This presentation draws on selected personal testimonies of individuals who endured the harsh years of World War II in Greece, facing deportation, loss, humiliation, and constant fear. As children, they were forced to flee their homes, adopt false identities, live in hiding, move frequently, or, in some cases, lose their true identities permanently.
In April 1941, German forces invaded Thessaloniki and later Athens. Thessaloniki witnessed the first organized mass persecution of Greek Jews in 1942, culminating in the horrifying railway deportations of 1943. Tragically, 97% of the city’s Jewish population never returned from the extermination camps. Only a small number foresaw the danger and managed to hide or escape in time.
Athens, under Italian rule until September 1943, initially offered a temporary refuge for many Jews fleeing German-occupied areas, as anti-Semitic laws were not enforced there. However, after Italy’s capitulation, German forces occupied the former Italian zone and implemented their brutal policies. By then, some Jews had learned of the fate of others and took steps to hide in advance. Many Christians courageously risked their lives to shelter persecuted individuals, including children.
The testimonies of these ‘hidden children’ reveal profound emotions—anxiety for survival, loneliness, separation, loss, and even rejection. The necessity of assuming false identities and “playing a role” for survival often led to confusion, a struggle that persisted long after the war ended.
The presentation incorporates photographs, toys, everyday objects, notebooks, and diaries from that era to bring these stories to life and underscore their authenticity. It delves into the experiences and hardships of these ‘children of war,’ offering an essential foundation for understanding the historical and moral dimensions of the Holocaust and its enduring relevance to our lives today.
