From 1923 and on Thessaloniki transformed into a different city as to its urban planning, its population’s social stratification and ethnic composition. The Jews that constituted the city’s major community receded socially, financially and numerically in front of the new reality and the country’s effort for homogenization. 

The decade-long armed conflict led Greece into economic failure. Greece and naturally Thessaloniki slid into depression as a result of the international economic crisis that started in 1929. It had been only a few years since the demographical change of 1923 and the Greek Christian refugees as well as the native Greek Jews were getting on their feet when Greece declared bankruptcy in 1932. Christian and Jewish merchants were once again financially destroyed.

A big part of the city’s population lived in poverty. The economic hardships and the competition between immigrants and locals led to upsetting events. The Jews of Thessaloniki were officially registered in separate electoral rolls and were targeted by ultraright elements that had coverage, access and representation by people in governmental positions. Anti-Jewish demonstrations peaked when the Campell neighbourhood, a poor Jewish district, was set on fire in 1931.

 

Campell neighbourhood was almost entirely destroyed.

Despite emigrating to Europe and Palestine, 50.000 Jews were still living in their home town when the Second World War broke out. Thessaloniki and Greece would soon live the tragic experience of Occupation and Jews would be almost completely devastated.  

 

German forces in front of “Dioikitirio” (administrative headquarters), todays Ministry of Macedonia-Thrace

 

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