Finally, the desire of the Cretans became true and on December 1, 1913 Crete joined Greece. Without occupiers and slaves, Chania face the future with optimist. Indeed, the 20th century marked a radical transformation of the city of Chania at every level.
Crete became General Administration and Chania became the seat of the General Commander. Its population increased from 21,000 in 1900 to 26,000 in 1928, to 29,000 in 1940 and finally to 33,211 in 1961. Subsequently, in the early century, the city occupied 70 hectares and extended along the old farm roads around the Venetian courtyard. Gradually, the extent increased and in 1961 reached 275 hectares.
In 1938, during the period of Metaxas dictatorship, eminent personalities from Chania as Aristomenes Mitsotakis, Manousos Voloudakis and General Mandakas, unsuccessfully intent to establish an anti-dictatorial movement.
The struggle for freedom continued, when a few years later, in May 1941, began the Battle of Crete. It was on May 20, after a heavy bombardment, when thousands of German paratroopers began to fall in western Crete. The allied forces, the few Greek troops and especially the unarmed Cretans were face war without fear of the superior and the well-equipped enemy forces. In the area of Agyia and Galata great battles took place, but a few days later the island would pass into the hands of the Nazis.
The civilian population caused global admiration as they fight and caused a hard blow to the German power. But there was a great price. The bombarding destroyed important Venetian and Ottoman monuments in the old town of Chania, while the population itself experienced the Nazis retaliations, the arson of entire villages and massive executions. The years passed, but the historical memory stayed and several places, such as the area of Calvary, near the prison of Agyia, where the Germans tied to a pole the Old Men Patriots and executed them, are now monuments of honor and glory for the freedom heroes.
At the end of the war, in 1945, Chania was defeated, but very quickly start to create a more hopeful future.
In 1965, the old town of Chania was declare d “historical monument” and since then began efforts to preserve and promote it. The interventions and the efforts to integrate the archaeological sites gave the opportunity at Chania to emergence its rich heritage, which has been since then a magnet for millions of tourists.
