On Wednesday, April 5, 2023, the Railway Carriae Theater to Treno sto Rouf hosted, on the Apovathra, the Historic Holocaust Memorial of the Municipality of Moschato–Tavros.
Below is the Municipality’s press release regarding the event.
April 6, 2023 | 12:38
The Municipality of Moschato–Tavros organized the Historic Holocaust Memorial in Rouf for the first time
On April 5, the Municipality of Moschato–Tavros successfully organized, for the first time, the Historic Holocaust Memorial in the Rouf area, at the Railway Carriage Theater to Treno sto Rouf. The aim of the event was to highlight this significant historical fact, as it was from this very location, in early April 1944, that trains departed carrying our Jewish fellow citizens to the mass extermination camps.
The Mayor of Moschato–Tavros, Andreas Efthymiou, welcomed those in attendance, stating:
“With this event we pay tribute to human existence, to human dignity, to the human being. The train carriages that today serve as a meeting place for free people and a venue of culture remind us of the innocent souls who were lost in such a barbaric way. Those who were led to the camps and the crematoria were not Jews — they were human beings: small children, infants, young people, men and women, the elderly.
People all over the world must enjoy the benefits of democracy, freedom of religion, liberty, and self-determination. Those who have suffered persecution must be at the forefront of this struggle. Especially today, as nationalism dangerously resurges, racism spreads, mass manipulation is achieved by every means, and the European project — as well as global peace — is threatened with collapse, we must all stand tall and defend the HUMAN BEING.”
Greetings were also delivered by actress, director, and Artistic Director of the railway cultural venue Railway Carriae Theater to Treno sto Rouf, Tatiana Ligari, and by the representative of the Jewish Community of Athens, Mr. Aris Emmanouil.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikos Dendias, and Members of Parliament Giannis Balafas (SYRIZA–PS), Tonia Antoniou (PASOK–Movement for Change), and Christos Katsotis (KKE) also addressed the event. Greetings were additionally offered by Nikos Papazoglou, political candidate of “Greek Solution,” and the Mayor of Nikaia–Renti, Giorgos Ioakeimidis. A message was also sent by Giannis Sgouros, former Regional Governor of Attica and head of “Independent Local Government of Attica.” Among those present were Roxani Bei, member of the Political Council of PASOK–KINAL, and Stella Valavani, Regional Councillor of Attica.
The following speakers contributed with personal testimonies and well-structured analyses: Mr. Veniamin Batis, representative of the Jewish Community of Athens; Mr. Charis Athanasiadis, Professor of Public History at Panteion University; Mr. Kostas Therianos, educator and Board Member of the “Glinos Foundation”; and Mr. Marios Sousis, President of the Association of Holocaust Descendants.
The presence of the students of the 1st General High School of Tavros made a strong impression. They attended with the school’s Principal, Ms. Persefoni Yanelou, and Vice Principal Mr. Antonis Bakaloumis. Student Stefanos Botsis and student Despoina Poula delivered an inspired speech, and at the conclusion all the students paid tribute by laying a white rose in memory of the innocent people who were murdered.
During the memorial, musician and vocalist Anastasia Chatzipavlou performed songs from The Ballad of Mauthausen as well as a Jewish psalm, while singer-songwriter Panos Bousalis also performed selections from The Ballad of Mauthausen. Particularly moving was the screening of a five-minute video about the Holocaust created by students of the Music School of Arta.
From the Press Office of the Municipality of Moschato–Tavros.
