Raid on Santorini

Part of the Battle of the Mediterranean of World War II

Location of Santorini in the Aegean

Date	24 April 1944
Location	Santorini, Aegean islands
Result	Allied victory

Belligerents

United Kingdom

Kingdom of Greece

Germany

Italian Social Republic

Commanders and leaders

Anders Lassen

Stefan Casulli †

Lieutenant Hesse

Strength

SBS 19 Commandos

Garrison company

Casualties and losses

2 killed

40 killed or wounded
19 captured

5 civilians executed
13 civilians killed in Commando explosion

The Raid on Santorini took place on 24 April 1944 as part of the Mediterranean Campaign in World War II. It was conducted by the British Special Boat Service, against the mixed German and Italian garrison on the island of Santorini (Thera) in the Aegean Sea. The raid was made in tandem with similar operations at the islands of Ios, Mykonos and Amorgos that aimed to destroy Axis naval observation posts and radio stations on the Cycladic islands.

During the winter of 1943, the Germans had secured their control of the Aegean archipelago. In spring 1944, they still maintained appreciable garrisons on Greek isles. The British wished to maintain a secondary front in the Aegean, therefore, after the fall of Kos and Leros, the Middle East HQ issued orders to the SBS special forces unit to attack the garrisons of occupied Greek islands such as Santorini.

On April 19, a group of 19 commandos under Major Anders Lassen sailed from their hideout in Balisu, Turkey aboard two schooners. After a three-day voyage that included intermediate stops in Syrna and Anydros, the group landed on an easterly beach near cape Columbo on the night of 22 to 23. They marched towards the village of Vourvoulos and after contacting the locals, the group hid in a nearby cave. The two schooners sought shelter in the nearby Christiana islands, southwest of Santorini. One member of the group of commandos was the Greek Lieutenant Stefan Casulli (Greek: Στέφανος Καζούλλης). On April 23, Casulli was guided by locals to the capital Fira to gather intelligence. Based on Casulli's information, Lassen decided to divide his forces into three detachments. The first would attack the barracks in Fira, the second would head to the residence of the German commanding officer (Lieutenant Hesse) in Fira and attempt to capture him while the third would target the radio station in Imerovigli. This radio had a long range and served as a relay supporting communications between Athens and Crete.

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Wikipedia