ΧΑΪΔΑΡΙ ΧΑΪΔΑΡΙ - ΣΥΝΑΝΤΗΣΗ ΜΕ ΤΗΝ ΙΣΤΟΡΙΑ | Page 263

263
Nazi violence, the aim of such executions was to terrorize
the rest rather than punish the executed. Generally, Hitler’s
system was to subjugate the will and imagination of the
occupied populations in Europe. The guards at Chaidari
aimed to cultivate insecurity among the prisoners.
After Levi’s murder, more mass executions followed in
Chaidari. It is reported that about 1800 prisoners and
300 more in the Gestapo headquarters were executed
in total. Among them were at least 30 women, 104 war
invalids, 190 students and 40 pupils. The greatest mass
execution was the 200 communists from Akronauplia on
the 1st of May 1944.
Block 15
Block 15 was initiated as an area of strict isolation in
December 1943. Its architectural form, with large rooms
and few windows, suggests that it had been built to house
some military prison. It was close to Blocks 3 and 4.
Th. Kornaros writes that it was the only unplastered
building, so as to look old, mouldy and hence have a
psychological effect. It had two floors. The first floor had
a large room for more than 50 prisoners. Around it there
were holes, like dog-shelters, with iron doors and no
ventilation at all, surrounded by walls. These were the strict
isolation chambers. The same arrangement was repeated
on the upper floor. The prisoners were not able to look out.
The living conditions were miserable, as there was
no heating, little water and air. Food was kept to the
minimum and so was space. Prisoners were obliged to
stand for over twelve hours. A. Zesis stayed in Block 15
for five months and has described a day in the isolation
chamber. Prisoners got up at a quarter to five. Washing
was allowed for five minutes only in groups of three.
There was bread distribution at six and the only meal of
the day at twelve. The prisoner received them from the
half-opened door of the cell and the meal consisted of
five spoonfulls of chickpeas or plain water-boiled pasta.
Outside the isolation chambers there was a second
The horrible Block 15 during the 1950s.