TheBattle of Trahili (Greek:Μάχη στο Τραχήλι) was fought on 15 August 1943 betweenCretan partisans andGermanoccupying forces duringWorld War II. It took place near the village ofVorizia in south-centralCrete, when German forces attempted to surround a small group of partisans led by the local chieftainPetrakogiorgis. Most of the partisans managed to escape, despite being heavily outnumbered.[1][2]
In June 1941, soon after thefall of Crete to the Axis,Georgios Petrakis (Petrakogiorgis) and five men from Vorizia established the first resistance group in the south slopes ofMt. Ida. This group, named"Psiloritis" (Greek:Ψηλορείτης), was active in the regions of Mt. Ida,Messara plain,Mt. Kedros andAmari valley throughout the occupation of Crete. The group engaged in close combat with the occupation forces on several occasions and had close ties with the BritishSOE. As noted by Beevor,[the Germans had] harboured an especially personal enmity for Petrakogiorgis, more than for any other chieftain.[2]
On 14 August 1943, the eve of theDormition, most of Petrakogiorgis men were away visiting their families. He and 21 more men were hiding north of the village of Vorizia. They had arranged to receive theHoly Communion from a monk of the nearbyVrontisi Monastery and were preparing to celebrate the Dormition. Unknowingly, however, their whereabouts were betrayed to the Germans.
On the early morning of 15 August 1943, partisan sentries spotted German forces approaching their hideout from three different directions with an estimated total strength of 3500 men. After a brief discussion, the partisans decided to head towards the nearby forest of Rouvas and avoid villages as this might invokeGerman reprisals. On their way, at an altitude of approx. 1000 meters, they encountered a German force consisting of a few hundred men who were already in control of the pass of Trahili. The partisans sought cover in the rocks and started a fierce battle under the scorching sun which lasted until the early evening. The Germans heavily outnumbered Petrakogiorgis and his men, were much better armed and had artillery support from the town ofTymbaki. Nevertheless, they did not succeed in neutralizing the partisans, who fought bravely and managed to escape after losing 7 of their comrades and having 4 more wounded. In his diary, Petrakogiorgis reports 33 German casualties whereas Beevor mentions 13.[2]
A few days after the battle of Trahili and inreprisal for the assistance of locals to the partisans, the village of Vorizia wasdestroyed by aerial bombardment.[2]
A marbleplaque at Trahili commemorates the battle and the fallen partisans.
35°9′1″N24°50′48″E / 35.15028°N 24.84667°E /35.15028; 24.84667
