page_title: Milos executions
section_title: Geography
hierarchical_section_title: Milos executions / Background / Geography
caption_attribution_description: English: Royal Air Force Operations in Malta, Gibraltar and the Mediterranean, 1939-1945. Bristol Beaufighters of No. 272 Squadron RAF in flight over Malta. Nearest the camera is a Mark VIC, X8079, 'K', which was shot down by German fighters off Maritime Island on 22 May 1943, Behind X8079 is Mark IC, T5043 'V'. The Squadron flew from both Luqa and Ta Kali during this period.
context_page_description: The Milos executions refer to the mass execution by firing squad of 14 male civilians from the island of Milos in Greece by German forces on 23 February 1943 during World War II. The victims were accused of looting material owned by the German military that was washed up after the sinking of the German cargo ship SS Artemis Pitta by Allied aircraft.
context_section_description: Milos is the fifth largest island of Cyclades and lies midway between Piraeus and Crete. Due to its large, natural harbor it has historically been important for maritime shipping. During the tripartite Axis occupation of Greece, Milos was part of the German zone. The Germans had installed a permanent garrison and built several air raid shelters.
caption: Beaufighters over Malta
exif: {"Thumbnail JPEGInterchangeFormat": "44", "Thumbnail JPEGInterchangeFormatLength": "4953"}