Testimony of Chaim Kohen, born in Thessaloniki, Greece in 1930, regarding his life in hiding among nuns and with a Greek Christian family in Athens, and his escape to Turkey

Testimony of Chaim Kohen, born in Thessaloniki, Greece in 1930, regarding his life in hiding among nuns and with a Greek Christian family in Athens, and his escape to Turkey Childhood and move to Athens; war with Italy in 1940; German occupation in 1941; escape with his family to the village of Plaka in 1941; hiding for about two months; family’s return to Athens in 1941; life under Italian regime; the great famine; move, with assistance from Italian governor (a friend of his father’s), into hiding among Italian nuns in the hospital complex in the Anaros region in 1942–1943; father’s move of the family to a Greek Christian family in Athens for several months; German occupation in 1943; family’s failed escape attempt via Rafina port; escape to island of Euboea; hiding in a cave with assistance from Greek partisans in 1943; escape to Çeşme, Turkey, with help from sailors; move to Izmir, Turkey, and life there for several months; family’s aliya to pre-state Israel by train via Syria and Lebanon with Jewish Agency’s assistance, 1943; absorption.