1898-

The northernmost ground of the island of Crete is the Cape of Spatha in Chania prefecture. This strategic location could not have gone unnoticed by the German occupiers during the Second World War, who installed a large bunker with guns, cannons, buildings, arcades, etc. which still haunt this remote place.

One of the very easily and really small shelters that are open to people is located in the city of Chania. It is located just behind the church of St. Spyridon and has two entrances like most. The shelter of Saint Spyridon is only a few meters deep. No light is needed as the gallery is quite short. The shelter was built at the site of a former cave, the entrance of which is blocked by boulders.

Nowhere in the Cretan coastline one meets so many German pillboxes than the seafront of Ierapetra. The pillboxes are made of concrete and are reminiscent of igloos with openings for machine guns. Even within the Ierapetra city we still meet pillboxes, all remnants of the German presence during the Second World War. One of the German pillboexs surviving in perfect condition is the one on the east side of the town in the area called Tziveri Limni.

This weird memorial column commemorates the kidnap of General Kreipe, maybe the most important military operation in Crete in 1944. The kidnappers stopped the car of the General at this point and started their timely course till reaching the south coasts of Crete and deliver the General in Egypt.

The wider region of the village Alikambos, at Chania, we meet several caves because of the limestone bedrock. One of these caves is Fourni located in the village. Fourni unlike other caves of the region does not bear cave decoration as it is really poor. However it surely has the most important history of all, because it is located inside the village and, therefore, served as a shelter for the locals, especially during the bombardments of the Second World War. Fourni entrance is not easy to access, due to being blocked by rubbish and vegetation.

Crete is a place with endless diverse beauties that it has always new places to show, even to those who think that know Crete well. Some of these treasures are hidden below the surface. One of these places is a German shelter several meters below the surface of the earth that has never until now been recorded in photos. This shelter, so many years after the liberation of Crete in 1945, keeps it secrets well hidden. The area has loose grounds and the entrance to it is really dangerous. All its main gates have been blocked by colissions, making it impossible to enter. Entering the shelter can be made from another place using a rope.