OXI Day: How the Greeks Helped End World War II

Today, October 28, marks the anniversary of one of the most important days in the history of the world, yet few people remember it’s significance. But the Greeks do, and they celebrate OXI day, every year.

The day was October 28, 1940. At dawn that morning (4:00am), after a party in the German embassy in Athens, Mussolini (through Emanuele Grazzi, the Italian ambassador in Greece) issued an ultimatum to Greek Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas to surrender, or face open war with Italy.

Metaxas, a career military officer and more importantly a proud Greek, was not inclined to acquiesce to Mussolini’s demands (surprise!), thus touching off the beginning of the Greco-Italian War and a series of unbelievable events that would eventually neutralize Italy, cripple Germany, and cost 1,000,000 Greek lives.

For the Record What happened next was nicely summed up by Congressman Mike Bilirakis (R-FL), Co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues, in a special order speech on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives to commemorate the anniversary of OXI Day (pronounced “O-hee”). It comes straight from the Congressional Record in Washington, D.C., October 29, 2003.

Mr. Speaker, I rise proudly to celebrate “oxi” day. The historical significance of this day and what it meant to the outcome of World War II cannot be overstated. The outcome of a decision made on a day in 1940, had a profound impact on the conducting of the war by Nazi Germany. We’re talking about a stand made by a small, battered and courageous nation, namely Greece, against the larger, more powerful aggressors Italy and Germany.

By October of 1940, World War II had begun, and the Nazi war machine was already in high gear. Along with Hitler’s ally, Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, the German and Italian forces were threatening the whole of Europe. European nations were bowing to tyranny and destruction as the Germans and the Italians marched through Europe.

Great Britain endured Germany’s aerial bombardment, forcing Hitler to seek another avenue to subdue the British. Hitler intended to eliminate British operations in the Mediterranean in order to weaken their ability to deter German advances.

To achieve this, Hitler needed the Axis powers to strike at British forces in Greece. By conquering Greece, Hitler would gain access to an important connecting link with Italian bases in the Dodecanese islands. This would give the Italians a strangle hold on British positions in Egypt, where British forces were already facing attack from the Italian army in north Africa. The British considered the defense of Egypt vital to allied positions in the oil rich Middle East.

On October 28, 1940, the Italian Ambassador in Athens presented an insulting ultimatum to Greek Prime Minister Metaxas, demanding the unconditional surrender of Greece or Italy would declare war and invade Greece. Mussolini had given the Greek Prime Minister Metaxas three hours to reply.

Prime Minister Metaxas responded with the now historic word “oxi”, which means “no” in Greek. His statement embodied the true spirit of the Greek people. His words of defiance echoed the same devotion and love of country that Greek patriots exhibited during their war of independence against the Ottoman empire when they shouted the defiant words “liberty or death.” Prime Minister Metaxas’ actions marked the beginning of one of the world’s most heroic efforts against tyranny and oppression. Italy then invaded.

It is important to note that in addition to Greece having a population seven times smaller than Italy, the disparity in their armed forces was even greater: Italy had close to ten times the firepower of Greece in its army and navy and seven times the troops. Italy’s large air force had total air superiority since Greece had a very small defensive air force. However, despite their lack of equipment, the Greek army proved to be well-trained and resourceful. Within a week of the invasion, it was clear that Italian forces were suffering serious setbacks despite having control of the air and fielding superior armored vehicles.

On November 14th, the Greek army launched a counter-offensive and quickly drove the Italian forces back into Albania. By the next month, the Greeks had captured the town of Pogradec in eastern Albania. The fighting continued for a few more months…it was clear that the Greeks were not going to stand for defeat. In a last ditch effort to bring the war to a close before the Italians would be forced to ask Hitler to intervene, they launched another assault on March 12, 1941. After six days of fighting, the Italians had made only insignificant gains, and it became clear that German intervention was necessary.

On April 6, 1941, Hitler ordered the German invasion of Greece. It took the Germans five weeks to finally end the conflict. This delay proved to be critical to the outcome of the war. Italy’s inability to capture Greece enabled the British to win major victories against Mussolini’s forces in north Africa. This solidified British positions in the region as well as in Cyprus. In addition, it contributed to the failure of the German Barbarossa campaign to conquer Russia.

