Plaque of Major Michael Tzoulakis

In the city centre of Heraklion, at the junction of Psaromiligkou and Gramvousis streets, there is a simple monument dedicated to Major Michael Tzoulakis, the first casualty of the Battle of Crete in the wider area of Heraklion. Michael Tzoulakis was born on July 1st, 1896 in Agios Myronas of Malevizi. He joined the Greek Army in 1916 and distinguished himself during the conflicts of World War I and the Asia Minor Campaign. His distinction on the battlefield earned him the Gold Medal of Valour, two War Crosses and the Inter-Allied Victory Medal. On May 21st, 1941, the second day of the Battle of Crete, the German paratroopers who had landed outside Chanioporta organised their positions and took cover behind sandbags in order to cover their sortie, which aimed to capture the Greek garrison. However, the Germans met the resistance of a small Greek corps led by Major Tzoulakis. According to an eyewitness testimony, that of Gendarmerie Commander Emmanouil Pitikakis, Tzoulakis attacked the German machine guns, disregarding the danger, only to fall dead a few moments later from their blasts, on the pavement of Kalokairinou Str., a few metres away from the plaque erected in honour of his heroic sacrifice.