October 28: A day written in history for the heroic "NO" of Greece to Mussolini. One day, does the youth know the real reason we celebrate it?
What happened on October 28, 1940?
The Italian government sent an ultimatum to Greece demanding the free passage of the Italian army from the Greek-Albanian border in order to subsequently occupy some strategic points in Greece. The Metaxa government's response to the ultimatum was negative.
The consequence of this refusal was the entry of Greece into World War II and the beginning of the Greek-Italian war in 1940. This date was established to be celebrated in Greece every year as an official national holiday.
In fact, on October 28, Greece celebrates its entry into the war, while most other countries celebrate the date of the end of the war.
The anniversary was first officially celebrated in 1944 with a parade in front of Prime Minister George Papandreou.
Every year, on this day, a military parade is held in Thessaloniki, in the presence of the President of the Republic and other officials, which coincides with the celebration of the liberation of the city during the First Balkan War and the memory of the patron saint of Agios Dimitrios.
Student parades are taking place in Athens and other cities, while public and private buildings are hoisting the Greek flag.
Also, anniversary events and memorial tributes are held, while special mention is made of the "singer of victory" Sofia Vembo, who with her patriotic songs cheered our soldiers then and conveyed the enthusiasm of the advance of the Greek forces in Northern Epirus.
The introduction of the anniversary celebration
The anniversary of "NO" was celebrated for the first time during the years of Occupation. The first celebration took place on October 28, 1941, in the main building and in the courtyard of the University of Athens.
There were speeches by the students, while Professor Konstantinos Tsatsos also spoke about the anniversary of the eve, who refused to study on the day of the anniversary, as a result of which he was fired from the University.
On the second anniversary (28/10/1942), the celebration took place in Syntagia Square with the initiative of the organizations PEAN and EPON. There were concerns about how the Italian occupation forces would react, but they did not intervene. Events and demonstrations that day took place in other cities as well.
In Piraeus, small gatherings took place, someone climbed on a chair, gave a short speech, and then disbanded, to avoid the intervention of the carabinieri.
There is not much information about what happened on October 28, 1943. According to Elias Venezis, the anniversary was celebrated in the building of the National Bank, in Kotzia Square (Venezis was then an employee of the bank).
However, the Germans arrived, who were now in charge of policing, forcing those involved to stand with their hands up until nightfall, and sending about twenty of these men to concentration camps. Some did not return.
Officially for the first time the anniversary officially on October 28, 1944 with a parade in front of the Prime Minister George Papandreou.
The history
It was about 3 in the morning of October 28, 1940 when Mussolini sent an ultimatum to Greece demanding the free passage of the Italian army from the Greek-Albanian border in order to then occupy some strategic points of Greece (ports, airports, etc.) , for the needs of supply and other facilities, in its subsequent promotion in Africa.
The ultimatum was handwritten to Ioannis Metaxas and in fact to his home in Kifissia, by the Italian Ambassador to Athens Emanuele Grazi.
After reading the text, Metaxas turned his gaze to the Italian Ambassador and replied to him in French (official diplomatic language) the historical phrase: "Alors, c'est la guerre", that is, Well, that means war), thus manifesting the negative position on the orphaned Italian demands.
Grazi in his memoirs, published in 1945, describes the scene: "I have an order, Mr. Prime Minister, to make you an announcement and I have given 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, before this old man, who preferred sacrifice to enslavement. "
Metaxas at that time had expressed the Greek popular sentiment, the denial of submission, and this denial 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. Efstratiou on October 30, 1940.
The war
Two hours after the above performance, the Greek-Italian War began with the invasion of the Italian troops in Epirus, so Greece, defending itself, became involved in the war.
The so-called "Epic of Saranda", which followed, and the great victories that the Greek army won, against the Italians, were established to be celebrated every year on October 28, the day of the performance of the Italian ultimatum and the refusal of John Metaxas to consent.
The Church of Greece decided, in 1952, to celebrate the feast of St. Skepi from October 1 to October 28, on the grounds that the Virgin Mary helped the Greek Army in the war in Albania.
Source: newsbomb.gr