Suda Bay War Cemetery 
The Suda Bay War Cemetery is situated at Vlites, on the northwestern shore of Souda Bay, within a beautifully maintained garden overlooking the water. It is one of Crete’s most important places of remembrance associated with the Battle of Crete and the German occupation of the island.
The site was selected after the end of the Second World War. The 21st and 22nd Australian War Graves Units transferred casualties here from four burial grounds established by the German occupation forces at Chania, Heraklion, Rethymno and Galatas, as well as from isolated graves and civilian cemeteries across Crete.
The cemetery contains 1,527 Second World War burials, 776 of which remain unidentified. They include 862 servicemen from the United Kingdom, 446 from New Zealand, 197 from Australia, 9 from South Africa, 5 from Canada, 1 from India and 7 of other nationalities.
There are also 19 First World War burials transferred from the former Suda Bay Consular Cemetery, as well as 37 non-war graves. The cemetery was designed by architect Louis de Soissons and is maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
The orderly rows of white headstones, the Cross of Sacrifice and the view across Souda Bay create a simple yet deeply moving place of remembrance. Annual ceremonies commemorating the Battle of Crete are attended by representatives and visitors from Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Greece and other Commonwealth countries.
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Additional Info
- Location: Chania Prefecture
- Accessibility: Bus services, Paved road
- Peak Period: Modern Greek (1913-Today)