Due to Mussolini’s humiliating defeat by the Greeks in Albania and Greece, Hitler was compelled to capture the Balkans, mainly Yugoslavia and Greece, thus, delaying his Barbarossa plan to invade and capture the Soviet Union before the winter of 1941. The Greek resistance, both in Albania, and in the other famous battle in Crete, altered, favorably for the allies, his Barbarossa time table by at least six months.

Perhaps most importantly, the Germans never gained the advantage against the British. Although Germany had conquered much of Europe, its inability to decimate British and Russian forces early in the war would eventually prove to be fatal. Thanks to the heroic Greek resistance and their countless sacrifices, the war tide had been permanently changed for Hitler due to the delay of this critical time table.

Nearly one million Hellenes died during that time. That was 14% of the population in 1940. That is equivalent to losing 39 million people in this country TODAY in the case of a war to defend our country.

The entire Western world, discouraged and fearful of the Axis powers and the growing ugly war, took hope from these incredible victories. British Prime Minister Winston Churchill said of the Greeks: “Today we say that Greeks fight like heroes, from now on we will say that heroes fight like Greeks.”

A very small number of those Greeks who fought like heroes are still alive today – some now are American citizens. One of those heroes lives in my congressional district – Mr. Demetrios Palaskas who, along with others, has shared those traumatic stories of the mountain fighting by the rag-tag Greeks against such a powerfully equipped invader. We all salute you Mr. Palaskas – you and your many fellow heroes for helping to keep the world free.

Mr. Speaker, “oxi” day is an inspiration to all those who cherish democracy and freedom. It marks defiance against terrible odds. As an American of Greek descent, I am proud to honor the memory of those brave patriots who fought for freedom for themselves and ultimately for all the free world on this important day.

I’m extremely proud to say that my grandfather, Nickolas Pozadzides, was one of those Greek heroes who fought and survived in World War II. And I’m also extremely proud to say that my other grandfather Cranford W. Gordon served our country proudly in the US Air Force.

Greece was eventually forced to confront four different armies: Albania, Bulgaria, Germany, and Italy.

Greece resisted the Axis powers for over 185 days from Oct 28, 1940 – April 31, 1941

The Greek victory over the initial Italian offensive of October 1940 was the first Allied land victory of the Second World War, and helped raise morale in occupied Europe.

The Greek resistance influenced the course of the entire war by forcing Germany to postpone the invasion of the Soviet Union in order to assist Italy.

By one estimate 311,000 people, or 4.3% of the Greek population, were killed (reference). Among them 140,000 died from starvation during occupation.

Other estimates put the death toll much higher. For example claims that “over 300,000 civilians died from starvation, thousands more through reprisals”.

The Greek Resistance, one of the most effective resistance movements in Occupied Europe, was formed.

These resistance groups launched guerrilla attacks against the occupying powers and set up large espionage networks.

Hundreds of villages were systematically torched and almost one million Greeks left homeless.

One of the most touching episodes of the early resistance took place just after the Germans reached the Acropolis on April 27. The Germans ordered the flag guard, Evzone Konstandinos Koukidis, to retire the Greek flag. The Greek soldier obeyed, but when he was done, he wrapped himself in the flag and threw himself off of the plateau where he met death.

“For the sake of historical truth i must verify that only the Greeks, of all the adversaries who confronted us fought with bold courage and highest disregard of death.” - Adolph Hitler (From speech he delieverd to Reichstagon May 4th 1941)

“I am sorry because I am getting old and I shall not live long to thank the Greek people whose resistance decided WW2.” – Joseph Stalin (From speech broadcast over radio after victory of Stalingrad January 31 1943)

"You fought unarmed and won, small against big. We owe you gratitude because you gave us time to defend ourselves. As Russians and as people we thank you." - Joseph Stalin

“The war with Greece proved that nothing is firm in the military and that surprises always await us.” -Benito Mussolini 10/5/1941

“Until now we used to say that Greeks fight like heroes. Now we shall say heroes fight like Greeks.” -Winston Churchill 1941)

Thank-you for remembering our heroes, my brother! May their memory be eternal!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDTVFbTHB5w&feature=related

As someone whose grandfather fought under Mussolini in North Africa, let me wish all the Greek FReepers a happy OXI day.

