“Down with conscription!” Engraving reproduced from a clandestine album published during the Occupation.
Journal Epitheorisi Technis 3-4/1962, ASKI Library.
Failure of forced labour recruitment policy in Greece
In the early years of the Occupation, hunger and the Bulgarian Occupation of East Macedonia led many Greeks to join voluntarily the Nazi labour recruitment campaign and leave for Germany as free workers. By decree of January 30, 1943, the Nazis obliged all Greeks between the ages of 16 and 45 to work in the German war industry and on other forced labour projects.
Similar measures had been taken earlier in most Nazi-occupied countries.
But only in Greece the plans were abandoned thanks to the mass mobilization of the National Liberation Front (EAM). In Athens the population participated en masse in the general strike of February 24 and in the protest march of March 5, 1943. The protesters occupied the Ministry of Labour and burned the conscription lists. The measure was withdrawn. However, in 1944, thousands of Greeks were arrested and deported to labour camps in Germany.
“No workers to Germany!
Moving to Germany is a betrayal of our homeland; it is tantamount to suicide. […]
Resist forced conscription; protest!”
Clandestine newspaper Anayennisi, June 9, 1944, Greek State Archives, Magnisia branch
How Greek workers live in Germany. Excellent living and working conditions.
“My dear wife Theodora,
After a wonderful 7-day journey with good food, 4 showers, 4 medical examinations, we arrived, healthy and clean, in a beautiful city, Stuttgart, and I am working on the tramway. […]
… a room with heating, the food is quite good, wonderful; instead of water, I drink beer—up to 10 glasses a day—and I am very satisfied.
The newspaper Tachydromos, controlled by the Occupation forces, published propaganda in the form of purported letters from Greek free workers.
Tachydromos, April 4, 1942
