The Famine in the Major Athens Agglomeration and Dealing with It, 1941−1942

Abstract

The 1941–1942 famine in the major Athens agglomeration was a phenomenon unique in occupied Europe. Far beyond the evils brought about by the war and the Greek Army’s capitulation, the foodstuff shortage and sequential galloping Black Market was the result of the big profiteers’ sinister action and the Greek government’s compliance. The Reich tried to cope with the tragedy through the mission of Hermann Neubacher, who reached Greece in October, 1942 with a significant quantity of gold (in sovereigns), in order to rally the Greek economy and wipe out the Black Market. His measures were successful. The 1941–1942 Famine Trauma, nonetheless still exists in the Greek psyche.