October 28, 1940 | 80 years since the epic 1940 – VIDEO

Defence Redefined

Published on 28/10/2020 at 12:01

There are some milestones in the history of each country, in which the people and the leadership were called to make brave decisions. Decisions between the honour of arms, dignity and patriotism or surrender, submission and humiliation. 

Such a decision was made shortly before 03:00 in the early hours of October 28, 1940, by the then Prime Minister of Greece, Ioannis Metaxas who responded with the legendary “Alors, c’est la guerre” (i.e. Well, that means war) to the Italian ambassador to Athens Emanuele Grazi, who conveyed the ultimatum of the Italian claims. 

The Italian fascist government of Benito Mussolini demanded the free passage of the Italian army from the Greek-Albanian border in order to occupy some strategic points of Greece (ports, airports, etc.) for supplies and other facilities which would be forwarded to Africa. 

Also read: Marinos Mitralexis | The Greek aviator who rammed an Italian aircraft

Grazi himself describes the scene in his memoirs, published in 1945:

“I have an order, Mr. Prime Minister, to make you an announcement and I gave him the document. I watched the emotion in his hands and eyes. In a steady voice and looking at me intently, Metaxas said to me: “This means war”. I replied that this could be avoided. He answered NO. I added that if General Papagos …, Metaxas interrupted me and said: NO! I left bowing with the deepest respect, to this old man, who preferred sacrifice to enslavement.”

Despite the different rhetorical interpretations that were later attributed to the response of Ioannis Metaxas to the Italian Ambassador, at that time, Metaxas had expressed the Greek popular sentiment, the refusal of submission, and this refusal passed to the then Greek press with the word “NO”. It is noted that the word “NO” was presented for the first time as a title in the main article of the newspaper “Hellenic Future” of N. P. Efstratios on October 30, 1940.

Also read: 1st of September 1939 | Germany invades Poland- The beginning of the biggest war in History – VIDEO

At 5 in the morning of the same day, the Greek-Italian War began with the sudden invasion of Italian troops in Epirus, when Greece entered the war in defence.

The “Epic 1940” that followed, and the great victories that the Greek army claimed against the Italians, are difficult or even impossible to describe in a few lines. 

The counterattacks and strategic maneuvers of the Hellenic army forced the Italian army, with clear numerical and qualitative superiority, into a deep territorial retreat. By mid-December, Greek forces had advanced into almost a quarter of the territory of Italian-occupied Albania, occupying the cities of Korytsa, Pogradec, Agioi Saranda, Argyrokastro and Chimarra, respectively. 

The Italian counterattack, in March 1941, failed gaining only small areas in the area north of Chimarra. 

Also read: D-DAY | Landing in Normandy, June 06 1944

The “Epic 1940” was established to be celebrated every year on October 28. Every year on this day in Thessaloniki, in the presence of the President of the Republic and other officials, a large military parade takes place, which coincides with the celebration of the liberation of the city during the First Balkan War. 

In Athens and other cities there are also military and student parades, while public and private buildings raise the Greek flag. Military and student parades to celebrate the anniversary are also held in Cyprus.

However, this year, due to special measures to combat the spread of the coronavirus, the Greek government decided to cancel the parades. 

For a better understanding of the outcome of the Greek-Italian war, we present you with an informative document, by “Kings and Generals” which accurately explains all the defensive and offensive moves of the Greek and Italian armies, using graphics on a map. 

The repulse of the Italian invasion was the first Allied victory against the Axis powers during World War II and raised the morale of the people in enslaved Europe. 

Many historians argue that the victory of the Greeks influenced the outcome of the entire war, as it forced the Germans to postpone the attack on the Soviet Union in order to help their Italian allies who lost the war with Greece. 

The belated attack in June 1941 involved German forces in the harsh conditions of the Russian winter, resulting in their defeat during the Battle of Moscow.

Also read: June 22, 1941 | Operation Barbarossa, the largest military invasion in history