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Obj. ID: 44663
Modern Jewish Art
  Holocaust Memorial in Drama, Greece, 1999

© Samuel D. Gruber, Photographer: Gruber, Samuel D., 2022

Who is Commemorated?

1,200 Jews of Drama and Jews from other towns in Macedonia and Thrace who were deported and murdered.

Description

The abstract black stone monument sits on a large base that sprawls outward in the shape of Jewish star. The monument seems like a stele about to take wing.

A large, curved stone on top spreads to each side like arms or wings, humanizing the geometry of the form. The monument looks like a figure with arms outstretched. A Christian might see a Tau-cross.

On the curved top stone is inscribed in Hebrew, Greek, and English the admonition to "Remember and Do Not Forget" (from Deuteronomy 25: 17-19).  Beneath this is a larger vertical stone, the top front of which is inscribed with a Magen David encircled by a wreath. Below this is a commemorative inscription in Greek that provides more information about the deportation and murder of the 1200 Jews of Drama.

On the rear of the monument is inscribed a map of the region showing the locations of the communities where Jews were deported. Below this is a short dedicatory inscription in Greek.

On one side are listed the towns from which Jews were deported and the number of victims.

A similar monument in nearby Kavala - from where many more Jews were deported - is not nearly so well sited and does not contain the dramatic upper stone.

Inscriptions

The quotation from Deuteronomy 25: 17-19 — "Remember and Do Not Forget"— is inscribed on the front of the top stone in Hebrew, Greek, and English:

זכור, אל תשכח (דברים 25. 17 - 19)

ΘΥΜΗΣΟΥ ΚАΙ ΜΗ ΞΕΧΝАΣ (ΔΕΥΤ. ΚΕΦ. 25. 17.-19)

Remember and Do Not Forget

 On front of monument lower stone:

Ο ΔΗΜΟΣ ΔPAMAΣ ΔEN
ΞEXNA  TOYΣ 1200 EBPAIOYΣ
ΣYMΠOΛITEΣ ΠOY ΣYNEΛHΦΘΗΣΑΝ
ΣTIΣ 3 MAPTIOY 1943
KAI EΞΟΝΤΩΘHKAN AΠO TOYΣ
ΓEPMANOBOYΛΓAΡΟYΣ KATAKTHTEΣ
ΔΡΑΜΑ 9-5-99
ΔΗΜΟΣ ΔΡΑΜΑΣ
ΚΕΝΤΡΙΚΟ ΙΣΡΑΗΛΙΤΙΚΟ ΣΥΜΒΟΥΛΙΟ

Translation: The Drama Municipality / Does not forget 1200 Jewish / Citizens that were arrested / On 3 March 1943 / And were exterminated by the / German-Bulgarian occupiers / Drama 9 May 1999 / Drama Municipality / The Central Board of Jewish Communities

 

On rear of monument beneath map:

ΕBPAIKEΣ
KOINOTHTEΣ ΠOY AΦANIΣTHKAN
AΠO TOYΣ ΓEPMANOBOYΛΓΑΡΟΥΣ
KATAKTHTEΣ THN ANOIΞH TOY 1943

Translation: Jewish / Communities that were exterminated / By the German-Bulgarian / Occupiers in the spring of 1943

 

On the side of the monument to left of front: 

ΦΡΟΝТΔΑ ΚАΙ ΕΠΙΜΕΛΕΙА
АΣΡАΗΛΗТΙΚΗΣ ΚΟΙΝΟТΗТАΣ
ΚАΒАΛАΣ

Translation: Maintained / by the Jewish community / of Kavala

 

On the side of the monument to right of front: 

АΠΩΛΕΙΕΣ 

ΔΡАΜА                      1200
ΔΙΔΥΜΟΤΕΙΧΟ            867
ΚАΒАΛА                     2058
ΚΟΜΟΤΗΝΗ                791
ΞΛΝΘΗ                       544
ΟΡΕΣΤΙΑΔΑ                 194
ΣΕΡΡΕΣ                       597
ΣΟΥΦΛΙ                       32

ΜΕΛΕΤΗ – ΕΠΙΒΛΕΨΗ
ΒΙΚΤΩΡ ΒΕΝΟΥΖΙΟΥ
ΜΑΡΙΑ ΖΟΥΡΝΑ
ΜΗΧΑΝΙΚΟΙ 

Translation: Losses / Drama  1200 / Didymoticho  867 / Kavala   2058 / Komotini   791 / Xanthi    544 / Orestiada    194 / Serres     597 / Soufli   32 / Study - supervision Victor Venouziou Maria Zourna Engineers

Commissioned by

Municipality of Drama

The Central Board of Jewish Communities (KIS)

Summary and Remarks
Remarks

39 image(s)

sub-set tree:

Name/Title
Holocaust Memorial in Drama | Unknown
Object Detail
Monument Setting
Public park
{"9":"Any memorial erected or installed in a present-day public park, including Jewish cemeteries or other sites now operated as public space."}
Date
1999
Synagogue active dates
Reconstruction dates
Origin
Historical Origin
Unknown
Community type
Unknown |
Congregation
Unknown
Location
Greece | Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Region | Drama (Δράμα)
| Saint Barbara Park (Αγίας Βαρβάρας )
Site
Unknown
School/Style
Unknown|
Period
Unknown
Period Detail
Collection
Unknown |
Documentation / Research project
Unknown
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Documented by CJA
Surveyed by CJA
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Historical significance: Event/Period
Historical significance: Collective Memory/Folklore
Historical significance: Person
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Architectural Significance: Artistic Decoration
Urban significance
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0
Ornamentation
Custom
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Sources

Gruber, Samuel D., “Greece: In Drama, Remembering the Murder of Jews of Macedonia and Thrace,” Samuel Gruber’s Jewish Art & Monuments, July 21, 2022., https://samgrubersjewishartmonuments.blogspot.com/2022/07/greece-in-drama-remembering-murder-of_21.html (accessed August 26, 2022)

Kone, Loise and Roula Kone, Jewish-Greek Communities: little Beloved Homes (Volos: The Ladies of the Jewish Community of Volos, 2006)

“The Jewish Community of Drama,” Central Board of Jewish Communities of Greece, https://kis.gr/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=374&Itemid=114 (accessed September 11, 2022)
Type
Documenter
Samuel D. Gruber | 2022
Author of description
Samuel D. Gruber | 2022
Architectural Drawings
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Computer Reconstruction
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Section Head
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Language Editor
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Donor
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Negative/Photo. No.
The following information on this monument will be completed: