Chania German War Cemetery

Location: Maleme

Located 3 km south of Maleme, the German War Cemetery (Deutscher Soldatenfriedhof) of Chania is one of the two German cemeteries in Greece and constitutes one of the most important Second World War monuments in Crete. You will find it near the historic airport of Maleme, which was used by German parachutists in 1941.

The cemetery houses the graves of 4,465 German soldiers who died at various locations around the island during the Battle of Crete in 1941. It was founded in 1974 by the former German commander Gericke and its design represents the main battlefields of Crete: Chania, Rethymno, and Heraklion. At its entrance, you will find a sign with a short description of the battle and its outcome.
The German War Graves Commission has undertaken the preservation of the cemetery.