The National Republican Greek League (EDES) was a large non-communist resistance group during the Axis occupation of Greece during the Second World War. It concentrated its activities in Epirus and Vourgareli served as its headquarters since April 1943. Soon, this “capital” of mountainous Greece attracted the attention of the German authorities. On the morning of 5 May 1943, the German air force attacked; dive bombers unleashed more than 400 bombs against Vourgareli. The villagers tried to escape in the surrounding woods but the German guns followed them there with deadly accuracy. The victims included 13 dead and 30 injured, while many houses were completely destroyed.