Distomo Massacre: What Happened
On 10 June 1944, members of a German SS unit killed 218 civilians in the village of Distomo, in Boeotia, central Greece, in one of the most notorious war crimes committed in occupied Greece. The massacre came after the German unit was attacked by Greek resistance fighters near the village. In reprisal, the soldiers went from house to house, killing men, women, children and elderly people. Many victims were brutally mutilated. The village was burned. Among the dead were babies and entire families. The massacre became a symbol of the suffering of Greek civilians under Nazi occupation. After the war, survivors and relatives of the victims sought compensation from Germany. In 2000, Greece's Supreme Court upheld a ruling ordering Germany to pay compensation, but the ruling was not enforced in Greece. The case raised wider questions about German war reparations, which remain a sensitive issue in Greek-German relations. In 2014, German President Joachim Gauck visited the village of Lyngiades in Epirus, another massacre site, and apologized on behalf of Germany. Distomo commemorates its victims every June.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the Distomo Massacre?
On 10 June 1944, members of a German SS unit killed 218 civilians in the village of Distomo, in Boeotia, central Greece.
Why did the Distomo Massacre happen?
It was a reprisal after the German unit was attacked by Greek resistance fighters near the village.
Who were the victims at Distomo?
The victims included men, women, children, elderly people and babies. Many were brutally mutilated, and the village was burned.
Has Germany paid compensation for Distomo?
In 2000, Greece's Supreme Court upheld a ruling ordering Germany to pay compensation, but it was not enforced. Reparations remain a sensitive issue.
Where is Distomo?
Distomo is a village in Boeotia, near Delphi and the Monastery of Hosios Loukas, with a memorial and museum honoring the victims.
