, Athens 2020.
Main Webliography
http://www.athenssculptures.com
https://explore.cure-project.gr
https://www.thisiscrete.gr/gr/historical-monuments
https://www.wikipedia.org
Informations
Additional
Creator: Michalis Savvakis
Date: 1901
Material: Metal, wood
Location: PEO Kissamou-Chanion, Maleme
Type: Bridge
Subject: World War II, Battle of Crete
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