OCTOBER 27 , 2018 The National Herald

T H D E L N A AT ER www.thenationalherald.com IONAL H 2 Oxi Day Special THE NATIONAL HERALD, OCTOBER 27, 2018 Commemorating Oxi Day, When Gave the World Hope

s one by one the nations Expecting an easy victory, pecially those in the United of Europe fell under the they underestimated the States, and for the entire world. TOP LEFT: The Federation of By Eleni Sakellis Aheel of Axis oppression, and were pushed back. Greece gave hope to all the Hellenic Societies of Greater no one expected Greece, a rela - News of Greece’s victory nations that had fallen under New York Oxi Day Parade tively small nation, to stand up against the fascist Italian forces Axis oppression, forcing Hitler last year in Astoria. The commemoration of Oxi Day is as significant today and derail the enemy forces. in the mountains of northern to change his plans, delaying the On October 28, 1940 at 3 Greece and spread of Russia (then-Soviet TOP RIGHT: Holy Trinity-St. as it was during World War II, and perhaps even more AM, the Greek Prime Minister quickly via radio and soon cov - Union), and essentially turning Nicholas Greek School faced the demand for Greece’s ered the front pages of newspa - the tide of the war. Principal Anastasia Mantas so now, when we see the continuing oppression and surrender and gave the one- pers around the globe. The vic - The valiant effort by the with students with the word answer, Oxi, and in a mat - tory was not just for the people Greeks inspired the now famous students, left to right: persecution of people around the world. ter of hours, the Axis forces de - of the Hellenic Republic but also quote from , Stamatis Mallas, Georgios scended on Greece. for Hellenes of the diaspora, es - “Hence, we will not say that Perakis, Maria Bacalexis, Greeks fight like heroes, but that Alexandra Doyle, Manolis heroes fight like Greeks.” Vlastakis, and Christos Greek-American children Grigoriou at the Oxi Day grow up learning about the celebration on Staten Island. meaning of Oxi in Greek school with the annual celebration, the CENTER: St. Demetrios songs and the plays, and espe - Greek Afternoon School in cially the poems we memorized Astoria Oxi Day celebration. and practiced over and over again. BOTTOM LEFT: The Oxi Day The story was a profound celebration at the Stathakion one and made us proud of our Center in Astoria. heritage, but the fact that more people, outside of the Greek BOTTOM RIGHT: The community, do not know about students of the William Oxi Day is a shame. Thankfully, Spyropoulos School of St. there are individuals and orga - Nicholas in Flushing during nizations trying to solve this the Oxi Day celebration in problem. Sarantakos Hall. The Washington Oxi Day Foundation hosts a series of PHOTOS: TNH/KOSTAS BEJ events each year to honor the & TNH/MICHALIS KAKIAS Greatest Generation and com - memorate Oxi Day and all those who fight for freedom and jus - tice around the world. As noted on the foundation’s website, “Today’s heroes around the world who – in the spirit of Oxi Day – courageously battle Go - OXI DAY liaths for freedom and democ - OCTOBER 28, 1940 racy are nominated by America’s policymakers and opinion lead - ers to be honored before inter - national and national leaders convening in Washington, DC each October for the Annual The Washington Oxi Day Washington Oxi Day Celebra - tion.” The Washington Oxi Day Foundation Foundation is dedicated to in - forming American policymakers celebrates the profound role and the public about the pro - found role Greece played in bringing about the outcome of Greece played in bringing about World War II and celebrating modern day heroes who exhibit the same courage as the Greeks the outcome of World War II did in continuing to fight to pre - serve and promote freedom and and honors today those whose democracy around the world. AHEPA’s Oxi Day Commem - oration takes place on October David vs. Goliath courage, 27 at Ellis Island. Lectures by Anna Koulouris, the communi - like the Greeks in WWII, cations advisor and journalist for the Patriarchate of Jerusalem who will speak about Religious can alter history and Persecution in the Holy Land, and Vassilios Chrissochos, preserve freedom and democracy. AHEPA District 6 Director of Hellenism, on the Historical Sig - nificance of Oxi Day. A screening of The 11th Day, the story of the men, women, and children of the Cretan civilian Resistance movement and the relentless battle against Nazi occupation Andy Manatos, President forces from 1941 to 1945 will www.OxiDayFoundation.org also be held. More information Mike Manatos, Executive Director is available at oxiday.com. In this special issue, we com - memorate that historic day and hope to continue to honor the memory of those who sacrificed all for freedom. THE NATIONAL HERALD, OCTOBER 27, 2018 Oxi Day Special 3

We proudly celebrate "OXI DAY" JOHN CATSIMATIDIS, Jr. ΖΗΤΩ Η 28η ΟΚΤΩΒΡΙΟΥ 1940 4 Oxi Day Special THE NATIONAL HERALD, OCTOBER 27, 2018 Remembering Oxi Day and a World at War

