Of Quakes and Helping Hands

The morning of Tuesday 11th August 1953 found the locals going about their lives as they normally did and in preparation of the great celebration of the Day of The Virgin Mary August 15th. Everything was as it should have been until about 10 - 11 a.m. when nature, with one sweep of her hand, brought Zakynthos to her knees. The first earthquake measured 6.8 on the scale and was so close to the surface it wiped out the entire city. My heart breaks, my throat tightens and my eyes fill when I remember photographs I have seen of the devastation. A devastation so complete that only 4 buildings out of 7,000 in Zakynthos City were left standing. The Church of Saint Dionýsios, the island's Patron Saint, the church of Saint Nicólaos of Molou, the Primary School of Ammos and the National Bank of Greece.
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SOS calls went out one after another. The island was shaking and the city was entirely in flames. One after another our cries for help were answered. Our Jewish friends were the first to answer. Their response: 'We will never forget World War II'.
Israel sent 4 ships, then the Royal British Navy followed sending 6 ships. The U.S.A. sent 5 and our Italian neighbours 2. So complete was the devastation of the island that the United States also sent the Fr. Roosevelt to our aid. Nothing could prepare them for the site that met them. In the early 1980's, when I first returned to Zakynthos, I had the good fortune to meet one of those brave men who had served on British ships that were sent to our aid. His personal account: 'Walking on Zakynthos was like walking on a live bowl of jelly (jello).'
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In World War II Zakynthos came under Axis Occupation. Nazi and Italian between 1941 - 1943. On the north eastern coast of the island, in the village of Kambi on the Cliff of Skiza, you will find an enormous imposing concrete cross, which can be seen from miles away, which stands there honouring the fallen who were thrown off the cliff during WWII. In the city of Zakynthos can also be found the only Synagogue on the island. A special synagogue with a special plaque on the entrance thanking the Zakynthians for their courageous efforts during WWII. Zakynthos most certainly shares similar experiences as regards WWII Jewish history as unfortunately many many places throughout the world do, with the exception, however, that all 275 Zakynthian Jewish inhabitants survived the atrocities of the Holocaust. Zakynthos has been included in the 'Righteous Among Nations' for her efforts and actions.

In 1944 having been ordered at gunpoint to present a list with the names of the Jewish inhabitants of the island, Mayor Carrer and Bishop Chrysóstomos did so. But the list contained only 2 names. That of the Mayor and of the Bishop. The Mayor looked directly at the Nazi Kommandant and unwaveringly said 'Here are your Jews. If you choose to deport them from Zakynthos you must also take me and I will share in their fate.'

In the meanwhile the Jews were safely hidden in the mountains. It was a publicly kept secret among the Zakynthians. Everyone knew and yet not a single person gave up a single Jew. Not a sole spoke. Evidence has been presented that Bishop Chrysóstomos actually communicated with Hitler directly pleading for their lives. Given the devastating earthquake of August 1953 and the fact that it destroyed the island so completely, proof of the communication with Hitler has been rendered impossible. However, no-one ever came for the Jews, no boat ever arrived in Zakynthos and all 275 Jews survived the Holocaust. The island was freed from the cruel choking grasp of the Axis occupation in 1944.
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Maria Drogitis - Stoufis