The Challenges in Estimating Famine Deaths

Estimating the number of deaths from famine during the German occupation of Greece remains fraught with uncertainty. Various claims range from 250,000 to 600,000 deaths, often lacking rigorous data sourcing. An expert in the field, Professor Violetta Hianidu, suggested that a more reasonable estimate would place famine-related deaths between 113,000 and 150,000 by applying differentiated mortality rates for urban and rural areas. This analysis indicates that the widely circulated figure claiming one in ten Greeks died in the war may be an overstatement, as more accurate estimates suggest about five percent of the population perished.