By Nikolaos A. Stavrou

Dramatic events disturbed the bucolic life of Griazdani, my birthplace in Northern , on a sunny October day of 1940

he village elders advised all inhabitants to stay in - Tdoors, except for a com - mittee of volunteers that would assemble in the town square and pretend life was normal. There was nothing normal about it. Hordes of Albanian and Italian fascists were marching through the village heading for deployment on a battle front that stretched from the Mour - gana Mountains to the town of Konispoli. Dark clouds of war against Greece were gathering and fear marked the lives of Northern Epirotans. Though adults made valiant efforts to keep children free of fear, fear was walking in front of my house, dressed in the na - tional colors of Albanian war - riors, leading Mussolini’s army to the Greek borders. I could not fathom then the significance of Greek forces in Korytsa (e.g. bring firewood upstairs, he Gheghs marching against Document No. 122, June 29, would intone. It turns out, he Greece. A lifelong study on 1939) reveal the purpose of knew about my father’s service Balkan affairs would eventually these units: they were designed as a draftee in the Greek army clarify matters: the smartly to operate outside the parame - in 1914-16 and a friendship was dressed Albanians were ele - ters of the laws of war, carry out established between the two ments of the infamous Tomori intimidation forays against the men. Though stern and profes - , a military outfit that Northern Epirotans, cause de - sional, he would always take had asked the Italian High Com - population of Greek villages and time to run his hand over my matarcha and he would address My hero had the same first killed by an Albanian in mand for the honor to cross the ultimately change the demogra - hair and thank me for the fire - my father as Barba Thanasi. name as my father, Athanasios. the village of Nivitsa; and that Greek borders first. phy of Epirus. wood. Fifty-nine years later, I acci - He hailed from the village of was part of my 1953 essay. On the night of October 27, The Chams were a central When I ended up in dentally discovered the major’s Nikita, Halkidiki, and was com - However, it makes no difference a ferocious battle commenced component in Mussolini’s as a refugee to escape Enver name and picture and memories mander of the 3rd of which version of his heroic in the - front grandiose Balkan schemes as Hoxha’s gulag, I wrote a short of a heroic age came alive. the 12th Infantry Regiment, the death is correct. Major Karalis that became my introduction to well. In anticipation of the Ital - story for a class assignment ti - While on a visit to Greece in unit that liberated my village was a hero. war at age five. The tenacious ian invasion, and in close coor - tled My First Greek Hero. The 1999 to give a lecture on the and became a legend. A cousin I do not know whether a resistance by the Greek forces dination with the gov - philology professor of Zosimea New World Order and the of mine, Dimitrios Stavrou, had statue or monument honors his against the Albano- Italian in - ernment of Shefqet Verlaci, they Gymnasium, Grigorios Balkans at the invitation of the composed a song about him memory anywhere. I only know vasion, kept us awake at night had formed a brigade of their Tzomakas, thought the essay Mayor of Papagos, with terribly prophetic title … that my family cherishes the and hopeful for the day of our own that operated as a Trojan was worthwhile to be shared Vasilios Xydis, a booklet listing And if by Chance I Fall in Battle. honor of having being his host, freedom. There were nights horse behind Greek lines. Com - with the class and instructed me fallen Greek officers in World (Parenthetically, Dimitrios and albeit so briefly, and never for - when small groups of men, my mander of the Brigade was Tahir to read it. But I am not good for War II (and a silver plaque) was my great uncle and sake, Niko - got Major Athanasios Karalis, father included, would cross Demi from Filiates with his such occasions. I broke down in presented to me by the host. laos Stavrou, were burned alive son of Dimitrios, born in 1896, over the Spara ridge into cousin Petrit as his deputy. This sobs after the first sentence and And there it was: the full name by Albanian Chams during a and died defending Greek Tsamanda to provide informa - same unit would play havoc could not read a story about a and a faded picture of my hero. joint Nazi- Ball Kombetar on ideals. tion to Greek commanders with the lives of Epirotans when hero who was killed in action What an irony! It was the time Easter week 1944). about troop movements of the it later offered its services to and did not keep his promise to when the United States and its Official records show that Nikolaos A. Stavrou, a U.S. im - invaders; and there were other Nazi Huber Lanz. my father and come back for NATO allies were bombarding Major Karalis died on December migrant from Greece, was nights when we had to abandon In early December the Italo- Easter. Another student read my the Serbs ostensibly to defend 19, 1940 in the village of Borshi emeritus professor of interna - our homes and hide in the forest Albanian forces collapsed, the essay to the class and a few Albanian victims in Kosovo. Part (outside ) during an as - tional affairs and political to escape the pillage by Chams Chams drifted back into the more students cried. of the lecture reflected a deep sault by the Italian Air Force and theory at Howard University, and Albanian irregulars who civilian life and tucked away For over 50 years I have kept disappointment for the West’s was posthumously promoted to where he taught for over 35 had formed special units, with their guns for another day of his name etched in my memory lack of gratitude for the sacri - Lt. Colonel for bravery. I do not years, Dr. Stavrou was founder the sole purpose of pillaging and collaboration. The Greek army and often thought of tracing his fices of the Greek and Serbian know whether that is accurate and editor of the academic jour - terrorizing the Greek minority. poured into my village and a tall relatives. But I did not know nations in World War II. At the or not. nal Mediterranean Quarterly. Irregular units were part and officer, Major Karalis, made the where to start and knew noth - same time modern philistines My father had asked every He passed away in 2011. This parcel of the Tirana govern - upper floor of our home his bat - ing more than his last name and were bombarding the Serbs in soldier returning from the front piece was originally published ment’s designs for a Greater Al - talion headquarters. His stento - rank. Those who would address defense of the offspring of Koso - about his friend and was told in The National Herald on Octo - bania. Documents captured by rian voice never left me: Nicola, him would call him Kyrie Tag - var Nazi collaborators. by several of them that he was ber 29, 2004.

