‘No one could leave’: The last Greek Jewish Holocaust survivor shares her story

·

“We were like animals,” one of the last Greek Jewish Holocaust survivors said in an interview with Ekathimerini.

At the age of 96, Esther ‘Naki’ Matathia Bega has recounted her harrowing story about being a Jew in Greece and how after being caught by the Nazis she faced a 14-month fight for survival at the Auschwitz II-Birkenau and Bergen-Belsen concentration camps, as well as the long march to liberation across Germany.

On March 1944, the Germans started rounding up the Jews where she had been living with her brother’s father in Volos near Trikala, Greece.

“They dragged us to the square, packed us into cars and took us to Larissa… Then the Germans put us in the train cars, with one tiny window and box where we did our business, and 13 days later, we arrived at the camp,” Esther said in her interview.

Bega was taken to Auschwitz II-Birkenau camp. She detailed the horrific scenes and tormenting smells she endured at the time.

Esther ‘Naki’ Matathia Bega shows the tattoo of her number, 77092. Photo: Ekathimerini

“When anyone tried to escape, they were killed and their bodies were propped up with shovels along the road so we could see them. No one could leave,” Bega explained and added that with time, prisoners came to understand what was happening at the gas chambers as well.

By January 1945, the Nazis began evacuating the site and Bega would begin a 22-day march in Germany’s freezing cold.

“We’d walk all day and at night they’d put us in some field so we could rest and then we’d start walking again in the morning,” she said.

With Germany under attack, Bega’s group, which included five Greek women, were released by the Nazis. She remembers begging for clothing at nearby houses. Eventually, she returned to Greece on August 15, 1945.

“I remember that day, because there were flags everywhere.”

Greece was celebrating the feast day of the Mother of God, Panagia.

Source: Ekathimerini

greek film festival melbourne

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

Loverdos strengthens ties with Greek community during Queensland visit

Deputy Foreign Minister Ioannis Loverdos visited Brisbane and the Gold Coast, meeting Greek community leaders.

Heartbreak as Greek duo Anne and Maree eliminated from My Kitchen Rules

My Kitchen Rules viewers were left emotional on Monday night as Greek Australian mother-and-daughter duo Anne and Maree were eliminated.

Antetokounmpo trio make NBA history as Alex joins brothers at the Milwaukee Bucks

The Milwaukee Bucks have signed Alex Antetokounmpo, uniting him with brothers Giannis and Thanasis to make NBA history.

Mitsotakis hails ‘historic day’ as he joins Trump at Gaza Peace Summit in Egypt

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis briefly met with US President Donald Trump ahead of the global summit on Gaza’s future

‘A Holy Land at peace’: Trump declares end to two-year Gaza war

Hamas has released the final surviving Israeli hostages from Gaza as part of a ceasefire deal, while Israel freed Palestinian detainees.

You May Also Like

Peter Poulos MP suspended from Liberal Party for six months

Besieged Upper House MP Peter Poulos has been suspended from the Liberal party for six months because of sending explicit images

For the first time in two decades, Athens invests 1.5 million euros in architectural heritage

The Athens Municipality Council launched the 'FACADE' program on Wednesday to help renovate the city’s architectural heritage.

Bill Mousoulis: A Greek Australian filmmaker with integrity

Films or movies serve as entertainment, as escapism and as art – hopefully encompassing all of these aspects.