On this day, on October 28, 1940, the Greco-Italian War commences during World War II, resulting in a short-lived Greek victory that gave hope to the Allies that the Axis Powers could be defeated.
On the morning of October 28, 1940, Italian dictator Benito Mussolini via his Ambassador in Athens, Emanuele Grazzi, demanded that Greece allow the unobstructed entry of Italian forces onto Greek sovereign territory or face war against the powerful Axis. After Grazzi's demands were made, Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas declined the request telling the ambassador that under no circumstance would he allow his forces to give the Italians the right to enter Greek territory. When Grazzi attempted to explain the dire consequences if Axis demands were not followed, Metaxas laconically responded: "Alors, c’est la guerre!” (Then it is war!).
This defiant act by Metaxas along with the heroic Greek resistance that immediately followed is commemorated every year in Greece as a National Holiday known as "Oxi Day" ("No Day" - the day the Greeks said "no" to the demands of the Axis Powers). Greeks of all political stripes joined in the cause, mounting a fierce resistance against the Italians.
To everyone's surprise, the poorly armed Greek military did the absolute impossible. Not only did the Greeks answer the call for the Motherland and successfully defend against the formidable Italian forces inside Greek territory, but they also pushed the Italian invaders deep into Albania only a little over two weeks later on November 14, 1940, liberating Northern Epirus (i.e. southern Albania). Key Italian-controlled Albanian cities fell, including Korçë/Koritsa (November 22), Pogradec/Pogradetsi (November 30), Sarandë/Agioi Saranta (December 6), and Gjirokastër/Argyrokastro (December 8).
This early Greek victory against the Italians was a much needed morale boost for the Allies, who by this point felt that the Axis Powers were invincible.
Because of this unexpected Greek victory, the Axis’ soft underbelly lay exposed. With Italy’s lack of success, Hitler was forced to change his ambitious eastward plans for the Soviet Union, and made preparations for the invasion of Greece (as well as Yugoslavia). In April of 1941, Nazi Germany would invade Greece via Bulgaria and the entire ordeal would conclude with the capture of Crete a few months later in June. The consequences for Greece’s resistance would be the triple occupation of Greece by Nazi Germany, the Bulgarian Kingdom, and Fascist Italy along with the military of their Albanian puppet state. Hitler's decision to invade Greece and the heroic Greek resistance that followed bought the Soviets extremely valuable time.
Greece eventually fell to Axis occupation in June of 1941, but the Greek efforts were recorded by both Allied and Axis leaders who stated the following about the Greeks during WWII:
UK Prime Minister Winston Churchill
-- "Without the slightest provocation, spurred on by lust of power and brutish greed, Mussolini attacked and invaded Greece, only to be hurled back ignominiously by the heroic Greek Army; who, I will say, with your consent, have revived before our eyes the glories which, from the classic age, gild their native land." (London radio broadcast, February 9, 1941)
US President Franklin Roosevelt
-- “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 a three week or a 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 menace raising against it the proud spirit of freedom.” (US Congress, June 10, 1943)
George VI (Great Britain)
-- “The magnificent struggle of Greece was the first big turn of WWII” (Parliament, May 1945)
USSR General Secretary Joseph Stalin
-- “I am sorry because I am getting old and I shall not live long to thank the Greek People, whose resistance decided WWII.” (Moscow radio broadcast, January 3, 1943, after the victory of Stalingrad and the capitulation of field marshal Paulus)
Nazi leader Adolf Hitler
-- "...the Greek soldier particularly fought with the highest courage. He capitulated only when further resistance had become impossible and useless." (Reichstag, May 4, 1941; translated by the BBC)
Hellenic Canadian Research Institute (Hellenic Institute)
On the morning of October 28, 1940, Italian dictator Benito Mussolini via his Ambassador in Athens, Emanuele Grazzi, demanded that Greece allow the unobstructed entry of Italian forces onto Greek sovereign territory or face war against the powerful Axis. After Grazzi's demands were made, Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas declined the request telling the ambassador that under no circumstance would he allow his forces to give the Italians the right to enter Greek territory. When Grazzi attempted to explain the dire consequences if Axis demands were not followed, Metaxas laconically responded: "Alors, c’est la guerre!” (Then it is war!).
This defiant act by Metaxas along with the heroic Greek resistance that immediately followed is commemorated every year in Greece as a National Holiday known as "Oxi Day" ("No Day" - the day the Greeks said "no" to the demands of the Axis Powers). Greeks of all political stripes joined in the cause, mounting a fierce resistance against the Italians.
To everyone's surprise, the poorly armed Greek military did the absolute impossible. Not only did the Greeks answer the call for the Motherland and successfully defend against the formidable Italian forces inside Greek territory, but they also pushed the Italian invaders deep into Albania only a little over two weeks later on November 14, 1940, liberating Northern Epirus (i.e. southern Albania). Key Italian-controlled Albanian cities fell, including Korçë/Koritsa (November 22), Pogradec/Pogradetsi (November 30), Sarandë/Agioi Saranta (December 6), and Gjirokastër/Argyrokastro (December 8).
This early Greek victory against the Italians was a much needed morale boost for the Allies, who by this point felt that the Axis Powers were invincible.
Because of this unexpected Greek victory, the Axis’ soft underbelly lay exposed. With Italy’s lack of success, Hitler was forced to change his ambitious eastward plans for the Soviet Union, and made preparations for the invasion of Greece (as well as Yugoslavia). In April of 1941, Nazi Germany would invade Greece via Bulgaria and the entire ordeal would conclude with the capture of Crete a few months later in June. The consequences for Greece’s resistance would be the triple occupation of Greece by Nazi Germany, the Bulgarian Kingdom, and Fascist Italy along with the military of their Albanian puppet state. Hitler's decision to invade Greece and the heroic Greek resistance that followed bought the Soviets extremely valuable time.
Greece eventually fell to Axis occupation in June of 1941, but the Greek efforts were recorded by both Allied and Axis leaders who stated the following about the Greeks during WWII:
UK Prime Minister Winston Churchill
-- "Without the slightest provocation, spurred on by lust of power and brutish greed, Mussolini attacked and invaded Greece, only to be hurled back ignominiously by the heroic Greek Army; who, I will say, with your consent, have revived before our eyes the glories which, from the classic age, gild their native land." (London radio broadcast, February 9, 1941)
US President Franklin Roosevelt
-- “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 a three week or a 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 menace raising against it the proud spirit of freedom.” (US Congress, June 10, 1943)
George VI (Great Britain)
-- “The magnificent struggle of Greece was the first big turn of WWII” (Parliament, May 1945)
USSR General Secretary Joseph Stalin
-- “I am sorry because I am getting old and I shall not live long to thank the Greek People, whose resistance decided WWII.” (Moscow radio broadcast, January 3, 1943, after the victory of Stalingrad and the capitulation of field marshal Paulus)
Nazi leader Adolf Hitler
-- "...the Greek soldier particularly fought with the highest courage. He capitulated only when further resistance had become impossible and useless." (Reichstag, May 4, 1941; translated by the BBC)
Hellenic Canadian Research Institute (Hellenic Institute)
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