Blatas memorialized the Holocaust in many major works. His drawings appeared in the 1978 American television series “Holocaust.” and formed the basis for four public memorials, consisting of seven powerful bas-reliefs, known as The Monument of the Holocaust, on permanent display in four countries: Italy, France, The United States and Lithuania.
The first edition of this monument was installed in the historic Ghetto of Venice on April 25, 1980, on the National Holiday of Liberation from the Nazis. On that occasion, then-Mayor Mario Rigo decorated Blatas with the Venezia Riconoscente. On September 19, 1993, in the same Historic Ghetto of Venice, then-President of Italy Oscar Scalfaro honoured Blatas and the Architect Franca Semi, who projected the memorial, by dedicating their sculpture The Last Train, a monument honouring the 50th anniversary of the deportation of the Jews from the Venetian Ghetto.
The distinguished Italian art historian Enzo di Martini wrote of Monument of the Holocaust, “In complete contrast to his paintings, these bronzes are hammered and chiselled in anger and tragedy.”