The ouzo’s on me!

Thank-you for remembering our heroes, my brother! May their memory be eternal!

You're welcome! A great Greek friend of the Serbs brought this to my attention. I was not aware of this history, and am very glad that I now am.

The Orthodox Christians contributed much more to the history of the free world than the free world knows.

Rav.

*****

The Greek resistance influenced the course of the entire war by forcing Germany to postpone the invasion of the Soviet Union in order to assist Italy.

I believe a true and accurate statement. Germany was within a few miles of Moscow when the winter hit. If they had even another month it is likely Moscow would have fallen. Given the extreme centralization of Soviet government in Moscow, this would likely have knocked the USSR out of the war.

With the USSR out of the picture, liberating Europe would have been MUCH tougher for the remaining Allies. Quite likely impossible without using nukes. Which we would have eventually done.

Cyprus. You mean Cyprus.

Yes the evil British set up the Ottoman empire, had it invade Cyprus in the 16th century and so set up two mutually hostile ethnic and cultural groups on the island. We do that stuff in our sleep.

The truth is: Britain destroyed the Ottoman Empire pretty much single handed - it’s only because of us that there is even a Greek-Cypriot administered area of Cyprus today.

Don’t get me wrong: the Turks shouldn’t be running any part of Cyprus. The Turkish invasion in the 1970’s was and remains completely immoral.

But the fact that NATO and the United States - not Britain, but NATO and the United States - did nothing about it was to do with the deadly danger of splitting NATO in the face of the Soviet Union. The division of Cyprus was one more concession forced on the Free World by the fight against Communism.

Agere_contra said:

The truth is: Britain destroyed the Ottoman Empire pretty much single handed...

Can you please elaborate on this? Are you talking about the Balkan Wars of 1912 and 1913, or something else?

I was under the impression that other countries and "groups" were instrumental in 'destroying the Ottoman Empire', one of those being the Serbs.

*****

The Austrians and the Russians also played a role in driving the Ottomans out of their European conquests, along with some of the Balkan peoples (Serbs, Bulgarians, and others). The victory at Navarino in 1827 which led to the creation of an independent Greece was won by the British, French, and Russian fleets.

In 1878 the Russians tried to create a "big Bulgaria" including Macedonia, but were thwarted by the British. The short-term result was that a part of the Balkans had to suffer under Ottoman rule for several more decades. In the long run Greece benefited because they ended up with Thessalonica and a large part of Macedonia which otherwise might now belong to Bulgaria.

The spelling oxi is misleading for English-speakers--the X is not the English "x" sound but the letter chi (pronounced like "kh" in Khrushchev). "Okhi Day" would be a better transliteration.

OXI! - a word that resonates in history. As important as Constantine XI Palaeologos standing at the ramparts to fight to the last against the barbaric hordes in 1453.

Thank you my fellow Byzantine for remembering this day.

Given the extreme centralization of Soviet government in Moscow, this would likely have knocked the USSR out of the war.

I don't buy that, Stalin stayed in Moscow, but most of the command structure and industrial capacity had already been relocated past the Urals.

Britain destroyed the Ottoman Empire pretty much single handed

Lots of Laughter being heard by all heroes up there who died defending freedom and Christianity and destroying the Muslim Turks while the Brits were busy expanding colonial empires and welcoming the Turks to the family of Empire.

And the OW is still playing games with Christians in the Balkans.

That’s the problem with counterfactuals. No way to test the competing theories. Had Moscow fallen, it would also have been a huge blow to Soviet morale and boost to that of the Germans and their allies, who were not inconsequential at this point in the war.

BTW, in my opinion it was the Nazi racial theories that really lost them the war. When the Germans invaded USSR, many of the non-Russian and even a lot of Russians were more than willing to actually fight for the Germans, given the horrible atrocities inflicted on them by 20 years of Communism.

Then they found out that, at least for Slavs and other subhumans, the Nazis were even worse than the Commies, and support for Stalin got a new lease on life.

Imagine had Hitler occupied Russia in the way that France was occupied, Russia could be a puppet state, but the people were treated decently for the most part unless they caused trouble.

What a difference that could have made. Then once the Red Army was vanquished, Hitler could do with the population whatever he wanted.

One of the ways to win a war is to make it easy for your enemy to surrender.

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