Memorial Massacre Kos

In the graveyard of the Agnus Dei Church is a monument commemorating the massacre by the German Wehrmacht of 103 Italian servicemen in October 1943.

Kos island had been occupied by Italy since 1912. When Italy capitulated and joined the Allies in 1943, British troops were also stationed on the island. On 3 October 1943, a German invasion force landed from Crete and the Italians and British surrendered after a short battle and were made prisoners of war.

148 Italian officers commanded by Colonel Felice Leggio who were accused of falsely resisting the Germans were sentenced to death after a short trial. Some of them joined the Germans, escaped, or ended up in hospital, but Leggio and 101 other officers were shot dead between 4 and 7 October.

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