Dr. Nikolaos Tzafleris

Professional Background

Nikolaos Tzafleris is a postdoctoral researcher at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Greece). He received his Ph.D. in modern history from the University of Thessaly, his M.A. in social anthropology from the University of the Aegean, and his B.A. in history and ethnology from the Democritus University of Thrace, which are all in Greece. For his Pearl Resnick Postdoctoral Fellowship, Dr. Tzafleris conducted research on, “Expropriation of Greek Jewish Property in the Holocaust, 1941-1945.”

Dr. Tzafleris’ 2008 Ph.D. dissertation concerned “Survival and Resistance in Volos during Occupation, 1941-1944.” His research focuses on economic aspects such as industry and de-industrialization, social welfare, and employment. His current project takes these issues further by delving into the confiscation of Jewish property in Greece during World War II. Dr. Tzafleris is the recipient of a number of scholarly awards, including the State Scholarship Foundation for outstanding academic achievement. In addition to his position at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Dr. Tzafleris is Director of the Museum of Greek Resistance in Nea Ionia Magnesia, Greece. He is a native speaker of Greek and has additional language skills in Italian, German, and French.

Fellowship Research

During his tenure at the Center, Dr. Tzafleris researched the expropriation of Jewish property during the Holocaust in Greece, focusing on the large Jewish community of Thessaloniki. He explored the economic role of the 56,000 Jews that resided in Thessaloniki, specifically the connections and competitions caused by their powerful presence; the role of private economic interests leading to the expropriation of Jewish property; and the role of apathy, inaction, indifference, and outright antisemitism that contributed to the eradication of traces of Jewish existence, specifically property. He compared the case of Thessaloniki with that of Thessaly’s four other cities as well as with other occupied European cities. Dr. Tzafleris used the Museum’s extensive archival collections to complete his research, including material from the Jewish Community Council of Thessaloniki, archival records of the Jews in France and Italy, and documents from Deutsche Bank, as well as material at the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration.

Dr. Tzafleris was in residence at the Mandel Center from October 1, 2009 to May 30, 2010.