CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY - FATE OF GREEK CHILDREN ABDUCTED BY THE KKE (1948)
- 3 years ago
The full story behind the mass abduction of Greek children by the Greek communist rebels in 1948 was revealed in November 1960 by a man who claims to have been in charge of the " operation" in north-western Greece. The man. Mr. George Manoukas, a former village teacher, returned in the late 1960's from Rumania. At a press conference in Athens Mr. Manoukas explained how as inspector- general of education he had been assigned by the communist rebel " Government " to help create behind the iron curtain a militant reserve of communist janissaries. The plan originally provided for the removal of 50,000 Greek children to neighboring communist countries. where they would be educated along Marxist lines. He said that one day they would presumably be used in a communist bid to seize Power in the Kingdom of Greece. While the Greek communist rebellion lasted the eldest among the abducted children who were still in their teens were given summary military training and sent back to Greece to join the guerrillas. Mr Manoukas added.
BABIES TO TEENAGERS He said word for the operation to begin had come in March 1948, from the Cominform meeting in Belgrade. Within the first three weeks 12.000 to 15,000 children were taken across the border into Albania, Yugoslavia and Bulgaria. Later some of them were forwarded to other communist countries in eastern Europe, their ages ranging from a few months to 14 years. Mr. Manoukas told of some tragic errors, such as the 40 Greek babies taken to Czechoslovakia who had had their identification tags removed. In at least one instance, he said, parents had been erroneously informed of the death of their children. Mr. Manoukas said he had visited the children in camps frequently until 1952, when he fell in the party's disfavor. At that time there were some 22.000 children in camps in Rumania. Poland, Czecho- Slovakia. Hungary and Bulgaria (Yugoslavia had already broken away from the Soviet block and returned a few children to Greece). The parents of some of the children under his responsibility were communist rebels who, after their defeat in 1949, had sought refuge with their families in eastern Europe. Most of the children, however, had been taken from Greek villages against their parents' wishes. Mr. Manoukas told of instances when orders had been given to track down girls fleeing recruitment.
NO FAMILY LIFE The children had been sent to regular schools in the various countries but also received lessons in the Greek language, some "distorted Greek history" and geography. They had all been made to hate the monarchist regime in Greece " he said. The absence of any kind of family life had inflicted moral injuries on the children. Mr. Manoukas added. There had been revolts in camps and some Greek boys had taken part in the Hungarian uprising, one had been killed. Mr. Manoukas said the children had been forced to assume the citizenship of their adopted countries and were consequently doing military service in local armies'.
BABIES TO TEENAGERS He said word for the operation to begin had come in March 1948, from the Cominform meeting in Belgrade. Within the first three weeks 12.000 to 15,000 children were taken across the border into Albania, Yugoslavia and Bulgaria. Later some of them were forwarded to other communist countries in eastern Europe, their ages ranging from a few months to 14 years. Mr. Manoukas told of some tragic errors, such as the 40 Greek babies taken to Czechoslovakia who had had their identification tags removed. In at least one instance, he said, parents had been erroneously informed of the death of their children. Mr. Manoukas said he had visited the children in camps frequently until 1952, when he fell in the party's disfavor. At that time there were some 22.000 children in camps in Rumania. Poland, Czecho- Slovakia. Hungary and Bulgaria (Yugoslavia had already broken away from the Soviet block and returned a few children to Greece). The parents of some of the children under his responsibility were communist rebels who, after their defeat in 1949, had sought refuge with their families in eastern Europe. Most of the children, however, had been taken from Greek villages against their parents' wishes. Mr. Manoukas told of instances when orders had been given to track down girls fleeing recruitment.
NO FAMILY LIFE The children had been sent to regular schools in the various countries but also received lessons in the Greek language, some "distorted Greek history" and geography. They had all been made to hate the monarchist regime in Greece " he said. The absence of any kind of family life had inflicted moral injuries on the children. Mr. Manoukas added. There had been revolts in camps and some Greek boys had taken part in the Hungarian uprising, one had been killed. Mr. Manoukas said the children had been forced to assume the citizenship of their adopted countries and were consequently doing military service in local armies'.