Img. ID: 421996
Who is Commemorated?
Jewish Martyrs of Kos
Description
The monument sits in the middle of the walled Jewish cemetery, which is now (2022) also heavily wooded with pine trees. The monument is a simple white upright rectangular stele set on two horizontal white stone slabs, one smaller than the other and laid to create a stepped base for the monument on which can be placed stones or glass memorial lamps. The surface of the stele is carved to create a stone frame within which is the smooth-faced inscribed panel, with inscribed lettering. A Magen David is inscribed at the top followed by a commemorative text in Greek and English.
Inscriptions
MHN ΞEXAΣEIΣ ΠOTE
TΩN EBPAIΩN MARTYPΩN THΣ KΩ
ΠOY EKTOΠIΣTHKAN
TON IOYΛIO TOY 1944
KAI NAZIΣTIKA
ΣTPATOΠEΔA ΘANATOY
Translation:
NEVER FORGET
IN ETERNAL MEMORY
OF THE
JEWISH MARTYRS
OF KOS
DEPORTED IN JULY 1944
MURDERED IN
NAZI DEATH CAMPS
Commissioned by
Jewish Community of Rhodes
The Jews of Kos were deported in July 1944 on a long journey to Auschwitz. Many died along the way, most were killed upon arrival. Of those selected for slave labor, only one survived. In 2014, on the 70th anniversary of the deportation, the Jewish Community of Rhodes which is responsible for the Kos Jewish cemetery installed a memorial monument.