Greek political commemoration of resistance history

Greek political figures have recently engaged in activities centered on preserving historical memory and honoring resistance martyrs.

In late September, Dimitris Koutsoumpas, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), attended an exhibition in Kaisariani dedicated to the 200 communists executed there. The event, held during the 52nd KNE Festival, utilized KKE archives and personal notes to highlight the individuals as examples in modern struggles against fascism.

By early October, Alexis Tsipras, president of the Greek Left Coalition, visited the Genti Koule memorial in Thessaloniki. He supported a municipal resolution to prevent the site from being used for private events, calling the move a ‘collective victory’ for local society and resistance associations. Tsipras emphasized that cultural heritage should be treated as a ‘public good, historical memory, and collective property’ rather than a commodity. This follows a unanimous resolution by the Neapoli-Sykies Municipal Council to remove the monument from the list of spaces managed for private gastronomic and commercial events.

Additionally, efforts are underway to identify mass graves near the White Tower. A municipal initiative involving DNA testing has seen participation from approximately 87 families.