IV

105TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. RES. 17

Calling upon, and requesting that the President call upon, all Americans

to recognize and appreciate the historical significance and the heroic

human endeavor and sacrifice of the people of Crete during World War

II, and commending the PanCretan Association of America.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

JANUARY 7, 1997

Mr. KLINK (for himself, Mr. BILIRAKIS, and Mr. COYNE) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International

Relations

RESOLUTION

Calling upon, and requesting that the President call upon,

all Americans to recognize and appreciate the historical

significance and the heroic human endeavor and sacrifice

of the people of Crete during World War II, and commending the PanCretan Association of America.

Whereas May 20, 1997, marks the 56th anniversary of the

heroic Battle of Crete, which took place on the Greek island of Crete during World War II between Nazi German

forces and the people of Crete assisted by the Allied armies;

Whereas the people of Crete fought tenaciously during the

Battle of Crete, delaying for two months the Nazi German invasion of Russia;
2

•HRES 17 IH

Whereas this delay forced Nazi German forces to invade Russia in the face of the brutal Russian winter, changing the

final outcome of World War II and leading to the defeat

of fascism;

Whereas many historians agree that the Battle of Crete was

one of the most significant battles of World War II;

Whereas the Battle of Crete contributed to saving the free

world from Nazi German occupation, thus preserving democracy, freedom, and human dignity;

Whereas the Cretan Resistance Movement was organized to

fight the Nazi German occupation of the island of Crete;

Whereas for 4 years, the Cretan Resistance Movement inflicted heavy casualties upon Nazi German forces, including kidnapping a heavily-guarded Nazi German General,

setting an example for all of the people of Europe to follow;

Whereas the people of Crete suffered savage reprisals for

their heroic resistance when the Nazi German invaders

randomly executed thousands of civilians and burned and

destroyed entire communities;

Whereas many participants in the Battle of Crete and the

Cretan Resistance Movement later emigrated to the

United States and became American citizens; and

Whereas many of these citizens became members of the

PanCretan Association of America, an organization comprised of Greek Americans with ancestry from the island

of Crete and committed to preserving and promoting the

rich culture and proud history of Crete: Now, therefore,

be it

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives—
3

•HRES 17 IH

1 (1) calls upon all Americans to recognize and

2 appreciate the historical significance of the Battle of

3 Crete and of the Cretan Resistance Movement and

4 the heroic human endeavor and sacrifice of the peo5 ple of Crete during World War II;

6 (2) requests that the President issue a Procla7 mation calling on the people of the United States—

8 (A) to observe the memory of the fallen he9 roes of the Battle of Crete; and

10 (B) to honor the living men and women of

11 Crete who, during World War II, fought an op12 pressive invader to preserve the ideals of free13 dom, democracy, and the pursuit of happiness;

14 and

15 (3) commends the PanCretan Association of

16 America for preserving and promoting the history of

17 Crete and its people.

Æ