Missiria executions
The Missiria executions (Greek: Εκτελέσεις στα Μισίρια), also referred to as Perivolia executions (Greek: Εκτελέσεις στα Περιβόλια), was the mass execution by firing squad of Greek civilians on the beach of Missiria in Rethymno, Crete, Greece by German paratroopers on 23 and 24 May 1941 during World War II. The executions were ordered by Major Erich Schulz, acting commander of the 2nd Parachute Regiment, as collective punishment for the active participation of locals from the villages of Perivolia and Missiria in the Battle of Rethymno. == Background == In late May 1941, Crete was the theatre of Operation Mercury, the first large-scale airborne invasion in military history.