1.      1941-1944

Legislative Decree 1326/1942 (Government Gazette, issue Α, Number 122/22-5-1942) “On revising Law 2456 On Jewish Communities as amended by Law 4837 and Emergency Law 2544/1940”

The law provides that the president or the board of directors of each Jewish Community is appointed by the Minister of Religions and National Education. The Jewish Communities have the right to request their members to pay a special contribution in derogation of their bylaws regarding the members’ economic contributions («Pechia»). Moreover the Jewish Communities may include in their annual budget estimate a special provision for supporting financially another Jewish Community in Greece.

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Persecution – Anti-Jewish Provisions (Racial Legislation)

 

Acts of persecution against Jews, the Nuremberg Laws and the “Final Solution” were implemented in Thessaloniki by means of a series of decrees issued by the Administration of the occupation forces (Military Administration of Thessaloniki-Aegean and the Security Police – Security Service Sipo-SD)

Order MV1237/6-2-1943 “Marking and Relocation of the Jewish residents of Thessaloniki”

The Military Administration orders the Jewish Community of Thessaloniki regarding the implementation of the Nuremberg Laws in Thessaloniki, namely the marking and ghettoization of Jews. Jews who are Greek citizens are required to wear a distinctive mark effective immediately. Those who can prove with a valid passport that they hold a different citizenship are exempted. The Jewish stores, offices etc. are required to place visible signs written in Greek and German. Moreover Jews are ordered to move in a certain area of the city bearing the moving expenses themselves. The Jewish Community has until 25/2/1943 to report to the Administration of Thessaloniki-Aegean on the implementation of the orders.

 

Order IV B4/12-2-1943 “On the Military Administration of Thessaloniki-Aegean’s Order of 6.2.43”

The Order issued by the Security Police-Security Service gives clarifications for the application of the Order MV1237/6-2-1943. Every Jew over 5 years old must be marked wearing a 10cm diameter yellow six-pointed star on the left side of his/her chest. Upon delivery of each star a numbered ID card is issued and the number is also printed on the star. Every person who has at least three Jewish ancestors or has a Jewish parent and two Jewish ancestors and belonged to the Jewish doctrine as of 1.4.1941 and after that date any child born out of wedlock by a Jew is considered a “Jew” according to this Order. It is noted that the renunciation of the Jewish religion does not affect the obligation to mark. In case of mixed marriage the Jewish spouse is obliged to mark. It is explicitly stated that applications for exemption from the obligation to mark are unnecessary.

 

Order MV1517/13-2-1943 “Application of the Order of 6.2.43 MV 1237 Dr Merten”

It is ordered by the Military Administration that Jews are prohibited from leaving their permanent residence without permission. In case they disobey they are arrested and shot on the spot. Jews are banned from using tram or any other means of public transport. It is forbidden for Jews to travel on public roads, visit public places or attend public events after dark. The above measures have direct universal force. Jews are prohibited from using all public or private telephone devices and those Jews who have a telephone connection must report it, pay their debts to the Hellenic Telephone Company and return their telephone device no later than February 25, 1943. Foreigners (non-Greek citizens) are exempted from the prohibition. Members of the Jewish Community Council as well as Jewish doctors can use telephone devices. All Jews belonging to the district of the Jewish Community of Thessaloniki of the Military Administration of Thessaloniki-Aegean must be informed immediately of the Order and its enforcement must be reported by 25 February 1943.

 

Order MV1517/13-2-1943 «Your duties»

In accordance to Order MV1517/13-2-1943 the Military Administration of Thessaloniki-Aegean informs the appointed President of the Jewish Community Dr. Koretz of his duties. It is announced to Dr. Koretz that upon receipt of the letter his duties are extended to include all Jews of the Military Administration Thessaloniki-Aegean

Order  IV B4/17-2-1943 “Marking of Jewish businesses and residences”.

