Albertos Beraha in front of the White Tower

Here I am in front of the White Tower of Thessaloniki, which was painted white for camouflage purposes, so it wouldn't be seen or stand out during the wars. I am wearing my school trousers. The photo was probably taken before the war, in the 1930s.

The school I went to for my elementary education was owned by Mrs. Aglaia Schina. It was right next to my house in Analipsi where we lived when I was young.

It was a mixed school with many Christians and many Jewish students but we all studied together. Among my Jewish classmates were a boy called Allouf, who was a very good student, and a boy called Salmona.

The reason I went to a Greek school was because my father realized the Greeks had come to Thessaloniki for good and the one sure way to survive was to know the Greek language well.

I had lots of friends from school and I used to play with them in the neighborhood as we all lived close to each other.

Photos from this interviewee