Thessaloniki commemorates 80th anniversary of Holocaust deportations

·

The Greek city of Thessaloniki held a memorial march on Sunday to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the first deportations of Greek Jews to Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp.

Around a thousand people of all ages marched from Eleftherias (‘Freedom’) Square to the old railway station of Thessaloniki, where the deportations began on March 15, 1943.

Some marchers held a banner reading ‘Thessaloniki Auschwitz 80 years: Never again’ and white balloons captioned with the same slogan were released into the air. Many people left red carnations on the train tracks.

Sunday’s event, organised by the European March of the Living together with local city and state government officials, was attended by Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou, senior Greek and Israeli officials and Holocaust survivors and their families. 

In her address, Sakellaropoulou said: “With this memorial march we honour the victims of Nazism, Fascism, antisemitism and share in the grief of their descendants, listen to the revealing words of the few survivors and unite our voice with the thousands of citizens that walk the same route… putting into action the universal human message ‘Never Again’.”

Sakellaropoulou also said Thessaloniki had, over the last two years, accepted its share of responsibility for the tragedy that took place when the Germans occupied their city.

Before World War II, about 80,000 Jews lived in Greece in 31 communities, two-thirds of whom lived in Thessaloniki. Only 10,000 survived the Holocaust. Today about 5,000 Jews live in Greece.

Work has begun on a Holocaust museum in Thessaloniki to honour the memory of those who died in the Nazi camps.

Source: Jewish News Syndicate and AP News.

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

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

Advertisement

Latest News

Labor’s Helen Politis elected Deputy Mayor of Merri-bek City Council

Labor's Helen Politis has been elected as Deputy Mayor of Merri-bek, marking a significant step for the seasoned community advocate.

Mario Christodoulou to executive produce ABC’s Media Watch

Award-winning investigative reporter Mario Christodoulou will become executive producer on the ABC's Media Watch program.

Socialist PASOK becomes Greece’s main opposition party as SYRIZA collapses

Left-wing Syriza party has lost its position as Greece's main opposition group after a wave of defections on Thursday, November 21.

80-year-old sole resident of Kinaros island gifted donkey as a companion

The sole resident of Greece's remote Kinaros island - 80-year-old Mrs Rinio - recently received an unexpected gift in the form of a donkey.

Thanasi Kokkinakis upset gives Australia shock Davis Cup win over US

A nail-biting win for Thanasi Kokkinakis has led Australia into the semi-finals of the Davis Cup in Spain.

You May Also Like

Father Emmanuel Lykopandis honoured by Victoria Police

Father Emmanuel Lykopandis, the parish priest of the Church of Saint John the Baptist in Melbourne was honoured by Victoria Police on Tuesday

Plans to renovate Ermou Street in central Athens approved

The Central Council of Architecture (KESA) has approved a plan for renovating the lower part of Ermou street in Athens, stretching from Kapnikarea Church...

Tributes flow for pregnant Greek woman and husband killed in Queensland crash

Tributes flow for Rhiley Kuhrt, 22, and his pregnant wife Maree, 24, who lost their lives after a plane crash in Queensland.