Ruins of a German Radar facility

The German radar station of Ymittos was built by the German Air Force in 1942, with compulsory work (drudgery) of the residents of Koropi, and was a valuable Early- Warning - Air Control Station for the Germans, that allowed the interception of enemy communications; it was integrated in the Air Defence system and was mainly oriented towards the Aegean Sea. It had a Freya LZ-type early-warning radar, which detected enemy aircraft at distances of up to 200 km. The area of the Station included buildings and structures for the accommodation and service of personnel, with a perimeter defence system, fences and a security minefield zone. Animals were used to transport supplies and materials from Koropi, from a path on the eastern slope of the mountain. On October 8th, 1944, the Germans withdrew from the outpost; on their way out of Koropi, they were attacked by guerrillas of the Greek People's Liberation Army (ELAS), and 5 of their soldiers were killed. The next morning, a German force came to Koropi and executed 47 residents of all ages in retaliation, also torching 500 houses and shops. The site can be visited either by hiking, following the marked paths, or by car, following the asphalt road uphill from the Papagou cemetery, towards the “forest of antennas” of Ymittos.