Every year on October 28, Greece and Cyprus celebrate the public holiday Ημέρα του Όχι (Ochi Day) - Day "No!" The celebration of this day was officially established exactly 75 years ago, in 1942. On this day, they remember an event that is considered one of the most valiant and patriotic in the life of the country. Then, back in 1940, the fascist government of Mussolini presented an ultimatum to the Greek state to occupy its territory. Greece, subjected to fascist aggression, entered the Second World War …
Italo-fascist aggression against Greece
3:00 am, Monday, October 28, 1940, the Italian Ambassador to Greece, Emmanuele Grazzi, during a personal meeting with Greek Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxos, handed him a note containing an ultimatum. According to the ultimatum, the Greek government was required to allow Italian troops to enter the territory of Greece and take "strategic positions" (ports, airfields, etc.), or, otherwise, war would be declared. The answer was short: "όχι", that is, "no." In his 1945 memoirs, Grazzi recalled how he passed an ultimatum to Metaxas: "Mr. Prime Minister, I have an order to convey this message to you" - and handed him the document. I watched the excitement in his eyes and hands. In a firm voice, looking into my eyes, Metaxas told me: "This is war." I replied that this could have been avoided. He replied, "Yes."I added, "if General Papagos …", but Metaxas interrupted me and said, "No." I left, filled with the deepest admiration for this old man, who preferred sacrifices to submission."
5:30 Italian troops took up positions on the Greek-Albanian border.
6:00 am Athenian citizens were roused from their beds by an air raid siren. Not understanding what could have happened, half-asleep people poured out onto the balconies, and then onto the streets of the capital. Only one piece of news was passed by word of mouth: "Italy has declared war on us."
7:15 am Greek Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxos delivered a speech to the crowd outside the Foreign Office where the Military Council met. He announced to the people: “Today at 3 am the Italian Ambassador, Emmanuel Grazzi, presented me with a note from his government. In it, the Italians demand that the Kingdom of Greece not interfere with the entry of Mussolini's troops into Greek land across the Greco-Albanian border, in order to occupy all the country's strategic facilities with the aim of free movement of the Italian army into African states where they are waging war. My answer was short: "Hey!" This means - Greco-Italian war! I gave this answer because I am firmly convinced that the people will support me, and our Greek army will write new heroic pages in the glorious history of a proud and invincible nation! Now everyone is on the fight! "From the crowd, enthusiastic shouts were heard: "Bravo, general!", "Victory or death!"
Promotional video:
This is how the hero of the Greek nation Manolis Glezos recalls this day: “On that day I took part in a large demonstration. We moved from the Haftiyah site, not far from Omonia Square, passed the University. Slogans: "Arms!", "Give us a weapon!", "We will fight!" What was the reason for the demonstration? For what reason did the people gather? Nobody organized this huge meeting. Everything happened spontaneously … Then we went to the military commissariats (mobilization points), where we wanted to be mobilized to the front line. A huge number of students came there with one desire: "We want to be sent to war!" We were told: "By the time you get to the front, the hostilities will be over." Then the overwhelming majority of students went to the corresponding (in the profile of our future professions) ministries. And there we replaced the employees of these ministries who left for the front. The services of the state apparatus were empty. We students made up for them. We worked during the entire period of hostilities as volunteers without any payment for our labor. Replacing, I repeat, the absent civil servants. … About October 28, 1940. I would like to draw your attention to such a fundamental detail. The citizens of the country did not wait to be invited to the military commissariats. They went there on their own! This is, firstly. Secondly, the true meaning of "October 28" is that the people fought. The proof of this is the mass demonstration procession. volunteer contribution of students. And if a person who came to the assembly point on his own was not assigned to a military unit, then a violent protest reaction followed on his part! About one more episode of that war, which is still being mentioned. They saythat the Pinda women went to the front to help our military units with food and water. This is true, but not all. The archives about the events of that period say: “All residents of the regions adjacent to the theater of hostilities: men, women, old people helped the military units not only with food. The women of Pinda helped, in the absence of vehicles, to drag artillery batteries in the mountains. The armed forces were at the forefront, and the people were by their side. " It was the resistance of the Greek people! "The women of Pinda helped, in the absence of vehicles, to drag artillery batteries in the mountains. The armed forces were at the forefront, and the people were by their side. " It was the resistance of the Greek people! "The women of Pinda helped, in the absence of vehicles, to drag artillery batteries in the mountains. The armed forces were at the forefront, and the people were by their side. " It was the resistance of the Greek people!"
