INVOCATION: RABBI ELNECAVE
In 1940 during the Greek—Italian war, the Jews of Volos took an active part in the military efforts for the defense of the country. 71 Jews served in the armed forces, while older men and women served in auxiliary units, in Air Defense and fire-fighting units, in hospitals and other services. The Community was united in its efforts to assist in the financial support of the war effort, as well as in its moral support of the wounded, the disabled, and the poor.
During this period, Kambellis was killed during the bombing of Volos by enemy aircraft, the soldier Anselmos X. Mourtzoukos was killed in infantry warfare, while five soldiers were injured and two were permanently disabled. It should be mentioned that the names of the Jewish soldiers Rafael Amar and S. Koen, who died fighting for Greece in the previous war, are inscribed on the War Memorial of Volos.
In 1941 Greece was occupied by the Axis forces, that is, by German and Italian troops.
At that time, the Jewish community numbered 900 members, including a small number of refugees from the Jewish communities of Macedonia and Thrace who had succeeded in escaping. During the dark years of the German occupation, the Community tried to meet the great needs of its poor members with respect to food, heating and medical care.
When the national resistance movement began, many young Jewish people joined in, fighting for the deliverance of our country. Two of these people, Leon Sakis and Savvas Iakov, who served in the armed resistance units, were killed in skirmishes with the Germans.
In September, 1943, Italy surrendered to the Allies. The Italians withdrew from the city and the German forces took over the administration. Among the German priorities was the rounding up of the Jews and their transportation to the death camps. However, it was necessary for the Germans, to acquire a list of their names and addresses. Therefore, the German commander Rikert summoned Chief Rabbi M. Pessah and demanded that, within three days, he should submit a list of the names, addresses and property of the Jews of Volos. The Chief Rabbi stated to the German commander that he was unable to submit such a list as the details required were not available.
Commander Rikert then threatened the Chief Rabbi with death if he did not produce the information that had been demanded.
The chief Rabbi then turned to Ioakim. the Bishop of Dimitrias, with whom he had long maintained a friendship and related to him what was going on, asking for his advice and assistance. Bishop Ioakim asked Helmut Scheffel, the German Consul in Volos, who was well - known for his love of Greece, to advise him in confidence as to what the Intentions of the German Commander were Mr. Scheffel recommended that all the Jews of Volos should leave the city as soon as possible, as they were in danger of being arrested. Bishop Ioakim gave the Chief Rabbi an Introductory letter addressed to the priests of the villages, in which he urged them to help the Chief Rabbi and his congregation. He recommended Chief Rabbl Pessah that he and his family should leave at once for the nearby villages, as he would find a safe refuge there. The Chief Rabbi then informed the Governing Board of the Jewish Community, and the following day, with the assistance of members of the Resistance, he managed to escape from Volos.
The leaders of the Jewish Community took quick and effective action, and as a result most of the Community members were able to escape to the villages of the surrounding area.
It is important to mention the significant part played in the salvation of the Jews by the Mayor of Volos, Nicholas Saratsis; the Municipal Official, Zissis Mantidis, the police Chief, Ilias Agdiniotis; as well as by many other lesser - known residents of Volos. We would also like to emphasize that the work of the Greek Resistance Movement was crucial both to the salvation of the Jews and to their uneventful staying the villages of Pelion and the area.
In October, 1944, when Volos was liberated, the Jews returned to the city to find their homes looted and destroyed. The Community had lost 155 of its members, who had been arrested and killed in the Nazi death camps.
Source: "The Jewish Community of Volos during the War Years." Greek News.