The illusion of safety : the story of the Greek Jews during World War II

A history of the Holocaust in Greece and of Jewish participation in Greek partisan warfare during World War II, based largely on personal accounts of survivors. Describes the development of events that ended with the deportations of Jews to death camps, from the German zone of occupation (which included Salonika), the Bulgarian zone, and the Italian zone (which included Athens). Although the Allies already knew about the death camps, nobody warned the Greek Jews. Many Greeks, Italians, Bulgarians, and others sympathized with Jews and attempted to help them, but very few survivors owe their lives to Christian rescuers. The best way to survive was to join the resistance. Pp. 127-326 contain excerpts from memoirs of Jewish survivors, including some who survived Auschwitz and other camps, and resistance fighters. Pp. 329-402 contain Matsas' memoirs. He was born in 1930 in Ioannina and survived the war hiding in a mountain village with his parents and sister. Includes bibliographical references and index. 446 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm