Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has described a newly acquired historical archive documenting a Nazi-era mass execution in Athens as a “unique record” and a “valuable treasure” for the country.

In a social media post, the prime minister announced that Greece has obtained the Hoyer Collection, a set of photographic documents depicting the execution of 200 Greek resistance fighters by Nazi forces during World War II in the Athens district of Kaisariani.

Mitsotakis said the photographs represent a rare and powerful testimony to Nazi brutality, while also highlighting the struggle of the Greek people against fascism. The archive was secured following swift action by Greece’s Ministry of Culture, preventing the material from entering the international market.

According to the prime minister, the ministry is the most suitable institution to oversee the preservation, management and public presentation of the historical material.

Mitsotakis said he had the opportunity to view the archive in person, describing the experience as deeply emotional and filled with a sense of pride for the country and for those who sacrificed their lives. He emphasized that the message of the 200 executed resistance fighters was clear: the pursuit of a free and democratic Greece.

He also noted that the families of those executed should be among the first to receive copies of the photographs, acknowledging the personal and historical significance of the material.

More than eight decades after the events, Mitsotakis said the documents serve as a reminder of Greece’s past and the lessons it continues to draw from it. He added that preserving such historical evidence can help strengthen collective memory and contribute to building a shared understanding of the country’s history and future.