In a chilling display of power and retribution, Friedrich Schubert's paramilitary group executed approximately 30 civilians in the village of Kallikratis, Crete. This atrocity was a part of the German military's broader campaign against the resistance movements that had taken root on the island during World War II. As local rebels engaged in sabotage and guerrilla warfare against German forces, the occupiers responded with severe reprisal measures designed to break the spirit of the Cretan population and deter further acts of defiance. Schubert, a member of the German army, led this paramilitary unit, which was known for its ruthless tactics against suspected partisans and their supporters.

The executions took place after the village was accused of harboring resistance fighters. In a sweep that demonstrated the lengths to which the Nazis would go to maintain control, Schubert ordered the killings without trial or credible evidence against the victims. This event highlighted the brutal realities faced by civilians caught in the crossfire of military conflict, as ordinary lives were upended by the larger machinations of war. The scene at Kallikratis became a haunting reminder of the severe costs of resistance within occupied territories, carrying with it long-lasting scars in the local community.

In the aftermath, the killings generated both local and international outrage. Reports of the brutality were disseminated, serving to galvanize further resistance efforts among the Cretan populace and sympathizers abroad. Many communities became more unified in opposition to the occupation, emboldened by their shared grief and anger toward the oppressive regime. It also drew attention to the plight of Cretan civilians and the need for international acknowledgment of the human suffering inflicted during these turbulent times.