Kandanos

Kandanos
Κάνδανος
Location
Kandanos
Coordinates
Government
Country: Greece
Region: Crete
Regional unit: Chania
Municipality: Kantanos-Selino
Population statistics (as of 2001)
Municipal unit
 - Population: 1,607
Other
Time zone: EET/EEST (UTC+2/3)
Postal: 730 04
Telephone: 28230
Auto: ΧΝ, XB

Kandanos or Kantanos (Greek: Κάνδανος or Κάντανος) is a town and former municipality in the Chania regional unit, Crete, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Kantanos-Selino, of which it is a municipal unit.[1] It was part of the former Selino Province which covered the southwest of the island. The town has 564 residents.

Contents

History

The town of Kandanos and its surrounding area suffered particularly badly from German occupation during World War II. During the Battle of Crete, resistance fighters had held advancing German soldiers for two days, preventing them from reaching Paleochora to secure it. In retribution the occupiers razed the village to the ground and erected a sign: "Here stood Kandanos, destroyed in retribution for the murder of 25 German soldiers, never to be rebuilt again."

The town was rebuilt however, and the sign retained in a war memorial. Several of the Byzantine churches and their frescoes were restored. Germany donated a waterworks after the war to the village and former soldiers stationed there returned in reconciliation.

There is a health center, a police station, a bank branch, a post-office and some stores, taverns and cafes in the village. The municipality also includes 28 villages, like Anisaraki, Koufalotos, Plemeniana, Kadhros, Kakodiki and Floria.

See also

References

  1. ^ Kallikratis law Greece Ministry of Interior (Greek)

External links