WASHINGTON OXI DAY FOUNDATION/PAUL MORSE The Washington Oxi Day Foundation Celebrating Heroes

Nominated by America’s policymakers and opinion leaders, these heroes from around the world who demonstrate the spirit of Oxi Day are recognized in Washington, DC at the Annual Washington Oxi Day Celebration. Top left: Oxi Courage Award recipient Vice President Joe Biden was honored along with his late son, Beau, in 2016. Top center: Human rights activist Ji Seong- Ho in 2017. Top right: John Foley and Diane Foley received the Oxi Day Award in 2014 on behalf of their late son, James, a journalist who was the first U.S. hostage killed by ISIS. Middle right: Dr. Fouzia Saeed, at right, was honored in 2012. Middle center: U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Andy Manatos presented Dinara Yunus with the 2015 Oxi Courage Battle of Award on behalf of her mother Leyla Yunus, a human rights activist in Azerbaijan. Middle right: Khalil al-Dakhi accepting the 2015 Oxi Courage Award from Andy Manatos. Above left to right: Ruslana Lyzhychko in 2014; John Githongo and Berta Soler were honored in 2013; Chen Guancheng in 2012; and Nadia Murad, nominated by Amal Clooney, was honored in 2016 and received the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize. THE NATIONAL HERALD, OCTOBER 27, 2018 Oxi Day Special 5

The Order of AHEPA, Supreme President George E. Loucas, the Supreme Lodge, and all elected officers, remember the heroes of October 28, 1940

American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association, preserving Hellenism since 1922.

Often duplicated, Never imitated, Join today ahepa.org!

b AHEPA Headquarters 1909 Q St., NW, Suite 500

Washington, DC 20009 • Phone: 202.232.6300 • Fax 202.232.2140 a 6 Oxi Day Special THE NATIONAL HERALD, OCTOBER 27, 2018 The Strategic Implications of the Greek Oxi

By Dr. Alexandros K. Kyrou nored, but important, events of DISTORTING GREECE’S ROLE of Mussolini’s ultimatum in - nary will – in short, with stub - enormous numbers of troops the Second World War. Ironi - IN THE WAR spired the Greek people, who born determination, the Greeks into the country, all with no ef - The first aggression in 20th cally, the first defeat of fascism, Despite the significant conse - were already outraged by outmaneuvered and outfought fect. The front may have stabi - century history perpetrated by a like the first fascist aggression, quences arising from Greece’s months of Italian provocations, the Italians. lized, but the Italians could not fascist state was carried out involved Greece. Nineteen participation in the war, Greece’s to popularly express their will to During the first few days of reverse their staggering defeat. role as an Allied power is typi - resist in one word: Oxi! (No!). the attack, the massed Italian In response to the Italian dis - cally either ignored or trivialized The Metaxas government’s im - forces in Epirus moved forward aster, Hitler ordered the German by most historians. The English- mediate order for military mo - but were slowed by the Greeks’ General Staff to prepare for an language writing on the war, bilization was met by an instan - screening units. On November invasion of Greece. Although dominated largely by British au - taneous wave of patriotic fervor 1, the Italians collided into the Hitler did not want to go to war thors and uncritically repro - and unprecedented national Greeks’ main line of defense, against Greece, he saw no duced by American scholars, has unity, as Greeks, regardless of running from along means of avoiding such action. led to a popular, distorted view past opposition to or support for the Ionian coast, to the border Larger strategic interests de - of the Second World War. Inas - the Metaxas regime, rushed for - towns of Kalpaki and in manded that Greece be neutral - much as most such works have ward to defend their country the center, north through the ized. Hitler concluded that the tended to elevate Britain’s role against fascist aggression. Pindus Mountains, and descend - success of his impending inva - in the conflict by marginalizing The Italian invasion of Greece ing west of Kastoria and Florina. sion of the Soviet Union would the importance of other actors, was motivated by strategic, po - Backed by intensive bombing be complicated if the Axis Pow - the contributions of smaller Al - litical, and ideological objectives. sorties, the primary thrust of the ers’ southern flank in the lied co-belligerents have been Conquest of Greece was crucial Italian offensive was directed to - Balkans was not secure, a view largely ignored. In this sense, the to Mussolini’s goal of establish - ward the city of Ioannina cemented by the arrival in historical importance of no other ing Italian hegemony in the through the vital crossroads near Greece of a token British expe - Allied country has been perhaps Mediterranean and the building Kalpaki. ditionary force in March 1941.

