The War Museum of George A. Hatzidakis is situated in the village of Kares in Askifou, some 55km south of Chania, at an altitude of about 750 metres.
In all the rooms as well as the courtyard of the museum, there are over 2000 artifacts related to World War II, such as rifles, revolvers, swords, mortars, helmets, shells, grenades, bombs, mines, cannon balls, binoculars, military uniforms, even the propeller of a plane shot down in the Battle of Crete.
The late owner Mr George Hatzidakis travelled all over the island to collect every vestige of the battle so as to keep alive the glorious memory of our ancestors and to stimulate younger to deal with their history.
It is an exquisite museum, solely funded by the deceased owner and his son.
For more information, please visit the official website.
Photos by: Georg K.
2 Comments
David Hunt, October 9, 2014 at 14:04
I visited this museum in 2006 with my brother and a friend. We were very hospitably entertained by George, and had a drink with him after he had shown us round. I was saddened to hear he died a year later, but I’m glad his son is carrying on the work. We felt a real connection with the place and our shared history, and the utmost respect for the bravery and suffering of the people of Crete.
Anna Mandell, September 2, 2013 at 09:58
My husband and I visited this charming and supremely interesting museum in 2003. Mr George Hatzidakis was very welcoming and informative about his experiences during those harrowing wartime years. What a superb legacy he has left.