Heritage protection and illicit excavations by Wehrmacht during the WW II occupation of Crete

What is it about?

This paper considers the recruitment of young archaeologists into the German military on Crete and its impact upon the development of archaeological agendas during the period of the Third Reich. It explores – as a case study – the archaeological activity of August Schörgendorfer, an Austrian archaeologist, on German-occupied Crete. By presenting data collected through archival research and Schörgendorfer’s previously unpublished photo album of Crete, I explore his ideological trajectories and his archaeological itineraries on the island under occupation. Integrating the latter with the recent historiography of Nazi-era archaeology illuminates undocumented aspects of the Wehrmacht’s archaeological research on the island. Facets of the cultural policies of the German Archaeological Institute and wider questions of archaeological ethics are informed by analysing the entanglement of archaeological institutions and archaeologists with the political turmoil of the era of World War II.

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Why is it important?

Facets of the cultural policies of the German Archaeological Institute and wider questions of archaeological ethics are informed by analysing the entanglement of archaeological institutions and specific Wehrmacht archaeologists who were active on Crete with the political turmoil of the era of World War II. The findings have a bearing on issues of modern critical heritage and the ethical responsibilities of archaeologists who conduct research in the context of war.

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