Memorial to the Fallen Cadets of the Battle of Crete

On April 23rd, 1941, when the Greek Government capitulated to the Germans, the Cadets of the 1st Class, who had entered the Military School a few days before the outbreak of the Greek-Italian War, were called to Athens to perform police duties and maintain order when the conquerors entered the capital. The Cadets met in the auditorium of their school and decided to disobey the order and go to Crete, where the Greek government had fled with a military force, in order to continue their resistance from there. They descended to the Peloponnese and sailed to Crete from Gythio, reaching Kolymbari after a dangerous journey of six days, where they camped in the courtyard of the Holy Monastery of Panagia Odigitria. During the next month, the Cadets continued their training alongside the Allies, until they began to actively fight in the Battle of Crete on the 20th of May. Despite all the fierce resistance, the German forces could not be repelled; the Allies were forced to retreat to Egypt and the Double Company of Cadets was disbanded. This monument was erected in memory of their heroic act, but also of the sacrifice of many of them. Visitors can observe a bronze ancient Greek shield next to the cross and the phrase “Cadets defending their country bravely fought here” in Greek. An altar and a column with the names of the fallen can be found alongside the memorial.