Razing of Anogeia

[4] The village of Anogeia (alternate spellings Anogia and Anoyia) sits at an altitude of 750 metres (2,460 feet) on the north slopes of Mt Ida, located 36 kilometres (22 miles) west of Heraklion and 52 km (32 mi) southeast of Rethymno.

Anogeia residents are renowned for their rebellious spirit and, backed by the mountainous surrounding terrain, have a long tradition of resisting foreign rule and sheltering rebel fighters.

[citation needed] At the time of the German occupation of Crete, Anogeia had approximately 4000 residents who were primarily occupied with pastoral farming.

[citation needed] Before the Battle of Crete, residents of Anogeia laid boulders on Nida Plateau in order to prevent German aircraft and paratroopers from landing.

During the summer of 1941, Giannis Dramountanis (Stefanogiannis) along with Michalis Xilouris set up in Anogeia a resistance organization known as "Independent Group of Anogreia" (Greek: Ανεξάρτητη Ομάς Ανωγείων "ΑΟΑ", consisting mostly of Anogeians.

[1] In early May 1944, the abductors of Generalmajor Heinrich Kreipe led by Maj Leigh Fermor spent some time at Anogeia during their march to the south coast of Crete.

[8] Sentries installed in nearby villages noticed them and notified the people of Anogeia, allowing men to flee to the mountains for safety.

[8] Having lost all their belongings, they were forced to live in absolute poverty and managed to survive only thanks to the solidarity of the residents of nearby villages, who in many occasions housed them for years.