as willfully ignored as Greece. of a fascist, revived Roman Em - In support of the main push Thus in April 1941, the Germans British national pride cher - pire. Furthermore, irritated by towards Ioannina, a deep flank - invaded and overran Greece, be - ishes the myth that “Britain Berlin’s lack of consultation with ing maneuver to the north and ginning the country’s horrific or - stood alone” defiantly and hero - Rome before precipitating war east of the Kalpaki sector was deal of occupation and resis - ically against fascism from the against Poland in 1939 and in - spearhead by the elite alpine Ju - tance. fall of France in June, 1940 to vading France in 1940, as well lia Division. The powerful, well- Even in the midst of defeat the Axis invasion of the Soviet harboring envy of the Germans’ equipped Julia Division was and conquest by the Germans, Union a year later. This fallacy astonishing military successes, tasked with securing control of the Greek victory against the is compounded by the fiction Mussolini sought to match Hitler the Pindus Range and capturing Italians continued to resonate that the British army’s victories through a victorious, unilateral the strategic town of , among both Allied and Axis in 1941 in Ethiopia and North campaign against Greece. More - thereby isolating Greek forces in camps. Mussolini attempted one Africa represented the first Allied over, the anticipated defeat and Epirus from those in Macedonia last time to salvage Italian fascist victories against the Axis. subjugation of the Greeks was and , cutting off their pride by launching a “Spring Of - Moreover, to the extent that intended to demonstrate to the supply and retreat route, and en - fensive” aimed at defeating the the major extant literature ac - world the primacy of Italian fas - circling them for annihilation. Greek army in Albania ahead of knowledges Greece’s role in the cism and the superiority of the the impending German invasion war, the relevance of Greece’s Italian nation. GREEK COUNTEROFFENSIVE of Greece. After months of re - role is largely reduced to draw - The Italian invasion plan en - AND VICTORY building and reinforcing the Ital - ing Britain’s involvement in the visioned a decisive defeat of the To Mussolini’s horror, and the ian forces in Albania, ultimately Balkans, dispersing Common - Greek army to be completed world’s astonishment, the Italian amassing a vast army of almost wealth forces to Greece, and within two to three weeks. invasion was halted and beaten 600,000 troops (the largest sin - thus supposedly undermining Greece would be invaded and back by the Greeks. After almost gle field army the Italians would the British from securing a deci - occupied in three stages, or a week of repeated, frenzied Ital - deploy on any front during the sive, early victory against the phases. The first phase of oper - ian attempts to break through Second World War), on March 9 Italians in North Africa. In short, ations would eliminate Greek the Greek lines, the Greeks had Mussolini launched a carefully most histories of the Second border defenses and secure the defeated the Italians in several prepared offensive against the World War address Greece as seizure of Epirus and the Ionian near-border engagements, in - Greek forces, which numbered merely a peripheral theatre of Islands. The second phase, fu - cluding the critical Battle of fewer than 300,000 troops. With operations for a failed, minor eled by the arrival of a large Kalpaki, the first Allied land vic - the support of massive aerial British campaign, culminating in wave of reinforcements from tory in Europe, in which two un - bombing and sustained artillery an interesting, but tangential, Italy, would produce the destruc - der-strength Greek regiments barrages, tremendous waves of German airborne assault against tion of the remaining Greek field badly mauled and defeated two ground assaults were thrown Crete. In short, the substance forces in a thrust across western Italian divisions and a large ar - against the Greek lines. and analysis of Greece’s partici - Macedonia, culminating in the mored formation. At the same Despite suffering enormous pation in the war is largely ig - capture of Thessaloniki. The fi - time, the Julia Division was dec - casualties, the Italian attackers nored and the importance of the nal phase of the invasion would imated. The Julia Division’s ad - did not gain an inch of territory Greek victory against fascist Italy involve the rapid, effortless oc - vance across the Pindus Range and the vaunted “Spring Offen - is either omitted or trivialized in cupation of the rest of Greece, was harassed by constant, dar - sive” ended in total failure by most such works. to be crowned by a triumphal ing attacks from Greek cavalry, March 25, fittingly, the Greeks’ These widely recycled rendi - march of Italian troops into which outmaneuvered the Ital - Independence Day. Mussolini, tions of events are, however, en - . ian unit, forced it to fall back to - who had arrived in Albania to tirely inconsistent with the ac - Placed under the command wards Albania, and crushed it in observe in person the opening tual historical record. First, the of General Sebastiano Visconti a series of bold actions. of the offensive, left Albania in rhetoric of “Britain standing Prasca, the more than 100,000- The defeat of the Italian in - disgust. Adding to Mussolini’s alone” against fascism ignores man Italian invasion force con - vasion force and the steady ar - humiliation, following the Ger - the many Commonwealth na - sisted of one armored, one rival of Greek reserves enabled mans’ invasion of Greece, Greek tions, as well as Czechs, Free alpine, and four infantry divi - the Greek army’s commander- forces surrendered to the Ger - French, Poles, and others who sions, plus ancillary armored, ar - in-chief, General Alexandros Pa - mans but refused to capitulate fought alongside the British after tillery, blackshirt, cavalry, and in - pagos, to launch a counteroffen - to the Italians. In fact, impressed the fall of France. This approach fantry units, as well as six sive along the entire front on by the Greeks’ show of bravery also omits Greece – whose Albanian , all of which November 14. The main push of and tenaciousness in combat armed forces resisted aggression were supported by roughly 500 the Greek assault came from five against German forces, Hitler, longer than any other Allied artillery pieces, 460 planes, and divisions, which Papagos had half-sympathizing with the country eventually conquered by almost 200 tanks. In order to concentrated near Kastoria in Greeks, momentarily gave con - the Axis – a country which quickly reinforce and nearly , along a sec - sideration to concluding a sepa - fought tenaciously during seven double the initial invasion force, tor of the front where the Ital - rate peace with Athens and to of the twelve months that Britain six additional divisions were ear - ians, waiting for the first phase leaving the Italian forces in Al - supposedly stood alone. marked for rapid deployment of the anticipated victory in bania to fight the Greeks alone. Furthermore, the Greek from Italy within two weeks of Epirus before starting the army’s daring reversal of the Ital - the commencement of hostili - planned second phase of the in - STRATEGIC IMPLICATIONS ian invasion proved to be not ties. vasion, had remained largely in - OF GREEK VICTORY only the first Allied victory of the Facing this formidable con - active. The Greek victory over Italy war, well ahead of Britain’s first centration of men and material, Breaking through the Italians’ had significant consequences for cautious counteroffensives the Greek forces positioned in forward defenses, and after a the course of the Second World against the Italians in Ethiopia the first line of defense along the large scale, week-long battle War, but in ways rarely under - and North Africa, but colossal in frontier with Albania, amounted against eight Italian divisions, stood by most historians. In - its symbolic and ideological im - to only 10,000 troops, a figure on November 21 the Greeks cap - deed, the standard narratives on portance. which would increase to barely tured Koritsa, Albania’s then Greece have tended to promote Finally, rather than coming to 35,000 troops during the first largest city. Koritsa thus became more misunderstanding than ac - terms with and analyzing the in - week of fighting. The Greek the first Axis-occupied city to be curate awareness of the coun - competence of British military army lacked any tanks, and the liberated by Allied forces during try’s role in the larger conflict. leadership, which produced an entire air force counted fewer the Second World War, an event For example, according to a nar - uninterrupted string of Allied than 80 planes. that, much to Mussolini’s humil - rative intended to mitigate the disasters during the first two Given the enormous disparity iation, drew extensive interna - failure of their Greek campaign, years of the war, most historians of forces in Italy’s favor, as well tional media attention. several British apologists posited have been content to repeat the as the factor of a surprise attack, The Greek victory at the Bat - that London’s decision to deploy against Greece, 12 years before months before the Axis setback hollow apologia of the British the Italian High Command was tle of Koritsa, which nearly rup - 60,000 British and Common - the Italian conquest of Ethiopia, at El Alamein, North Africa and command in the Middle East, predictably optimistic about the tured the Italian front, had the wealth troops in Greece in and 16 years before the German 26 months before the German which deflected its failures in outcome of their forthcoming effect of forcing the Italians to March 1941 was determinant in . In August disaster at Stalingrad, Greece in - North Africa by attributing them campaign. Mussolini had every begin a headlong retreat deep producing the postponement of 1923, ten months after coming flicted an astonishing defeat to the dispatch of resources to reason to expect success. He was into Albania. By November 22, the Axis invasion of the Soviet to power in Rome, Mussolini