R. Representation of Italy for Greece, Athens
c.c.
R. Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, Rome
Classified
14th March 1943,
Class./Measures against the Jews of
Thessaloniki.
The Jews of Thessaloniki have been entirely excluded from
any activity and have for over a week now been confined to the ghetto,
unable to
leave it for any reason whatsoever.
Their entire property has been seized and will be managed through fiduciaries, who will have to deposit the proceeds from sales in a special blocked
account. So far it is not precisely known if part of the sums thus obtained will be used for
the sustenance of destitute Jews, who are the great majority.
Several sources confirm that their transfer to Poland should
start anytime now.
German
authorities have requested from the Jewish
Community a list of 120 prominent persons to be regarded as hostages. In this list
there are also 12 Italian citizens of Jewish
race who, together with the others, were summoned on the 7th inst. to the Community`s premises where a German officer gave a short speech and explained that
they would answer with their own persons for any accident or act of
sabotage that might occur. He added that it would have been his duty to intern them
at once in a concentration camp, but that due to the assurances given by the
Chief Rabbi he would let them stay free for the time being. The said prominent persons
are also required to provide out of their own means for the needs of the poorer Jews.
I have approached the Befehlshaber and was able to obtain his assurance that the Italian
citizens will be removed from said list and we reached an understanding that they will no
longer comply with the instructions and the orders they should still receive through
the Jewish
Community.
Due to the zeal displayed by the offices in charge of carrying out the adopted
measures, I find myself compelled all the time to undertake steps to prevent our
fellow-citizens from being hampered in their usual commercial activity. Until now, however,
there have been only inevitable repercussions of a very limited and modest relevance.
The sudden removal from town life of over 50 thousand people, who for centuries had
continuously been engaged in important
activities, has been the cause of serious inconveniences. A great many services
that were provided almost exclusively by Jews are now missing, and the price of commodities
has increased sharply, to the point where the local press
has been clamouring for severe steps against the Greek merchants
who exploit the present moment.
Due to the closing of the great many Jewish
shops, to the diminished traffic in the streets and to the scarcity of public in
cinemas and in restaurants-cafés, the town has acquired a look pervaded by a sense of
sadness.
The Greek element, except for the merchants who have seen their dreaded
competitors disappear, displays no enthusiasm for all that is being done, quite the
opposite, they worry about the immediate and future consequences.
The Jews who had been issued by us
with a pass have been prevented by German authorities from reaching our zone. I have enquired to see if some
exception might not be granted for the most serious cases, but have received a negative
answer, in fact I was told that they would request that those who had already moved
into our territory be returned to them.
(Guelfo Zamboni )