Mobilization. Athens.
To the front.
When it became known throughout the world on the morning of October 28, 1940 that Greece had proudly rejected the Italian ultimatum, all progressive humanity was imbued with a sense of the deepest respect for this small country.
And when it becomes known about the first victories of the Greek troops, respect will be supplemented with delight and admiration. The heroism of the Greek army, the unity of the Greek nation, the unanimous conviction of all Greeks in the need to repel fascism allow them not only to successfully repel the Italian invasion, but also to launch a counteroffensive.
The Greco-Italian War lasts 216 days - from October 28, 1940 to May 31, 1941. The first 160 days were marked by the victories of the Greek army over the Italian troops. Then on April 5, 1941, Germany entered the war, and for 25 days the Greek troops, supported by a limited contingent of British troops, offered heroic resistance to the superior forces of the Italo-German aggressors. The Greek army defending the Greco-Bulgarian border is surrounded and retreats after heroic resistance.
The government and the king leave the country, and the military leadership of Greece (Tsolakoglu) capitulates on April 24, 1941. By April 30, 1941, resistance was broken in most of Greece, with the exception of Crete, which for another 31 days remains the last stronghold of resistance on Greek territory, which hinders the implementation of Nazi Germany's plans to attack the Soviet Union …
The military action against the Italians falls into three main phases. The first lasted from 28 October to 13 November 1940. Greek forces repel the Italian invasion; hostilities take place in Greece. The second stage begins on November 14 and lasts until December 28, 1940. The Greek army goes over to a counteroffensive, advancing deep into Northern Epirus and occupying a number of strategically important cities. In the north, the Greek army occupies the city of Koritsa (November 21), Moskhopoli (November 29), Pogradets (November 30).
The central episode of the counteroffensive was the defeat of the Italian elite Alpine division Julia by Greek troops and the liberation of the city of Argirokastro on December 9th. Although the Italians captured most of the Greek coast at the beginning of the military campaign, they were subsequently forced to retreat. On December 9, 1940, the Greek army enters the city of Ayia Saranta. By the end of 1940, the Italians were forced to retreat 60 kilometers from the Greco-Albanian border.
During the third phase, which lasts from December 29, 1940 to April 5, 1941, the Greeks continue their advance deep into Albanian territory and repel the Italian air offensive, which Mussolini himself oversees. After six months of hostilities, the Italian army suffers a crushing defeat. 16 Greek divisions defeated 27 Italian divisions, which were much better armed. In addition to the ground forces, the Greek aviation (although at the beginning of the war it consisted of only 115 aircraft, mostly obsolete) and the Greek fleet are doing their duty with dignity. The culmination of the naval battles was the sinking of two Italian transport ships on December 25, 1940 by the Greek submarine Papanikolis, as well as another ship near Brindisi on January 29, 1941 by the same legendary submarine commanded by Captain Miltiad Iatridis.
Military operations in the mountains of Northern Epirus and Albania are taking place in difficult weather conditions. When transporting people and weapons, the Greek army faces many difficulties. That year there were terrible frosts, the temperature in the mountains of Epirus dropped to 30 degrees. The Greek army was half-dressed and lacked provisions. Simple Greek peasants helped them to survive. The women showed particular courage. At the time when their husbands took up arms and went to volunteer to fight, women, those who were younger, fought alongside them, helping the wounded and sick. And those who were older collected firewood, and carried it on their shoulders high into the mountains so that the soldiers could warm themselves. They knitted warm socks and sweaters for warriors, baked bread. They were ready to do anything to keep the enemy out of their homeland.
Maternal blessing
During the hostilities, cultural and artistic figures do their best to maintain the morale of the Greek nation. In their speeches, performances, they ridicule the dictatorial regime of Musolini. The name of the legendary war songwriter Sophia Vebo is identified with the struggle of the Greek people against fascist aggression.
