Heraklion went dead after the bombing. Over 2,500 houses and shops had been totally destroyed. 90 percent of the people in Heraklion left for the villages, some were killed by bombs and others were led away to forced labour near the aerodrome. Large number of people had fled to hide beneath Yiouchtas, on the Agios Sillas side, where there were these huge caves. Lots of those in the suburbs of Mastambas and Therissos were killed...
The town hall had been burnt to the ground, including the offices and stuff inside!! All that was left were the iron door and window frames... The only thing to survive was a small office belonging to the director of the electrical service, under the staircase in the building. ...
At first there was no water or electricity. There were no Greeks in the town. A handful of people hid in their homes and lived like moles. Heraklion was a ghost town. For their part, the Germans collected their dead and buried them in the area where the POA football pitch is in Atsalenio.
