Kostis Petrakis

Kostis or Kostas Petrakis (; Apesokari, 1911 - 5 March 1989) was a Greek Army Lieutenant and resistance fighter in WW II.
Resistance
Petrakis fought and was wounded in the Greco-Italian War. After the fall of Greece to the Axis powers in spring 1941, he fled through Turkey to the British-controlled Middle East and enlisted the Greek Army in exile in which he fought bravely.
In June 1942, he participated in a commando raid on the Axis-occupied Heraklion airfield in Crete. The commando group was commanded by George Jellicoe and, in addition to Petrakis, included four members of the Free French Forces (namely Georges Bergé, Jacques Mouhot, Pierre Léostic, and Jack Sibard). The raid was successful and resulted in the destruction of around 20 German aircraft. Nonetheless, on its way to south Crete for evacuation to Egypt, the group was ambushed. Pierre Léostic was killed and the other three French captured. Petrakis and Jellicoe managed to escape to Egypt.
Postwar
After the war, due to his left-wing beliefs, Petrakis was prosecuted and forced to spend over 17 years in exile. To honor the memory of Pierre Léostic, he christened his son after him.

Main Menu

See Also

Main Menu