Mauthausen

Theodoros Kokolakis - Greece

“After Melk I was brought to a another, even worse hell...“

1918 born in Epanochori, Selinos, Crete (Greece); grows up in a poor family of farmers 

1939 conscription to military service in the Greek army

1940-1941 participation in the Greek-Italian war and in the fights against the German invasion of Crete

1941-1944 supports the partisan struggle of the „National Organisation of Crete“ (EOK)

February 1944 arrested and condemned to death by a German military tribunal

April 1944 pardoned on occasion of Hitler’s birthday and deported to Mauthausen

May 1944 transport to the branch camp Melk, where he is compelled to forced labour in the quarry and in the crematorium commando 

April 1945 transfer to the branch camp Ebensee

May 1945 liberation in Ebensee

summer 1945 return to Crete via Bari (Italy) and Athens he is living in Kontomari, Chania, Crete (Greece)

At the time of the interview, he was living in Kontomari, Chania, Crete (Greece)