Greece signs a preliminary deal with a Belgian collector to buy WWII photos of Nazi executions
ABC News
A Belgian collector who put up a series of World War II photographs showing the final moments of 200 Greeks executed by a Nazi firing squad for online auction has signed a preliminary agreement with the Greek Culture Ministry
ATHENS, Greece -- A Belgian collector who put up for online auction a series of World War II photographs showing the final moments of 200 Greeks executed by a Nazi firing squad signed a preliminary agreement with Greece on Friday and has withdrawn the photos from sale, Greece's Culture Ministry said.
Greece is seeking to obtain the photos after declaring them part of Greek heritage.
Culture Minister Lina Mendoni announced the preliminary agreement after experts visited the collector, Tim de Craene, in Belgium on Friday and verified that the photos were genuine. She did not provide details of the agreement or specify how Greece will obtain the photos.
Twelve pictures showing 200 political prisoners being led to their deaths on May 1, 1944 appeared for sale on eBay on Saturday. They are the only photographic evidence that has come to light of an execution that was a seminal moment in Greece’s World War II history.
The execution took place at a shooting range in the Kaisariani suburb of Athens. The photographs show men being led through a gateway and down a path, several looking directly at the camera as they walk. Another shows them lined up in front of a wall.
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