Holocaust Museum Of Greece

The Holocaust Museum of Greece (Greek: Μουσείο Ολοκαυτώματος Ελλάδος) is being built in Thessaloniki.

It will be the first Holocaust Museum in Greece.

Construction began in 2018, but was put on hold for several years and is scheduled to be opened in 2026.

The site chosen for the Museum in the City is on an open plaza located at the endpoint of the rail lines and extends the walkway along Thessaloniki’s Seashore, connecting the City’s Harbor, the historic White Tower and the Old Railway Station, which was used during the War for the Deportation of Jews to the Death Camps.

85% of Greek Jews (80,000 Men, Women and Children) were murdered by the Germans during the Holocaust.

50,000 of the murdered Jews lived in Salonica (Thessaloniki) and that’s why the Holocaust Museum of Greece is in that City and not in Athens.

Following the Deportation, almost all Jewish-owned property was sold by the German Occupation Authorities, privately looted by Greeks, or Nationalized by the Greek Government.

Almost everywhere, Christians went into Jewish Districts immediately after they were vacated to loot.

Archbishop Damaskinos, the head of the Church of Greece, issued strongly worded protests against the mistreatment of Greek Jews and issued many false Baptismal Certificates.

 He was the only Leader of a major European Church to condemn the Holocaust as it was happening.

In 1945 10,000 Greek Jews were still alive.

2/3 of the Jews in Athens survived the Holocaust by hiding.

Most Survivors left Greece after the War (due to continued Anti-Semitism and the 1946-1949 Greek Civil War.)

As of 2024 there are 5,000 Jews living in Greece (3,000 in Athens and 1,000 in Thessaloniki.)

362 Greeks have been recognized by Yad Vashem as Righteous Among the Nations for helping to save Jews during the German and Italian Occupations.