On Monday 10 June 2024, the Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias represented the President of the Hellenic Government in the events for the 80th Remembrance Anniversary of Distomo Massacre by the German Nazi occupation troops on 10 June 1944. The events took place in Distomo, in the presence of H.E. the President of the Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou.
The Minister of National Defence, accompanied by Chief/HNDGS General Dimitrios Choupis, attended at Aghios Nikolaos Church the Memorial Service in memory of the slaughtered, officiated by His Grace the Bishop of Thespies Mr. Pavlos.
Next, Mr. Dendias attended the memorial service in memory of the slaughtered, at the Distomo Massacre Memorial and the wreath laying by the President of the Hellenic Republic.
Afterwards, the Minister attended a tour at the Ossuary performed by the Mayor of Distomo-Arahova-Antikyra, Ioannis Stathas.
The events of the Remembrance Anniversary were also attended by the MP of Boeotia Eleftherios Ktistakis, representing the Hellenic Parliament, the MPs Panagiou (Giota) Poulou and Georgios Moulkiotis, the Vice Regional Governor of Boeotia of Central Greece District Giorgos Dasiotis, the Vice Regional Governor of Tourism of Central Greece District Fani Papathoma, the Mayor of Levadeia Dimitris Karamanis, the Mayor of Souli Thanasis Danis, the Mayor of Anogeia Socratis Kefalogiannis, representatives of the Security Forces, of local agencies, survivors of the Holocaust, relatives of the slaughtered and civilians.
On behalf of the military, the Commander of the Higher Army Support Military Command Lieutenant General Dimitrios Bolomytis also attended.
In his address, Mr. Dendias stated:
“It is a great honour to be here today in Distomo, representing the Hellenic Government, but also the whole Greek society, in the commemorative events for the Victims of the Nazis Brutality, on 10 June 1944.
Here men, but also women and young children, were slaughtered; 233 civilians, by the Nazi occupation troops.
Every anniversary though, apart from the honour for the victims, has an additional meaning if we project it in the Nation’s present and future status.
I think the lesson learned from Distomo is the service due to the Country, its Independence and Sovereignty.
Also, the obvious thing; that the claims for the reparations due to the horrible disasters of the Occupation, as well as the occupation loan, are absolutely valid and the Greek State preserves them to a full extent.
I would like to conclude with something else due to yesterday’s European elections. I believe that the rise of Nazi Parties in Europe, especially Germany, constitutes a collective insult in European History. The existence in AfD ballot paper of a person who claims that “not everyone in Waffen-SS was bad” is I think the greatest insult in our common European history. I am certain that the peoples of Europe will respond accordingly.
But for this to happen, they should clearly realize, like we did here in Greece with the Golden Dawn party, the huge challenge that Nazism and fascism consist for the future of Europe”.