against Mussolini’s fascist em - Greece. This well-entrenched not alone. In fact, once news of the last Italian troops had been Union by six weeks, a delay that used the pretext of an Italian- pire, a humiliation from which Anglo-centric perspective has the Italian invasion broke, the swept from Greek territory. Dur - proved fatal for the Germans be - manufactured Greek-Albanian the world’s first fascist leader impeded the development of a international media and the ing the next six weeks the Greek cause it stopped them from border incident to bombard and and first fascist state would more thorough understanding of world community universally counteroffensive pressed reaching Moscow before the ar - occupy the island of . After never recover. Greece’s participation in the war anticipated a quick defeat and steadily deeper into Albania, rival of the dreaded Russian win - killing at least 15 Greek civilians The Greco-Italian War of and the seminal strategic conse - occupation of Greece by fascist producing an uninterrupted ter. This argument was happily – the world’s first victims of fas - 1940-1941, known to most quences and meaning of Italy, a large, powerful country stream of victories as one Italian repeated by several German gen - cist war making – the Italian Greeks as simply the Albanian Greece’s victory against Italy in with a significant industrial ar - defense line after another, and erals who found in the British forces withdrew from Corfu a War, would have significant the early stages of the war. senal, a colonial empire, and a as one town after another, fell narrative a convenient means to month after the start of their oc - strategic implications for the population seven times larger to the advancing Greek army. absolve themselves of responsi - cupation. Although world opin - course of the wider, gargantuan THE ITALIAN INVASION AND than its prey. By the close of 1940, virtually bility for their own military fail - ion and Greek diplomatic mag - conflict throughout Europe and FAILURE World opinion had been jus - all of southern Albania, includ - ures in Russia and to deny the nanimity forced the Italian the Mediterranean. Yet, the rout Greece was forced to enter tified in expecting that Greece ing predominantly Greek-popu - Soviets any credit for their own withdrawal and prevented Mus - of Italy’s army by the Greeks in World War II on October 28, would be quickly vanquished lated , had been respective successes. solini from annexing Corfu, the late 1940 marked more than the 1940, when an Italian army and occupied. The poorly armed liberated. Although the Greeks Interestingly, the British - Italian leader’s actions revealed first Allied military victory of the launched a cross-border invasion and antiquated Greek army was continued to make local gains ter narrative was eventually fascism’s menacing character, an war in continental Europe. For from positions in Albania – Mus - greatly outnumbered. Con - by capturing strategic points adopted and modified by Greek ominous threat to international the Allied war effort, the out - solini chose the date to com - versely, the modern and well- along the newly established writers, who presented Greece’s stability and peace that would come of the Greek campaign memorate the 18th anniversary equipped Italian military en - front in January and February admirable victory as a case of a be ignored by the Western pow - constituted an important moral of his ascendancy to power as joyed comparatively limitless 1941, the onset of extremely small state exercising an asym - ers until the outbreak of the Sec - triumph which would have enor - Italy’s prime minister. Three reserves of manpower and ma - harsh winter conditions and lo - metrical effect on Great Power ond World War. mous ideological consequences hours before the invasion began, terial, as well as total air superi - gistical limitations forced Gen - geopolitics and military actions Much as the Corfu Crisis of for the global battle of ideas be - Greece’s head of state, Ioannis ority and the initiative of the of - eral Papagos to halt the general in the international system. 1923 has been largely over - tween democracy on the one Metaxas, was given an ultima - fensive. Yet, the Greeks would advance at the close of Decem - Greece’s victory against Italy in looked in most histories of fascist hand, and the anti-democratic tum by Italy’s ambassador in overcome these staggering dis - ber 1940. In desperation, Mus - 1940 was thus explained as the aggression, the first defeat suf - forces of fascism and totalitari - Athens to surrender Greece to advantages by effective concen - solini had by that time changed catalyst that set into motion the fered by fascist forces in Europe anism on the other. Italian occupation. Metaxas’ im - tration of force, tactical deftness, his commanding generals in Al - sequence of events that pro - has been one of the most ig - mediate and resolute rejection and the intangible of extraordi - bania twice and had poured duced the Axis failure against THE NATIONAL HERALD, OCTOBER 27, 2018 Oxi Day Special 7