Sofia Vebo is a wonderful Greek singer who has become the true voice of Greek resistance to fascism. The Greeks called her - Tραγουδίστρια της Nίκης (Singer of Victory). One of the most famous and popular songs by Sofia Vebo "Children, Children of Greece":
Wander in the middle of the roads
Mothers and watch
To meet
Their children who have sworn
At the station, when we parted, To win
But for those who have gone
And glory envelops them, Let's rejoice
And never let one cry
Let her burn any pain
And let's bless
Children, Greece children
That you fight cruelly in the mountains
Children, dear Mother of God
We all pray that you come back again
I say to all those who love
And they don't sleep about someone at night
And sigh
What bitterness and fear
Venerable Greek woman
Unsuitable
Greek women Zalongo
Both cities and forests
And the residents of Plaka
No matter how much it hurts us
Proudly let's say
Like suliotissas
Children, Greece children
That you fight hard in the mountains
Children, dear Mother of God
We all pray that you come back again
With the branches victory
We are waiting for you, children!
In the fight against fascist aggression, the heroism of the Greek people is clearly manifested. The Greek victories in the Albanian mountains were the first victories of the Allies over the seemingly invincible Axis. They give courage to other peoples, destroying the image of the powerful and invincible dictator Mussolini. In his memoirs, Churchill speaks of the success of the Greek army as the first victory of the allied forces. The heroic Greek resistance forces Hitler to send additional forces to Greece, which made it impossible to capture Cyprus, Syria, Iraq and forced to postpone the attack on the USSR. The latter has a noticeable impact on the entire further course of hostilities.
After the end of the war with fascist Italy, Greece still has to go through a period of four years of Nazi occupation and a three-year civil war that split the nation. It took decades to recover from these blows and trials. From October 28, 1940, until the complete expulsion of the fascist invaders, there were still four years of struggle and incredible trials. But Ochi Day is celebrated not just as the date of the beginning of the war, but as the day of the victory of the unyielding spirit of the Greek people, a day that symbolizes and means the unity and unity of the Greeks in the face of an external threat, when the whole nation stood up to defend its land, its freedom, its history, their culture, their continuity when the Greeks adequately accepted the challenge of history and honorably managed to defend the concept of "Hellenism" as the day that heralded victory over the enemy.
Ohi day today
On the eve of October 28, in all small and large cities of the country, public buildings and private houses are decorated with national flags. Greece is preparing to celebrate its heroic holiday, the Day of Ochi, associated with the events of distant 1940. On this day, even in the smallest villages far from the center, residents honor the memory of their heroes. Compulsory school and student parades, which were introduced in 1944. Children prepare for such parades in advance, because the right to carry the national flag of Greece is given only to the best student of the school.
Wreaths are laid at the monuments and obelisks of the war heroes. In Athens, flowers are always brought to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. And although this is a soldier who died in another war - for the independence of Greece, but this only confirms the continuity of the patriotic traditions of the Greek people.
Ochi Day in Athens. Syntagma Square.
In the northern capital - Thessaloniki, this holiday is celebrated especially solemnly. The fact is that on October 26, the memory of the patron saint of Thessaloniki, St. Dimitri of Thessaloniki, and the culmination of the three-day celebrations is a large parade of standard-bearers and a military parade. The President of the Hellenic Republic is always present at the military parade on October 28.
After the end of the official part of the holiday, folk festivals begin, concerts of popular performers of folk music, songs and dances are held. And the celebrations end with a big fireworks.
And, finally, about one more component of the celebration of Okhi Day, which gives this event a deep spiritual meaning. October 28, the Day of Okha is also a church holiday of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos.
Traditionally among the Greeks, the holiday of the Intercession was celebrated on October 1 until 1940, and after 1940 it began to be associated with the deliverance of Greece from the Italian invasion, which began on the Day of Ochi. In memory of the numerous miracles of the Mother of God, manifested in 1940, the Holy Synod of the Greek Orthodox Church in 1952 postponed the celebration of the Day of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos from October 1 to 28 AD. Art. The Patriarchate of Constantinople also follows this calendar change in the Greek dioceses and in the diaspora, and now this celebration has spread widely in the Greek-speaking Orthodox world.
And in conclusion - the famous military march of the war "Hellas never dies":
Stylian Comentiol