09/05/2026
The location in the video is the "New Fortress" (Fortezza Nuova) in Corfu Town, and I am standing directly in front of the 'Holocaust Memorial of Corfu'.
β’ The New Fortress (The Backdrop)
This massive fortification was built by the Venetians between 1576 and 1645 to protect the city from Ottoman invasions.
It was designed by Italian military engineer "Ferrante Vitelli" and is considered a masterpiece of Renaissance military architecture.
Purpose: Unlike the Old Fortress, which was a self-contained citadel, the New Fortress was built to defend the town itself, which had expanded beyond the original walls.
Structure: It features a complex system of bastions, walls, and underground tunnels. You can see the Lion of Saint Mark, the emblem of Venice, carved into some of its gates.
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The Holocaust Memorial (The Statue)
The bronze sculpture you see is a tribute to the Jewish citizens of Corfu.
Meaning: Created by sculptor "Georgios Karahalios" and erected in 2001, it depicts a naked family of four. Their nudity symbolizes the extreme vulnerability and helplessness of the victims.
Tragic History: In June 1944, German troops rounded up approximately 2,000 Jews on the island. They were held in the Old Fortress before being deported to concentration camps like Auschwitz-Birkenau.
Impact: Only about 200 members of the community survived the war, devastating what was once one of the most vibrant Jewish communities in Greece.
The inscription on the monument serves as a somber reminder: "Never again for any nation".
Source: Google Search