Dark secrets in the heart of a metropolis

In a forthcoming book, author Christos Zafeiris explores why the northern port of Thessaloniki turned into a stage for political murder

By Stavros Tzimas - Kathimerini

In its long history, Thessaloniki has had many fine titles – co-capital of Greece, the bride of the Thermaic Gulf, the “poor mother,” the “erotic one,” the “metropolis of the Balkans.”

A book due to be published soon sheds light on another, less-well-known side of the city – Thessaloniki, the city of political murders during dark moments in its history. These were notorious cases that altered the political scene and prompted vigorous reactions at home and abroad. Most of them remain unsolved.

King George I, American journalist George Polk, EDA deputies Grigoris Lambrakis and Giorgis Tsarouchas are some of the better-known victims of attacks that took place in Thessaloniki. In his book, “Thessalonikis topografia” (Topography of Thessaloniki), Christos Zafeiris describes the canvas of the city “streaked with bloodstains that mark the unknown sites of suffering, where people of different ideologies, at different times of passion and tensions, shed their blood as the victims of murder and unsolved plots.”

Other victims who have left their blood on the land of this northern port city include cadre of the Greek Communist party Yiannis Zevgos, Thessaloniki chief of police Dimitrios Koufitsas, peace campaigner Nikiforos Nikiforidis and United Democratic Left Thessaloniki branch youth secretary Stefanos Veldemiris.

What was it that made Thessaloniki attract conspiracies, notorious murders and the settling of political accounts? The author, Zafeiris, as well as Aristotle University political history professor Giorgos Anastasiadis and parliamentary deputy Stelios Papathemelis share their views with Kathimerini.