Thessaloniki, Greece
March 15, 2026
Greece solemnly commemorated the 83rd anniversary of one of the darkest chapters in its history: the departure on March 15, 1943, of the first train from Thessaloniki carrying members of the city’s once-vibrant Jewish community to the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp.
Before World War II, Thessaloniki—long known as the “Jerusalem of the Balkans”—was home to over 50,000 Jews, primarily Sephardic descendants of those expelled from Spain in 1492. The community thrived culturally, economically, and socially. Tragically, during the Nazi occupation, approximately 46,000–50,000 were deported in a series of 19 transports between March and August 1943. The vast majority were murdered upon arrival at Auschwitz, with only around 1,950–2,000 surviving the horrors.
This year’s remembrance was particularly poignant, coinciding with key milestones in ongoing efforts to preserve Holocaust memory. On the morning of March 15, 2026, the Municipality of Thessaloniki, together with the Jewish Community of Thessaloniki, held a small ceremony at Eleftherias Square to mark the official start of construction works for the Memory Park at the site where Jews were publicly humiliated and gathered before deportation in 1942–1943.
The traditional silent “Never Again” Memorial March followed, proceeding from Eleftherias Square to the old railway station—the very point from which the first death train departed. Participants, including local officials, community leaders, students, and international guests, walked in silence to honor the victims and reaffirm the commitment to combating antisemitism and intolerance.
The march and ceremonies underscored Thessaloniki’s resolve to confront its painful past. Construction of the Holocaust Museum of Greece, located at the old railway station site, is progressing toward its anticipated opening in 2026. The museum will not only document the tragedy of the Holocaust but also celebrate over 2,300 years of Jewish life in Greece, from ancient Romaniote communities to the Sephardic golden age in Thessaloniki.
Events like these serve as a powerful reminder of the need for vigilance against hatred. As one participant noted during the march, “With each step, we confront painful memories and honor those lost, ensuring their story educates future generations.”
The commemoration drew attention from across Greece and beyond, highlighting the city’s transformation of a site of profound suffering into one of remembrance, education, and hope.
Sources: Jewish Community of Thessaloniki (KIS), Municipality of Thessaloniki, Greek Reporter, and related historical records.
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