Category: English

She was daughter of the big patriot general Sergios, Luminous brain and brave soul. She could speak fluently German , something infrequent in this period. Her determination, her forceful character, her bravery, her persuasiveness, her infrequent beauty, her build her aquiline look , her breezy tread , her disarming grin, her patriotism and the knowledge of the German language, were the reasons that made our secret services of England and Greece propose her, to accept the very difficult role of interpreter of Kraimpe and informant – agent of the English and Greek undercover services.

She was just 20 years then, and she preferred the national offer than the enjoyment of life and love, as the girls of the same age used to do.Not only she accepted the proposal,but she also considered that as a challenge and love for the homeland burgeoned in her and she admited to play the role she was asked .She knew very well that the mission that was assigned to her, was very difficult and that she was risking her life and despite that, she did not hesitate and entered the national resistance and the race. Despite of her unripe youth she proved exceptional for this period , her age and the difficult mission she was entrusted, maturity, gravity and utility.

Top actor that played excellently her role and accomplished to deceive the Germans for her intentions and her mission. With her infrequent qualifications and her deep faith to the homeland and the fair of the race, she offered value servises in the affair for the freedom of our homeland.

Kiveli, as interpreter of the German garrison of Heraklion, supplied the organisation of sabotage and information Heraklion – Lasithi and also the English Espionage, with precious information, copying or photographing confidentially documents from the office of the German garrison.

She fought bravely, in dangerous roles and we appreciate her for her precious help“.  Patrick Leigh Fermor, the head of the English Resistance in Crete.

“She was existed a hero of the Resistance at the battle against the conquerors, by the day, when the cast of the parachutists began, until the release. Another Mata Harry, of the B World War, which her homeland Holland, 80 years after her death recognized her offer and changed her house in Museum “.

ILIAS ATHANASAKIS  the head of the National Organisation of Information and Sabotage of prefecture, of Heraklion and Lasithi.

“She accepted the very difficult role of informant – agent of the English and Greek secret services and it was proved that she was the form of resistance, model of a hero, she was said woman-lad, woman with important ideas who was valorised in the conscience of world. “ Alekos Daribianakis . Member of the Greek Parliament

“She lived in the source, in the heart of fire. She risked thin to thin her life, if her real role was perceptible from the Germans. She played that role marvellously also aristotechnicaly in the tender age of the girl of 20-22 years old “. 

Katerina Nikolidaki, journalist – historian, Museum of Cretan Ethnology

n the hero Kiveli is owed the information that they had finished the fuels of Rommel in the desert of  Egypt and also his supply had been delayed for a long .The information was developed suitably by English Intelligent service , and this was one of the reasons that Germans loose the battle in the desert of Egypt.  This meant also the end of expansive tendencies of Hitler.

Her information effectively contributed on the movements of German general Karl Kreipe, so that the plan of his kidnapping was successful. She  was assigned by the English propaganda to propagate in the German acquaintances the supposedly news, after the kidnapping of Kreipe.According to her saying, he was an English agent that defected and followed willingly the Greeks , something that disorientated them. They didn’t go through in reprisal immediately, so Heraklion  and Crete was saved. The non-fulfilment of reprisals was also the cause which gave the big later importance of kidnapping of Kreipe .

She accomodated the English major, Patrick Leigh Fermor in her fatherly house in the Knossos, when he had entered in the city of Heraklion, for the placement of mines in German boats which were located in the harbour. Also, captain Rentel, person in charge of resistance of prefecture Lasithi, where when he was located from the Germans she  led him from his den to the house of her aunt, where she was hidden and  herself.

It accomplished for some interval to inform the organization with signals and countersignals of the Germans, stealing from a non-commissioned officer of Navy.

She gave the information on the course of the German navy from 27 boats in the Liberian Sea that transported martial material and foods to the Germans of Africa and they did not reach their destination, because they were sunk by the English aviation.

She found out on time that Germans as they were preparing their leave from Crete, they had placed explosives at several points at  the port of Heraklion town  in order to blow it up. Guided by the map that she has intercepted from Germans ans she  handed to the rebellionists, the fighters managed to put the bombs out so that Heraklion port was not destroyed.

Kiveli helped many Germans who wanted to defect and in co-operation with the rebellionists she was transported to Africa from the south coasts of Crete.

She also managed to make the responsible of the electricity industry ,an Italian bishop, to leave his job and to guide him  ,with his official car to the central of the military governor ,Andreas Nathenas at the village Kanli Kastelli.

At some time she was prisoned and agonized .Although she was beated without mercy,she hung tough and didn’t               give away our soldier’s movements and positions.

When it became known that Germans were looking fo her ,she turned to the rebellious group of Vasilis Konios ,where she stayed until the German’s retreat from Heraklion .

Her life afterwards was marked by years of resistance. Through her resistance and after the possession she met and married the English officer John Pirson and moved in England. However she couldn’t bear the “heavy” climate there so she returned in Greece a few years later.

She joined the Medical School in Thessalonica.

She married the Greek officer Petro Fotopoulo.

She was known as an animal lover and an active member of feministic organisations.

Her last years are connected with Milatos, a village by the sea in northern Crete, which she loved very much. She lived there till she was “attacked” by the accursed illness, that meant the end of her life. Kiveli never talked about the years of Resistance, not even to her relatives or to any familiar person, she did so only when she realised the end was coming. I had the honour to meet her in the last years of her life and I know that she was gone with a great complaint that Greek government  didn’t recognize her contribution in Resistance and in the National and Liberal Fight. After making a personal research, I can say that neither in Greece nor worldwide has lived a spy woman like her , having done so many and important achievements in the Second World War.

Kiveli Sergiou 1921-2002.