The Dark Legacy of Vital Hasson: A Jewish Collaborator in WWII Greece

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Vital Hasson, a Jewish man from Thessaloniki, Greece, is emerging from historical obscurity as a controversial figure for his collaboration with the Nazi regime during World War II. Once part of a prominent Sephardic Jewish family known for their commitment to journalism and education, Hasson's choices starkly contrasted with his family’s values.

After the German occupation of Greece in 1941, Hasson became the head of the Jewish police in Salonica, a position that granted him authority over the local Jewish community. Historical accounts reveal that he actively participated in hunting down Jews who were fleeing Nazi persecution. His actions included identifying young men for forced labor and inflicting severe cruelty upon fellow Jews in the ghetto established by the Nazis.

Hasson's role in the deportation of approximately 48,000 Jews from Salonica to concentration camps, including Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen, marked him as an infamous figure. Following the war, he was captured and tried for his crimes, resulting in a guilty verdict and execution in 1946—the only Jew in Europe to face such a fate for collaboration.

The narrative of Vital Hasson serves as a reminder of the complex and often tragic nature of identity during wartime, illustrating that personal choices can diverge widely from community or familial heritage, sometimes leading to devastating consequences for others.

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