German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier starts a three-day official visit to Greece on Tuesday to mark close mutual relations across the entire spectrum, according to Steinmeier’s office in Berlin.
The crimes perpetrated during World War II after Italy and Germany occupied the country in 1941 are to be a focus of the visit, on which Steinmeier is being accompanied by his wife, Elke Büdenbender.
On Tuesday, Steinmeier is to visit the site of the future Holocaust Museum in Thessaloniki along with Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou. The museum is being set up with German support.
Before the war, the Jewish community in Greece numbered around 80,000. Just 12% survived the Nazi Holocaust.
Steinmeier will also visit Kandanos on Crete, which was almost completely destroyed by German forces in June 1941.
Steinmeier is also to pay tribute to Greek efforts in taking in refugees. Around 46,000 people have reached the country by sea this year so far, more than in the whole of last year.
The German president is to visit the Malakasa Reception Facility near Athens which provides for the registration and temporary accommodation of refugees.
