Overview of the story
Manolis Makris sets the scene, telling us that, early in 1944, while Karpathos was under German occupation, three men set up a radio transmitter in a cave a couple of kilometres north of Diafani to report on German activities in the area. Local people kept them supplied with food and water, at great danger to themselves.
The Germans became suspicious and four local men, fearing they were about to be arrested, took to a small boat with the aim of reaching the Turkish coast.
Nikias Hartofylakas and Vassilis Karellas tell the story of that terror-filled journey – part sailing, part rowing over the course of two nights, dodging German planes, a speedboat, on-shore gun batteries and, finally, a Turkish defence post. Michalis Papavassilis, who had remained on Karpathos, tells us how news of the men’s fate finally reached their grieving families back home.
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