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Periphery:Peloponnese
Prefecture : Messinia

Meligalas (Greek: Μελιγαλάς) is a village and a former municipality in Messenia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Oichalia, of which it is a municipal unit.[1] Population 4,040 (2001).

Mass execution of 706 to 1,144 nazi collaborationists

After the Germans left southern Greece terminating the occupation of Kalamata and surrounding Messinia area, Axis Occupation of Greece (1941–1944), the town became the site of a battle between the communist-dominated Greek Resistance forces of EAM-ELAS commanded by Aris Velouchiotis and the Security Battalions that had been stationed in the town during German occupation. After a 14-day siege of the town (Sept. 2, 1944 to Sept. 16, 1944), Meligalas fell to the hands of the Resistance forces. Following the fall of the city, the unknown correctly number of Nazi collaborationists were executed by the partisans for treason and collaboration with the occupation forces. Their bodies were subsequently thrown in a well shaft known as "pigada". Far-right and pro-nazi factions in Greece claim "thousands of civilian casualties", a claim unsupported even by relatives of the executed. After the Occupation and the end of the Greek Civil War, right wing governments used to pay tribute to the executed, a practice which ceased after the fall of the military junta[2].

Security Battalions cemetery, Pygada, Meligalas

Division of the municipality

Meligalas / Δ.δ. Μελιγαλά -- ο Μελιγαλάς [ 1.426 ]
Anthousa / Δ.δ. Ανθούσης -- η Ανθούσα [ 153 ]
Zevgolatrion / Δ.δ. Ζευγολατείου -- το Ζευγολατείον [ 466 ]
Kallirroi / Δ.δ. Καλλιρρόης -- η Καλλιρρόη [ 335 ]
Magoula / Δ.δ. Μαγούλας -- η Μαγούλα [ 139 ]
Mila / Δ.δ. Μίλα [ 82 ]
- Mila / το Μίλα [ 71 ]
- Kastron / το Κάστρον [ 11 ]
Neochorion Ithomis / Δ.δ. Νεοχωρίου Ιθώμης [ 321 ]
- Neochorion / το Νεοχώριον [ 289 ]
- Krontires / ο Κροντηρές [ 32 ]
Polichni / Δ.δ. Πολίχνης -- η Πολίχνη [ 198 ]
Skala / Δ.δ. Σκάλας [ 527 ]
- Skala / η Σκάλα [ 298 ]
- Stathmos / ο Σταθμός [ 229 ]
Stenyklaros / Δ.δ. Στενυκλάρου -- ο Στενύκλαρος [ 78 ]
Tsoukalaiika / Δ.δ. Τσουκαλαιίκων -- τα Τσουκαλαίικα [ 315 ]

Meligalas Bridge

References

^ Kallikratis law Greece Ministry of Interior (Greek)
^ [Η μαύρη εθνική πηγάδα - article in Greek documenting the events, the media coverage, the exploitation and distortion of the events by the Greek far-right and pro-nazi factions and the evidence found]

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Municipalities and communities of the Messinia Prefecture

Messinia