Acqui Division Memorial in Argostoli

The Acqui Division Memorial is a monument dedicated to the men of the Italian Acqui Division who were executed by the German occupation forces during World War II. During the war, the island was under the occupation of the Axis powers, but until 1943, the occupation was carried out almost exclusively by Italian troops—the Acqui Division—some 12,000 in number. When the Axis powers began to lose ground in the war, German troops were sent to reinforce those already stationed on the island, but were met with great resistance. The Italian troops ended up fighting against the invading Nazi soldiers, holding their ground for six hours before being overtaken by the new legions. In the aftermath of the uprising, 6,000 of the 9,000 surviving soldiers, known as the Acqui Brigade, were executed. The memorial honors these fallen men, and special services are held annually to commemorate their heroism.