MERTEN MAX IN THESSALONIKI
Maximilian Merten or Max Merten (1911-1976) was a German chief prosecutor of Nazi Germany with the rank of captain. He came from Berlin and had married the daughter of Hungarian consul in Berlin. During the second World War he served in Serbia and Greece as a senior legal advisor to the German military authorities there, (Komantatour), while his wife resided permanently in Budapest, where for a long time she was secretary of State for Justice Roland Fraisler.
In Greece he came in April 1942 in Thessaloniki, one year after the German invasion accompanied by his adjutant, Meissner and settled during 1942-1944 in Thessaloniki, where he took an overview of the persecution of the Jews of Macedonia, according the 7th July 1942 Komantatour’s injunction, “the anti-Jewish and their properties”, replacing many of the cases and the senior military commander Macedonia and the Aegean.
Merten is assigned to kill the majority of the 80,000 Jews of the biggest Jewish community that existed in South East Europe, who lived in Thessaloniki (current areas: Municipality of Thessaloniki, Municipality of Kalamaria, Municipality of Pilea, Municipality of Thermi, Municipality of Redina, Michaniona ets.) and grabbing of their property. Also accused of sending 46,061 Jews to gather camps, most of which died, but also for the murder of 680 Greek citizens.
Jewish Groups in Greece
Most Jews in Greece are Sephardim. In addition to the Sephardim and the (minimum) Romaniotes, there were also small communities called askenazitikes in Thessaloniki and in other regions (e.g. Kozani, Kastoria, Grevena, Ptolemaida, Naousa, Serres, Kilkis, Halkidiki etc). Small group of Jews had also refuge to Greece in the late 19th and early 20th century from Pontos areas. Long Range detectors machinery Metal Detectors.
Romaniotes
Romaniotes are the oldest part of Jews element in Greece, who have history over two thousand years. There were large Romaniote’s communities in Athens, Ioannina, thiba, Agrinio, Chalkida, Corfu, Arta, Corinth, Patra, Nafplio Tripoli and the islands of Crete, Lesbos, Chios, Samos, Rhodes and Cyprus. Romaniotes have different history from Separdim, who settled Greece ( especially in Thessaloniki, latin Selanik) after permission and identify the area installation under the Sultan, after the expulsion of Jews from Spain in 1492. Almost all Romaniotes from Ioannina, who constitutethe largest remaining Romaniote community which had not mastered the Sephardi culture. They were victims of the Holocaust. Several dozen survivors have been left till today in Ioannina.
Sephardim
The majority of Greek Jews are Sephardic Jews whose ancestors were expelled from Spain in 1492. Most settled in Thessaloniki and the wider region of Macedonia: Chalkidiki, Veria, Naoussa, Chalcedon, Alexanreia, Kastoria, Kozani, Florina, Ptolemaida, Grevena, Katerini, Edessa, Kilkis, Serres, etc where they thrived for centuries. Sephardic Greek’s language was Ladino or Spanish Jews language and untill Holocaust their community was “unique blend of Ottoman, Balkan and Spanish influence” and was known for high level of education that characterized it. The Institute of Sephardic Studies and Promotion Culture considers sefarditik community of Thessaloniki “undoubtedly one of the most important around the world”.
Max Merten is accused that he destroyed and for the desecration of Jewish cemetery in Thessaloniki while he used to hijack and request money from Jewish families in order not to be sent to the camps of concentration, while grabbing of their property. So he has the responsibility for the looting of property which estimated that exceeded in value the huge amount of 125, 000,000 gold francs, an immense value treasure consisting of diamonds, gold jewelry and other valuables including gold coins and thousands of gold francs. That’s why they called him “ Hangman of Thessaloniki” or “the Butcher of Thessaloniki”.
But what about these money?
The sensible think would be that the money – those with confirmed gathered historical data- to be sent to Germany, as Jews properties from other European countries. In Berlin was the central mechanism of transportation and exploitation of Jewish properties. But seems that rather the greed of someone not sent them all.
Merten after the war left to Germany and in May 1957 he returned in Greece
as “tourists” went immediately to Thessaloniki, looking at a version for a hidden treasure.
But his return to Greece was recognized by the surviving victims and hewas brought to trial.
Merten’s trial
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Finally Max Merten ’s trial began on February 11, 1959in the special Military was crimes in Athens which was chaired by Colonel Kokoretsas, with indictment which included 650 crimes of murders. At that trial, which had caused international
Interestingly, attended mostly Jews, many foreign media correspondents, and
many lawyers. On March 5, 1959 the President announced the verdict of guilty
Max Merten on which was imposed 25 years imprisonment in the merger.
He died in 1976 in Mannheim.
The story was forgotten over the years and no conversation was done about the money and property. Many people have been presented with plausible stories about the unimaginable treasure, but it turned out that none of them was genuine. However all these stories correspond to the following: If there are remnants of this estate, then they are buried most likely in Northern Greece.
To record the German and Greek partners proceeded to torture and humiliation of Jews.
Jews in despair Ghetto Golden Pound Demonstration of Jews to torture
Concentration of the Jews of Thessaloniki in Liberty Square by German order to register them.
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