The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) has formally requested digital copies of twelve photographs documenting the execution of 200 partisans on May 1, 1944, in Kaisariani, Athens, during Nazi occupation. The request, sent to Culture Minister Lina Mendoni by KKE General Secretary Dimitris Koutsoumpas, emphasizes the importance of preserving historical memory.

The photos were recently acquired by the Greek Ministry of Culture as part of a larger collection of 262 items from the Hermann Hoyer archive, which has been designated a national monument. The acquisition also included 16 historic documents and four old Greek banknotes, with the government investing 100,000 euros in the preservation effort.

Minister Mendoni has stated that once digitized, the photos will be available to all approved parties, including the KKE and the Municipality of Kaisariani, for research, educational use, and commemorative events. A legislative measure will also establish a National Photo Archive to safeguard such historic collections.

In his letter, Koutsoumpas highlighted that most of those executed were KKE members or affiliates detained for their political activity, and that the digital copies would support scholarly work, exhibitions, and educational initiatives, while honoring the sacrifice of the victims.

The request has also drawn support from historians, researchers, and descendants of the executed partisans, underlining the enduring significance of these photographs in documenting Greece’s resistance history.