He lives with his memories among hundreds of photographs, most of them from the years of German occupation. Everywhere in his house - on the walls, the furniture, the drawers - there are black and white "windows", through which he faces the history of his life and his beloved city, Thessaloniki.
In a few months, Solonas Usantzopoulos will be 90 years old and in his mind, as he confides in an exclusive interview he granted to APE-MPE, the occupation of the city by the Germans in 1941 remains indelible. He will never forget, as he says, even then he was only 10 years old, the courage shown by the Greek soldier, when the Germans asked him to surrender his weapon and leave the objective position at the entrance of the White Tower.
The greatness of the unknown Greek soldier
"Spring of 1941. When the Germans arrived with their machines and tanks at the White Tower, I was in front, a child at the time," he says, and his eyes shine as if he were seeing this particular image vividly in front of him. "It will forever remain engraved in me and I will never forget the moment when the German officers arrived, in a large machine, at the entrance to the White Tower. The Greek soldier was at the iron gate with his gun in hand and at arm's length, refusing to let them pass through. They looked at him blankly, they didn't mind.
The people who were watching and were at the scene, began to applaud him. For two whole hours the Germans were in front of him and he stood there, unscathed, with the weapon in his hands. I was there on the side, next to them, I was not afraid. Finally the Germans left and a little while later they returned, having with them a Greek officer who, after saluting the Greek cause, told him that everything was over and so the soldier left the gun on the ground and the Germans entered the White Tower with the flag them, they lowered the Greek flag and raised theirs", he says and lowers his gaze.
SOURCE:APE-ME