Obj. ID: 44663
Memorials Holocaust Memorial in Drama, Greece, 1999
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)
sub-set tree:
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)