Heroes of Zakynthos

The Jews of Zakynthos hold a remarkable and heroic place in the island's history, particularly during the Second World War, when the island's Jewish community faced the horrors of the Holocaust. In the face of Nazi occupation and a clear threat to their lives, the people of Zakynthos demonstrated extraordinary courage and solidarity. The story of the Jews of Zakynthos during the war is one of survival, resilience, and the unbreakable bond between the Jewish community and the people of the island.

The Jewish Community of Zakynthos Before the War

Before World War II, Zakynthos was home to a small but vibrant Jewish community, most of whom were of Sephardic origin, having arrived on the island after being expelled from Spain during the Inquisition in the 15th century. The community was centred in Zakynthos Town, where they lived in close proximity to their Christian neighbours. While the Jewish population was never large—numbering around 275 people in the early 1940s—the Jews of Zakynthos were active in the island's cultural, social, and economic life, contributing to its commerce, particularly in textiles, and maintaining their religious practices in the local synagogue.

The synagogue in Zakynthos, known as the Kahal Kadosh Yashan, was a centre of Jewish life, where prayers, festivals, and life-cycle events were celebrated. Jews lived in harmony with the local Greek population, and the island’s Jewish community was generally well integrated into society. However, the peaceful coexistence between Jews and their Christian neighbours would be severely tested when the Axis powers, led by Nazi Germany, invaded Greece during the Second World War.

The Nazi Occupation and the Threat to the Jews

In 1941, Greece fell to the Axis powers, and Zakynthos, like much of the country, was occupied by the Germans. During the Nazi occupation, the Jewish populations of various Greek cities and islands were subjected to harsh laws, discrimination, and persecution. In 1943, the Nazis began the systematic deportation of Jews from Greece to the death camps in Eastern Europe, particularly Auschwitz.

In June 1944, the German military ordered the deportation of Zakynthos’ Jewish community. The Jewish residents of Zakynthos were rounded up by the German forces, and it appeared certain that they would meet the same grim fate as other Jewish communities across Europe. However, what happened next is a testament to the courage and humanity of the people of Zakynthos.

The Heroic Actions of the Mayor and the Bishop

Faced with the imminent deportation of the Jewish population, the island's leaders, including Mayor Loukas Karrer and Bishop Chrysostomos of Zakynthos, acted with extraordinary bravery. When the Germans demanded a list of all Jews on the island, Mayor Karrer and Bishop Chrysostomos decided to take immediate action to protect them. In a move that would become legendary, they presented the Germans with a list that included only two names: the names of the mayor and the bishop themselves. The rest of the Jewish population was hidden, protected by the local community, and hidden in the homes of Christian families, farms, and other safe locations around the island.

Mayor Karrer and Bishop Chrysostomos’ actions saved the lives of the Jews of Zakynthos. They risked their own lives, as well as the lives of their families and the local population, in defying the Nazis. Their courageous decision to protect the Jews of Zakynthos made the island a rare example of a place where not a single Jew was deported or killed during the Holocaust. Many of the island’s residents, including those who were not Jewish, took part in the effort, hiding Jews and offering them shelter, food, and safety until the end of the war.

After the War: A Legacy of Solidarity

By the end of the war, the Jewish community of Zakynthos had been preserved, thanks to the bravery of the local population. However, the Jewish community on the island was never the same. Many of the Jews who survived the war chose to emigrate, primarily to Israel or the United States, as the destruction of Jewish communities in Europe and the hardships faced during the war made it difficult to return to a life they once knew.

Despite the loss of its Jewish population, the story of the Jews of Zakynthos during the Holocaust remains a poignant chapter in the island’s history. The actions of the people of Zakynthos, and particularly Mayor Loukas Karrer and Bishop Chrysostomos, have been recognized internationally. In 2002, the State of Israel honoured both men by naming them Righteous Among the Nations, a title given to non-Jews who risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust.

Conclusion

The story of the Jews of Zakynthos during the Second World War stands as a powerful example of courage, solidarity, and moral integrity in the face of overwhelming evil. In a time when many other Jewish communities were destroyed, Zakynthos stands out as a beacon of hope, where a community and its leaders chose to protect their Jewish neighbours, even at great personal risk. The heroism of Zakynthos’ people during the Holocaust remains a lasting testament to the strength of the human spirit and the enduring bonds of friendship and humanity.