Chania newspapers document the outbreak of war in October 1940

Historical newspaper archives from Chania, Crete, provide a detailed account of the local reaction to the Italian invasion on October 28, 1940. The newspaper ‘Ethniki Foni’, in its October 29 edition, featured the headline ‘The die is cast’, describing the struggle against Italy as a sacred cause.

Reports from the period detail the immediate societal shifts, including the indefinite closure of schools and the mobilization of reservists from infantry and artillery units. Local authorities, including General Governor Panagiotis Sfakianakis, issued directives such as lighting bans, while the Gendarmerie advised citizens to seek shelter in basements in anticipation of bombings.

The mobilization also activated the 5th Cretan Division, sending the 14th Infantry Regiment from Chania, the 43rd from Heraklion, and the 44th from Rethymno to the front lines.