Thirty-one five souls. That’s the chilling number etched into the memory of Kokkina. This isn’t just a district. It’s a testament to resilience. It’s a scar on the landscape a reminder of Nazi atrocities during World War II.
Kokkina a neighborhood born from refugees from Asia Minor. They found refuge here. They built lives here. But their peaceful existence was shattered. During the German occupation Kokkina became a symbol of resistance. The people here fought back. Their defiance angered the Nazis.
In August 1944 the Nazis retaliated. Three thousand heavily armed soldiers descended upon Kokkina. Their mission was brutal. They rounded up all men aged 14 to 60. Osias Xenis Square became a scene of unimaginable horror. Men were forced to kneel under the scorching sun. Their families watched helpless. Women tried to offer water. They were beaten. Pitchers were smashed.
Seventy-two men were executed in the square. That number climbed in the following days. More executions followed. People died from torture. Eighty houses were burned to the ground. Eight thousand people were sent to the concentration camp at Haidari. Eighteen hundred were deported to Germany.
Today Kokkina stands as a memorial. Busts of Aris Velouchiotis and Stefanos Sarafis stand as symbols of hope and defiance. They remind us of the cost of freedom. They are a reminder of the sacrifice made by the people of Kokkina. It’s a place of art and memory. A place where the echoes of those lost still resonate. A place where we remember. We learn. We never forget.