Jews from Rhodes and Kos deported to Auschwitz

On July 20, 1944, the male Jews of Rhodes were arrested. The women and children joined them, and on July 24, 1,700 were shipped to Athens on two coal barges with no food or water; 120 Jews from the island of Kos were added to the transport. On arrival in Athens, they were imprisoned in the notorious Haidari prison, and from there, were deported to Auschwitz. The transport reached Auschwitz on August 17. 400 Jews were selected for hard labor and the rest were murdered. Only 150 survived the war. Several Jews managed to escaped the round-up and joined the partisans.