own destinies in peace. Greece’s defeat of fascist Italy was a defeat of the brutal idea that only powerful nations have a right to a future and that the future should be determined by force. Many historians empha - size that the lack of sufficient preparedness doomed the Italian invasion of Greece to failure. Such historians miss the point – they do not grasp the fact that the cause of a lack of sufficient preparedness in Rome for war was fascism itself, which, as much as the Italian army, was demolished by the Greeks on the battlefields of Epiros. Rome’s fas - cists had been confident that Italian genius and energy were bound to bring success against the inferior Greeks, and this would be true even if the Greeks were a hundred times more nu - merous and well-armed. Italians ology of fascism than the Greek could rest assured that they victory in Albania. Military would be victorious because morale and Italian public confi - they were more intelligent, cul - dence in Mussolini’s regime hit tured, robust, and braver than bottom, and the debacle in other nations. Therefore, true to Greece disoriented and demor - the logic of its racist nationalism, alized the fascist party. In fact, Italy welcomed the war against it was the defeat at the hands of Greece and judgment by battle the Soviet Union, and hence terproductive to a rigorous un - the Greeks that effectively lost as an entirely proper test by made possible the Allied victory derstanding of the real impact fascism the overwhelming pop - which the superior quality of the in Europe, a view widely popu - of the Greco-Italian War on the ular support it had enjoyed Italian nation and fascism could larized in Greece and the Greek strategic contours of the larger among Italians before October be demonstrated. Both Italy and diaspora. war. 1940. Furthermore, Mussolini’s fascism failed this test. Despite its appeal to Greek To be precise, although the international prestige and clout In this sense, Greece’s tri - pride, the proposition that the Greek victory in Albania was not were destroyed. Ultimately, Mus - umph against fascism was, like Greek army’s victory against important to the ultimate mili - solini's position even within the so many other Greek achieve - Italy in the mountains of Epirus tary outcome of the German-So - Axis camp was marred and be - ments before it, a victory and a and southern Albania deter - viet conflict, it was crucial to the littled as a result of the Italian moral lesson for the world – one mined the outcome of the gar - survival of the British war effort defeat in Greece. Mussolini, in that is strikingly prescient for gantuan struggle between Nazi in the Mediterranean. In short, short, could no longer cling to both Greece and the world in Germany and the Soviet Union the Greek victory against Italy his early conviction that he was our times. is without substance. Moreover, contributed decisively to the fail - the greatest of the fascist dicta - this entire interpretation is ure of the Axis to vanquish tors, the leader of the more dy - Alexandros K. Kyrou, PhD, is premised upon the uncritical as - Britain, not the Soviet Union. namic movement with a right to Professor of History and sumption that were it not for In this sense, the Greeks’ vic - equal consultation, if not actual Director, Program in East Euro - merely poor timing and bad tory in Albania was of particular leadership of the Axis. Instead, pean and Russian Studies at weather the Germans would importance because it diverted from the Greek debacle on - Salem State University in Salem, have crushed the Soviet colossus crucial Italian land, air, and sea wards, Mussolini was forced to MA. This piece was originally in a single, swift campaign – a forces at a time when they were become more and more depen - published in The National conjecture that is as fatuous as desperately needed in North dent on Germany, while German Herald on October 25, 2014. it is simplistic. Rather, the Ger - Africa to defeat the British forces regard for Italian interests de - mans lost their war against the in Egypt. From October to May clined correspondingly. Indeed, Soviet Union for the same rea - 1941, the Italians dispatched whereas Mussolini's recognition sons the Italians lost their war five times as many troops and and importance as a major against Greece – the fascist supplies to Albania as they did world leader were never in Athens Ahepa racism of the Germans and Ital - to North Africa. Albania had the doubt before 1940, the Greek fi - ians caused them to underesti - first call on armor, artillery, air - asco transformed Mussolini and Chapters Offer mate the ability of their enemies, craft, motor vehicles, and muni - fascist Italy into an international and this outlook led them to tions. As a result of the Greek laughing stock. plan unrealistically and inade - crisis, the Albanian front monop - In retrospect, the most im - OXI Day Message quately for the determined re - olized the attention of the Italian Furthermore, it is clear that would be easily defeated. Once portant consequences of the sistance they believed a suppos - High Command and remained Italy’s failure in Greece per - the Greek army devastated the Greek victory against Italy ex - to Gr.-Americans edly inferior people, such as the Rome’s all-consuming concern suaded Spain’s fascist leader, fascist invasion force it produced tended beyond the military Slavs and Greeks, were inca - at the expense of other opera - Francisco Franco, to remain neu - not only military panic within sphere to the arena of ideas. pable of mounting. In this sense, tions, especially those in North tral in the European conflict. the Italian High Command, but Greece’s victory ended the myth Apropos of the Oxi that was the Greco-Italian War was im - Africa. Conversely, had the Italians de - an existential crisis within Italian of Axis invincibility and, even declared not only by Greek Pre - portant not because it deter - Had Rome defeated and oc - feated the Greeks, Spain would state and society writ large. Mus - more importantly, it revealed the mier that fateful mined the outcome of the Ger - cupied Greece, and not been tied have likely entered the war on solini was stunned and bewil - falsehood and futility of fascism. October 28 but by the entire man-Soviet conflict – it did not down fighting a desperate de - the side of Hitler and