moving to the front

Ohi Day (also spelled Ochi Day, Greek: Επέτειος του «’Οχι» Epeteios tou “‘Ohi”, Anniversary of the “No”)  commemorates 28 October 1940. That day, Greek dictator Ioannis Metaxas (in power from August 4, 1936, until January 29, 1941) used that single word (if not the actual word, this was the message of his answer) to reply to the ultimatum made by Italian dictator Benito Mussolini in the early hours of October 28, 1940.The ultimatum demanded that Greece allow Italy to invade Greece  and occupy strategic locations or otherwise face war. The Greco-Italian War had started and marked the beginning of the Balkan campaign of World War II.

On the morning of October 28 the Greek population took to the streets, irrespective of political affiliation, shouting ‘ochi’ and preparing for war in a unified mood, which is finely conveyed in” Elliniki Epopoiia 1940-1941” by Angelos Terzakis and is humbly translated here:  “…A euphoric mood, lighthearted fun, weird at the same time, roused the souls, like a morning breeze that fully distends the sail. In the eyes of the people mirrored, shone a happy astonishment, as if all these people suddenly learnt that they have some hidden youth vigor deep inside.”

Despite the hardships, lack of supplies and munitions, the bitter cold and frost that caused many injuries and deaths, the Greeks succeeded in pushing the Italian invaders back into Albania after just one week, and the Axis power spent the next three months fighting for its life in a defensive battle.

women of Epirus carrying supplies

This initial Greek counter-offensive was the first successful land campaign against the Axis in the war and helped raise morale in occupied Europe. Some historians, such as John Keegan, argue that it may have influenced the course of the entire war by forcing Germany to postpone the invasion of the Soviet Union in order to assist Italy against Greece. The delay meant that the German forces invading the Soviet Union had not attained their objectives for that year before the harsh Russian winter, leading to their defeat at the Battle of Moscow.

The Greeks resisted the Italian invasion until 6 April 1941, when coming to the aid of Italy, Nazi Germany invaded Greece through Bulgaria and Yugoslavia. On 12 April, the Greek army began retreating from Albania to avoid being cut off by the rapid German advance and finally surrendered to the triple allied forces of Italy, Germany and Bulgaria, which proceeded to share control over the occupied country.

The occupation of Greece by the Axis Powers (Greek: Η Κατοχή, I Katochi, meaning “The Occupation”) began in April 1941 and lasted until Germany and its satellite Bulgaria withdrew from mainland Greece in October 1944. German garrisons remained in control of Crete and other Aegean islands until after the end of World War II, surrendering to the Allies in May and June 1945. The occupation brought about terrible hardships for the Greek civilian population. Over 300,000 civilians died in Athens alone from starvation, tens of thousands more died because of reprisals by Nazis and collaborators, and the country’s economy was ruined. At the same time the Greek Resistance was formed. These resistance groups launched guerrilla attacks against the occupying powers, fought against the collaborationist Security Battalions, and set up large espionage networks. Relevant statistics count total human losses in occupied Greece  4,5%-7.5% of its population.

It was a mentality of “ochi” towards injustice, foreign force imposition, invasion of sacred land and morals, insult of long lived values such as democracy, humanitarianism and freedom, which the fascists incarnated.

Today, when a lot is happening to make everyone consent to various direct or indirect impositions, think twice before answering “yes” or “that’s none of my business” and take the “ochi” example of those who seemed that had little to lose, but finally gave much: their lives and another bright milestone in Greek and Universal history.

SOURCES

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohi_Day

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greco-Italian_War

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/italy-invades-greece

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axis_occupation_of_Greece

http://www.historyonthenet.com/WW2/statistics.htm

http://secondworldwar.co.uk/index.php/fatalities

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II_casualties