The Germans invaded Salonica in April, 1941.  The Jewish population of Salonica was 50,000 people.  The Germans imposed restrictions in the Jewish community immediately upon invasion.  In the beginning of 1943, Jews were required to wear the Star of David and at that time they started talking about moving the Jews to Poland so they would work there.  The Chief Rabbi in Salonica convinced the people that life would be better there.  The winter of 1942 was terrible in Salonica.  There was hunger, and people were dying in the streets.

 

In that part of the world, we had no idea what was happening in Eastern Europe.  Although we were not supposed to have a radio, we were able to listen to the news, but never heard about what was happening to the Jews of Europe.

 

In April, 1943, the first convoy left Salonica to Auschwitz.  By August, 1943, Salonica was Jew free, except for the 380 Jews who had Spanish Citizenship.  My father, mother and I were among this group.  We were to be deported to Spain.  Franco had given permission for his subjects to return to Spain.  We had our passports ready and were planning the voyage.  After giving his permission for our return, Franco changed his mind and told the Germans to do with us as they wished.  Therefore our destiny would end up the same as the rest of the Jews in Salonica; we would be deported to Auschwitz.  One German official in Athens decided that it would not be wise to send this group to the extermination camp yet, because Franco may change his mind again, therefore it was decided to deport us to Bergen-Belsen.

 

In August, 1943, the last remaining Jews in Salonica were summoned to the synagogue and told that in the evening we were to come to the ghetto from where the trains would leave for the camps.  The men were immediately taken to the ghetto, and the families were to retrieve their belongings and meet them there.  My father was able to come home to help us get organized for the ordeal.   By night, we were in the ghetto with our few belongings.

 

Upon arrival, the Germans took all of our suitcases and scattered our belongings.  We stayed at the Baron Hirsh Ghetto for a couple of days then were transported in cattle cars to Bergen-Belsen.  Fortunately for us, Franco did change his mind and decided that he wanted our group to go to Spain.  I learned this information later when I read a book by Lifischits called “Franco Spain and the Jews”.  

 

We arrived in Bergen-Belsen on August 13, 1943, and departed Bergen-Belsen on February 7, 1944.  We were hungry and cold all the time, but this time we knew what was happening to us.  When we were taken to the showers, we wondered if we would come out alive.

 

We were the few lucky Jews who had citizenship from a neutral country; therefore the Germans did not exterminate us.  They used us for their own political purposes.  After returning to Spain, we then went on to Morocco, and then on to Palestine.  We arrived there in December, 1944.

Never forget the atrocities we went through and our only crime was being Jewish. Remember our loved ones and protect the future generations.