Greek Relatives Provide Blood Samples to Help ID Fallen Soldiers from Greek-Italian War

 

The remains of Greek soldiers from Western Macedonia who died during the Greek-Italian war of 1940-1941 in Albania will be identified through blood samples provided by living relatives in the region, authorities said on Friday.
Western Macedonia regional director George Kassapidis, who initiated the campaign, will coordinate with other subregions and metropolitan areas throughput the country in efforts to send as many samples as possible to the 401st Military Hospital’s Center for Molecular Biology, which will do the analysis.
Relatives who may give blood in this effort are divided into matrilineal or patrilineal lines, and exactly who will be eligible is detailed in the related documents. Two blood samples per relative will be collected at home by “Help at Home” staff and volunteers of the township, overseen by medical associations, beginning in September.
The collection will be overseen by the Region of Western Macedonia, which has set up coordinating centers for information to relatives.
Of the total 13,936 Greek soldiers and officers who died or went missing in Albania during the Greek-Italian war, the bodies of less than half (5,960) have been returned and buried in military hospitals in Greece, while the remains of 7,796 have been buried or left at battle fields in Albania.
Among the latter group are 897 individuals who originated from Western Macedonia and the metropolitan areas of Kozani, Kastoria, Florina and Grevena.
With information from AMNA