10
 
      
 
 
The Axis-controlled press also provides illuminating evidence 
      as the following typical examples will show :--
 
      
 
 
(1) In June 1943, eight German policemen were killed and seven 
      wounded, accordingly 575 persons, described as "supporters 
      of Mihailovic and the Communists, were shot. (Oora, Sofia, 9.7.43.)
 
      
 
 
(2) In August 1941, the German military authorities decreed 
      the destruction of the village of Skela for the shooting of a 
      German military official. (Donauzeitung, 16.8.41.)
 
      
 
 
A "Memorial of the Orthodox Church" presented to 
      the German C.-in-C. in Croatia gave a horrifying picture of the 
      massacres of Serbs, especially of priests and intellectuals in 
      Bosnia, Hercegovina, Slovenia and Serbo-Croatia in May-July 1941.
 
      
 
 
In Slovenia and Croatia the Italians and their local quislings 
      have not been far behind the Germans. The shootings of hostages 
      is generally carried out on a scale of ten for each Italian or 
      quisling killed. Many villages have been burnt down in districts 
      where guerrilla activity has occurred, and it is said that tens 
      of thousands of Yugoslavs have been put into concentration camps. 
      In June 1943, the Bishop of Vegtia protested to the Vatican against 
      the actions taken by the Italian military and civilian authorities 
      in the Fiume and Kupa districts. Numerous cases of the partial 
      or complete destruction of villages by way of reprisal are cited.
 
      
 
 
The Hungarians, too, have taken a hand in such brutalities: 
      The outbreak of resistance at Osablya in the Backa in January 
      1942, was savagely repressed--many civilians being killed. The 
      Prime Minister, Kallay, himself, frankly admitted in the Hungarian 
      Parliament that excessive severity had been applied. The total 
      number of Serbs killed was 2,250.
 
      
 
 
(Magyarorszag, 15.7.43.)
 
      
 
 
GREECE.
 
      
 
 
Bulgarian-occupied Thrace has been the scene of the worst 
      brutalities perpetrated in Greece by the Axis and their satellites. 
      A movement of revolt in September 1941 resulted in fea %rful reprisals, 
      and it is estimated that some 10,000 Greeks were shot or otherwise 
      massacred between the 6th and 9th October of that year. Those 
      killed by the Bulgars might now total some 15,000-20,000 souls; 
      in addition, some 150,000 Greeks have been evicted from their 
      homes and deported with what they can carry away with them.
 
      
 
 
In Greece itself every sabotage operation has been regularly 
      followed by the shooting of hostages. For example :--
 
      4th June, 1941
 
      
 
 
Railway bridge at Liossa blown. 95 hostages shot. 45 lawyers 
      taken as hostages.
 
      
 
 
24th /25th November, 1942-
 
      
 
 
Railway viaduct at Gorgopotamos blown. 12 officers executed.
 
      
 
 
300 senior officers, including several generals and admirals, 
      placed in concentration camps.
 
      
 
 
6th January, 1943
 
      Demolitions in Salamis Arsenal.
 
      arrested.
 
      
 
 
17 hostages shot.
 
      
 
 
Many hostages arrested.
 
      
 
 
1st June
 
      
 
 
Kournovo tunnel demolished and troop train wrecked. 60 officers 
      shot.
 
      
 
 
17th June
 
      Citta di Savona limpeted in Piraeus. 80 hostages taken, 19 shot.
 
      
 
 
All the above acts of sabotage were carried out by collaborators 
      of S.O.E. at the direct request of British authorities.
 
      The recent widespread guerrilla activity has led to an increase 
      of brutal measures by the Axis. British liaison officers have 
      reported that enemy columns in Thessaly are systematically burning 
      villages and crops, murdering, raping and