Oral history interview with George Tzikas

Oral history interview with George Tzikas

Greek-American Oral History Project

Greek-American Oral History Project

April 6th, 2006

The Greek-American Oral History Project documents the historical experiences of immigrant Greeks and first-generation Greek Americans in the Sacramento region. Interviewees discuss events dating back to the turn of the twentieth century, including memories relating to the immigration experience, family life, the development of the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation, and the social life of the Greek-American community. Ongoing interviews are focused on the unchronicled experiences of Greeks in California agriculture, particularly in the Central Valley. George Tzikas immigrated to the United States from the island of Crete. He was born on June 18, 1918 in the small village of Ano Meros. His mother Eleni Lynoxilakis was born in the same village. His father Aristides Tzikas was also born in Ano Meros. George's parents raised sheep and goats and farmed the land to earn a living. George left the isle of Crete during World War II. He was stationed in Northern Greece, near Kavala, and stayed there for almost three years. He was imprisoned by the Germans in Kavala, but escaped. He went to Olympus before eventually returning to Crete. There he joined the resistance and spent four years in the guerilla fighting forces. George's home village of Ano Meros was destroyed during the war so he left for the United States in 1946. He settled first in New York and worked in restaurants. Later, he moved to Stockton, and then Sacramento in 1968.

Creator: Capital Campus Oral History Program

Greek Americans--History

Sacramento (Calif.)

English

Transcript

37 Pages

8.5 x 11 in

Original

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United States

California State University, Sacramento

GAOH/20

Email: lib-scua@saclink.csus.edu
Phone: (916) 278-5240

https://archive.org/details/css_003885