Transport from Kerkyra, Kerkira, Ionian Islands, Greece to Auschwitz Birkenau, Extermination Camp, Poland on 10/06/1944

The deportation operation began on June 8 and was completed around a week later. The delay in the implementation of the plan was due to difficulties related to sea-transportation, while concerns over an eventual reaction of the non-Jewish population of the island had been quickly dispelled. A situation report issued by the Corfu branch of the Secret Field Police (Geheime Feldpolizei 621 - GFP), on April 27, 1944, stated: "As is well known, the expulsion of Jews from mainland Greece has been accepted by the Greek population. Difficulties are only to be expected due to lack of shipping material". Corfu's population suffered from food deprivation due to the island's isolated geographical position and was expected to rather welcome a significant reduction of its number. In a report dated April 28, 1944, sent by the Army Corps headquarters (Korpsgruppe Ioannina, Abt. Ic) to the Supreme Command of the Army (Oberkommando Heeresgruppe E), it was stressed that the Jews' deportation "will also significantly impact the food supply. Security Service and Secret Field Police are currently in the process of making preparations for a deportation of the Jews." However, a reaction did arise. In a long letter, dated May 14, 1944, the island's Military Commander, Obersturmführer Emil Jaeger, expressed his doubts regarding the deportation of Corfu's Jews, issued by Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler and communicated to him by the SS-Obersturmführer Paul Von Manowski, on May 13, 1944. In it, Jaeger recommended that the deportation be postponed "for an indefinite period of time", stating various reasons, namely: a lack of ships; the more serious and urgent need to deal with Italian soldiers still remaining on the island; the corruption of the German soldiers accepting bribes from Jews; the passive resistance of the ships' Greek crew who showed solidarity for the Jews; and the presence of a Red Cross ship in the harbour that could spread "atrocity propaganda". Nevertheless, the Wehrmacht thought differently. In Athens SS-Obersturmführer Anton (Toni) Burger, who had replaced Dieter Wisliceny, with the task of deporting Greece's remaining Jews, anticipated Jaeger's concerns and asked the Athens Navy Office (Marinediensstelle) to provide Jaeger with the necessary transportation material. On May 13, 1944, Anton Burger went to Corfu and requested the Admiral of the Aegean Sea Fritz Lange to provide extra shipping space in order for the action to be carried out. On May 24, 1944 and without previous notification, this extra shipping space arrived in Corfu, provided by the Athens Navy Office. The arrival of the ships was followed by an order issued by General Kommando XXII., stating that from then on, SS-Obersturmführer Anton Burger would be solely responsible for the implementation of the deportation plan. The ships were withdrawn five days later on the initiative of Admiral Ägäis, because of the delay in the plan implementation and were sent back again in mid-June....