I am a writer working on a historical fiction novel. For the book I?m
currently writing, I need to know specifically how hard hit Athens,
Greece was by the influenza of 1918. I?ve looked at a number of
in-print books on the influenza of 1918 and so far, I?ve been able to
discover only very general, passing references to the influenza
hitting Greece. Also, I?ve been unable to tell if the flu only
affected soldiers stationed around the general area of Greece or
whether it actually affected civilians as well.
In a nutshell, here?s what I need to know:
Were any *civilians* (i.e., non-soldiers) in Athens, Greece (rather
than Greece in general) hit by the flu, and did anyone die of it?
(Exact numbers are not needed--although appreciated, if you can find
them!). More generally, I need to know whether *any* deaths of
*civilians*
occurred.) I?ve read about the devastation this 1918 pandemic caused
all over the world, and any information about Athens in particular in
this respect would be extremely helpful. For example, I?m wondering if
Athens followed a similar course of the flu?s effect or whether it
escaped the severity of the pandemic that occurred elsewhere (i.e.,
hospitals being overrun, large numbers of deaths occurring, people
wearing masks, etc.). |
Request for Question Clarification by
pafalafa-ga
on
29 Dec 2003 17:45 PST
Melinno-ga,
Nothing very substantial is turning up, but I did find one brief
mention that may be of interest, and that also suggests that the
archives of the Red Cross might be a useful place to make inquiries:
=====
Reno (Nevada) Evening Gazette
February 12, 1919
ISLAND OF SCIATHOS, AEGEAN
SEA, Jan. 5. (Correspondence of the
Associated Press). Jan. 20. The
American Red Cross Mission which is
making a survey of conditions in the
Balkan states with a view. to aiding the
refugees who were driven out by
Bulgarian occupation experienced a tempestous
voyage from Piraeus, the port
of Athens, to Saloniki and finally
found refuge in this mountain-sheltered
harbor In the upper reaches of the
Aegean Sea...
The captain decided to turn back and
make for the harbor of the Island of
Sciathos, about twenty-five miles
south. It was a dangerous and difficult task
to turn the steamer about in
the high seas and the operation was
the most anxious five minutes of the
whole trip. The vessel careened violently
and seerned about to capsize
while the bow and stern alternately
were submerged...
When the Red Cross men started
to go ashore to obtain food they found
there was an epidemic of influenza
among the Islanders and the authorities
refused to allow them to land. For
the next four days before reaching
Saloniki, the passengers subsisted as
best they could on bread and cabbage.
=====
Hope that helps. Most of what I'm finding suggests that Greece (not
necessarily Athens) was so ravaged by occupation and war that the flu
epidemic might not have been high on their radar screen, so to speak.
Let me know if you have any questions about this.
|
Clarification of Question by
melinno-ga
on
31 Dec 2003 11:46 PST
Hi Pafalafa,
Thanks for the newspaper report about the influenza hitting the island
off Greece. Unfortunately, for the particular research for this book,
I need to know about whether actual deaths of non-military people
occurred right in the city of Athens.
Best,
Melinno
|
Request for Question Clarification by
pafalafa-ga
on
09 Jan 2004 09:25 PST
Hello again, Melinno,
I revisit this question every few days, as I suspect the information
is out there...somewhere.
My latest finding is a 1919 newspaper article from the LA Times:
ATHENS ESCAPES RAVAGES OF WAR
Los Angeles Times
Feb 16, 1919
pg. V13
with the subhead: "Everything About City Just as in Days of Peace".
It begins:
"Few large cities of the countries that were engaged in the war were
less affected by it than the ancient capital of Greece..."
...and goes on to describe the ordinariness of life in Athens both
during and after WWI.
The article is notably silent on the topic of the flu, certainly
suggesting it was not a factor on the minds of the populace at the
time.
Nothing definitive, here, to be sure, but I thought you'd be
interested just the same.
Happy New Year!
paf
|
Clarification of Question by
melinno-ga
on
10 Jan 2004 12:03 PST
Hi pafalafa,
That's interesting that the LA Times would write about Athens--I
wonder if one of their reporters had been over there.
Thanks so much for continuing to revisit this question!
Best,
Melinno
|
Request for Question Clarification by
pafalafa-ga
on
10 Jan 2004 12:11 PST
For some reason, the writer of the article is identified only as an
"A.P. correspondent" with this explanatory note:
"The subjoined letter from Athens was writeen by a staff correspondent
of the Associated Press, who went to Greece after the signing of the
armistice and who has filed several stories by cable, telling of the
great sufferings and numerous deaths among the 100,000 of more Greeks
deported from Macedonia by [unclear text -- perhaps "the Germans" (?)]
during the war and the problems presented to the Greek government in
providing for them now that they are returning to Greece."
|
Clarification of Question by
melinno-ga
on
19 Jan 2004 21:03 PST
Hi Pafalafa,
Thanks for giving me more information about this reporter, and for all
the other information you provided.
Best,
Melinno
|