Following order MV1237/6-2-1943 the Security Police – Security Service clarifies that any store or company with at least one Jewish owner or partner is considered “Jewish Store”. As it was already ordered Jewish businesses must have a visible sign “Jewish Store” in Greek and German. Those who practice the “so-called intelligent professions” such as doctors, pharmacists, lawyers etc. are also obliged to mark their workplace. From 25.2.1943 any apartment or house resided by Jews are to be marked as follows: The apartments shall be marked with the Star of Sion on a white sheet of paper and the houses or the land parcels occupied only by Jews with the distinctive mark placed on the front door.  

Order MV2014/25-2-1943 “Participation of Jews in Organization etc.”

The order is addressed to the General Administration of Macedonia and the Jewish Community of Thessaloniki. All the Jewish members of public entities, organizations, unions etc. abolish their membership status immediately. The aforementioned entities, organizations etc. are not allowed to accept Jews as members, represent their interests etc. The relevant organizations, the managers of organizations and unions etc. shall be notified and for this purpose the order will be published for three days in the Greek press. All the above must be reported to the Military Administration by 5.3.1943.

Order MV 3293/13-3-1943 “Appointment of a trustee for the Jewish money and valuables”

The Jewish Community is appointed as trustee for the Jewish money and valuables and Chief Rabbi Koretz is personally responsible. The Jewish property, immovable and movable does not fall under the scope of this order as a special order has already been published. The completion of the process must be reported by 20.3.1943.

 

Order 15-3-1943 “Appointment of a trustee for the Jewish money”

The Sonderkommando of the Security Police addresses Chief Rabbi Koretz clarifying that the Jewish Community must deal with the management of Jewish money and valuables as a priority. The existing bank accounts, the deposits etc. of Jews must be defined based on the declarations of assets that they submitted. It is ordered that the bank accounts and the deposits must be placed in one aggregated special account of the Jewish Community.

Law 205/1943 (Government Gazette, issue Α, Number 160/1-6-1943)

 “On the management of the Jewish properties that were confiscated by the Occupation Administration or were abandoned”

The law establishes the Service for the Disposal of Jewish Properties (YDIP) directed by a senior official who is seconded to the Service (Agency) by decision of the General Administrator of Macedonia. An eleven-member board and an advisory committee are set up. The board consists of a senior judge as president and senior officials, representatives of professional chambers, bank managers and reputable persons as members. The law provides that the “custodians” are public officials as well as individuals and public and private legal entities. The “custodians” hold responsibility for their acts or omissions made either intentionally or negligently and the relevant procedure is initiated by the Director of YDIP. It is laid down that the State is not liable for the management of the assets by undertaking to protect them from the risk of their loss. The law has retroactive effect and ratifies the decision No. 48163 of March 8, 1943 of the General Administrator of Macedonia, which applied the order of the Military Administration for the declaration of the assets of the Jews of the General Administration of Thessaloniki and with which a management committee and a supervisory board had already been set up.

 

http://bit.ly/2VCVf44

Law 1180/1944 (Government Gazette, issue Α, Number 26/12-2-1944)

“On managing the confiscated Jewish properties”

The law deals with the management of Jewish property in areas under Italian occupation that came under the control of the German occupation authorities after the capitulation of Italy. The Central Service for the Disposal of Jewish Properties is established under the direct responsibility of the Ministry of Finance. The minister of finance seconds a senior official to the agency as a president who chairs the agency’s advisory committee. The committee consists of presidents of the professionals chambers of Athens and Piraeus. The appointed “custodians” are public officers and there is no provision for the appointment of individuals as in Law 205/1943. For the rest, Law 205/1943, which is in force in the area of ​​the General Administration of Macedonia, is applied proportionally.

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Law 1977/10-10-1944 (Government Gazette, issue Α, Number 241/10-10-1944)

«On abolishing Law 1180/44 on managing the confiscated Jewish Properties”

The law repeals 1180/1944, renames YDIP  to Central Service for the Clearing and Reimbursement of Jewish Property (KYDIP) in order to determine and clear the property that came to it and return it to the public. Its competence extends to the entire Greek territory and it is regulated that for the area of the General Directorate of Macedonia, the Ministry of Finance is directly responsible

 

http://bit.ly/2TBYPtF

 

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