Fallen Greek Soldiers of World War II Reinterred in Albanian Military Cemetery

Fallen Greek Soldiers of World War II

Reinterred in Albanian Military Cemetery

Published in The National Herald, October 27, 2018

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I am excited that The National Herald has given Hellenic Genealogy Geek the right to reprint articles that may be of interest to our group. 

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GJIROKASTER, ALBANIA - The remains of 573 Greek soldiers and officers who fought in the Greco-Italian War of 1940-1941 and died in Albania were reburied at the military cemetery of Dragoti on October 12.

The burial is part of a bilateral agreement calling for exhumation, identification, and re-interment at Albanian cemeteries of Greeks killed in the country.

The 573 were among nearly 700 who had been buried hastily during the Italian retreat after a battle at the straits of Kelcyre (Kleisoura, in Greek).  A search for the remains began there in January 2017, and the first 100 found were reburied at Bularat (Vouliarates) in July of this year.

At Dragoti cemetery, where cenotaphs commemorate the dead, the soldiers and officers were reburied with a religious ceremony led by Metropolitan Demetrios of Gjirokaster (Argyrokastro).

It was attended by Greek Ambassador to Tirana Eleni Sourani and other officials.

A joint Greek-Albanian specialists committee will continue its searches and exhumations in other areas as well, the Greek Foreign Ministry said.

Material from the ANA-MPA was used in this report.