Mussolini, dered by the seemingly incom - Any illusion that fascism her - Greek nation that rose in unity – but because it was the fore - fensive war in Albania, the Ital - Franco’s ideological partners. prehensible developments in alded a New Order, a greater civ - to fight for its freedom and runner, one with remarkable ians would have been able to With Spain as a member of the Greece and Albania. He had ilization based on an entirely against the , three parallels to the latter, larger con - concentrate an enormous, mo - Axis camp, Gibraltar would have carefully and deliberately sin - new hierarchical idea of man, AHEPA chapters in the Athens flict. bile, and far more lethal force been easily overrun and the gled out Greece as a much society, and nation was shattered area united to send a holiday The conventional narrative in Libya with which the Axis British presence in the Western weaker country, and he believed by the Greeks’ success in battle message to their brothers and sis - has obfuscated historians’ under - might well have taken El Mediterranean would have been the Greeks to be racially inferior against the larger fascist, sup - ters in the Ahepa family in the standing of the significance of Alamein and successfully ad - wiped out. Such simultaneous to the Italians and therefore in - posedly racially superior, invader United States, and to all Greek- the Greco-Italian War in two re - vanced to the Suez in 1941, strategic losses for the British at capable of resistance. Indeed, – the triumph of a veritable Americans. spects: the strategic conse - rather than failing to do so in the opposite ends of the Mediter - shortly before the outbreak of David against a modern-day Go - The message begins: “28th of quences of the Greeks’ success 1942. In short, the Greeks’ vic - ranean – Gibraltar and Suez – hostilities, Mussolini was so con - liath. Consequently, the Greeks’ October 1940 isn't only the first for the Mediterranean theatre of tory against the Italians in 1940 would have been catastrophic fident of an effortless victory military victory was also seen as day of Hellenic Glory with re - war; and the ideological conse - probably saved the not-yet- for Britain and its ability to con - that he remarked, "If anyone a moral and ideological victory spect to the Hellenic role in quences associated with the tri - firmly organized, poorly led, and tinue the war against the Axis. makes any difficulties about for the Allies and democracy be - WWII. It is something more. umph of democratic ideas over still underperforming British beating the Greeks I shall resign cause it affirmed the noble prin - “Greeks through the ages have the supposed superiority of fas - forces in Egypt from defeat, a IDEOLOGICAL from being an Italian." ciple that all nations which abide demonstrated that some events cism. The preoccupation with development which would have IMPLICATIONS OF GREEK In the whole of almost twenty by the rule of law, no matter in history generate legends that linking Germany’s defeat in the had disastrous consequences for TRIUMPH years, nothing did more harm how small or lacking they may reverberate in time and also Soviet Union to the Greek vic - Britain’s position in the Eastern Fascist thinking led the Ital - inside and outside Italy to Mus - be in might, have a right to exist shape the future. In the Greek tory in Albania has been coun - Mediterranean. ians to assume that the Greeks solini’s reputation and the ide - and to be free to determine their language we call it Athlos. Hellas spread such legends on numer - ous occasions and today they are echoes from its ancient history. “Greece repeated the defiant Fallen Greek Soldiers of WWII Reinterred in Albanian Military Cemetery Molon Lave, once hurled at the Persians at the Italian demand that it open its borders to Italian TNH Staff cenotaphs commemorate the troops. It was the 28th day of Oc - dead, the soldiers and officers tober of 1940. GJIROKASTER, ALBANIA – were reburied with a religious “Being Free means that we are The remains of 573 Greek sol - ceremony led by Metropolitan ready to pay the greatest price to diers and officers who fought in Demetrios of Gjirokaster (Argy - protect liberty from tyranny, civ - the Greco-Italian War of 1940- rokastro). ilization from barbarism, democ - 1941 and died in Albania were It was attended by Greek racy from chaos, the light from reburied at the military ceme - Ambassador to Tirana Eleni darkness. tery of Dragoti on October 12. Sourani and other officials. A legend has always its ac - The burial is part of a bilat - A joint Greek-Albanian spe - companying virtues. The story of eral agreement calling for ex - cialists committee will continue the 28th of October constitutes a humation, identification, and its searches and exhumations in hymn for Unity because ‘United re-interment at Albanian ceme - other areas as well, the Greek we stand.’ teries of Greeks killed in the Foreign Ministry said. “Unity is a substantial princi - country. ple for AHEPA family. Today, The 573 were among nearly Material from the ANA-MPA AHEPA Solon HJ-04, AHEPA 700 who had been buried was used in this report. Alexander the Great HJ-03 & hastily during the Italian retreat AHEPA Argonauts Magnesia HJ- after a battle at the straits of 13 (D-25 AHEPA HELLAS) are Kelcyre (Kleisoura, in Greek). A celebrating with our brothers and search for the remains began sisters in the USA who raise the There in January, 2017, and the Greek flag in a country that hosts first 100 found were reburied at A cemetery in Vouliarati, our Greek values with love and Bularat (Vouliarates) in July of Albania, near the Greek respect. Many happy returns to this year. border where Greek soldiers our brothers and sisters and to At Dragoti cemetery, where are buried. all Greek- Americans.” 8 Oxi Day Special THE NATIONAL HERALD, OCTOBER 27, 2018

On the 28th of October 1940 Greece was given a deadline of three hours to decide on war or peace but even if a three day or three week or three year were given, the response would have been the same. The Greeks taught dignity throughout the centuries. When the entire world had lost all hope, the Greek people dared to question the invincibility of the German monster raising against it the proud spirit of freedom.

Franklin D Roosevelt, US President 1933 - 1945

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