Memorial to Holocaust Victims Vandalized in Greece

In Athens, the capital of Greece, offensive graffiti was discovered over the weekend on the memorial for the 65,000 Holocaust victims established by the Athens Municipality near the synagogue on Melidoni Street. During the Holocaust, about 350 Jews were trapped in the synagogue during the German occupation of Greece after arriving due to a rumor, which turned out to be false, that the Gestapo was distributing matzah there. They were deported to the Auschwitz extermination camp and most were murdered, Hashem yikom damam..

The acts of vandalism were signed by unknown members of a right-wing extremist group. This is the second time this year the monument has been desecrated, causing a local uproar. Greece's Deputy Prime Minister Evangelos Venizelos responded to the incident by instructing authorities to do everything in their power to capture and prosecute the perpetrators. The Jewish community in the country also condemned the vandalism.

Last night (Sunday), part of the ‘Arbeit Macht Frei’ – 'Work Sets You Free' – sign was stolen from the gate of the Dachau concentration camp in Germany, where the Nazis murdered approximately 40,000 Jews, as reported by German police. They have issued a request for public assistance in locating the criminals or finding witnesses.

Five years ago, a similar sign was stolen from the Auschwitz extermination camp, causing worldwide outrage. After a thorough investigation, the sign was recovered, cut into three parts. A neo-Nazi activist from Sweden was charged and sentenced to two years in prison for the act.